
Frantic 7
The American Effort to Aid the Warsaw Uprising and the Origins of the Cold War, 1944
Casemate Publishers
Published on 21. November 2017
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-1-61200-560-7 (ISBN)
Description
The Frantic operations were conceived in late 1943 as Soviet advances made Soviet airfields accessible to Allied long-range aircraft. American aircraft could hit targets in central Europe, refuel and rearm at Soviet bases, then fly back to bomb additional targets. In addition to hitting Nazi war industries, the political objectives of Frantic were to build closer cooperation with the Red Army as the end of the war drew nearer.
For the first two weeks of the Warsaw Uprising, Soviet forces stood outside the city, and Stalin refused to let the RAF land at Soviet bases after dropping supplies to the Polish freedom fighters. But eventually the United States persuaded him to let them use Frantic to supply the Poles.
On 18 September 1944, American B-17 Flying Fortresses dropped arms, ammunition, medical supplies, and food over the city of Warsaw. The assistance came too late for the Polish freedom fighters. For many, Frantic 7 remains a mere gesture to placate Western public opinion, but the events of that day, and the courage of 1,220 airmen who risked their lives to bring them aid, are still remembered by the Poles of Warsaw.
This book gives a full narrative of Frantic 7, using the first-hand accounts of those on the ground in Warsaw to tell the stories of the young aircrew. It puts Frantic 7 in context, and explains how the diplomatic wrangling set the stage for the breakdown in relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.
For the first two weeks of the Warsaw Uprising, Soviet forces stood outside the city, and Stalin refused to let the RAF land at Soviet bases after dropping supplies to the Polish freedom fighters. But eventually the United States persuaded him to let them use Frantic to supply the Poles.
On 18 September 1944, American B-17 Flying Fortresses dropped arms, ammunition, medical supplies, and food over the city of Warsaw. The assistance came too late for the Polish freedom fighters. For many, Frantic 7 remains a mere gesture to placate Western public opinion, but the events of that day, and the courage of 1,220 airmen who risked their lives to bring them aid, are still remembered by the Poles of Warsaw.
This book gives a full narrative of Frantic 7, using the first-hand accounts of those on the ground in Warsaw to tell the stories of the young aircrew. It puts Frantic 7 in context, and explains how the diplomatic wrangling set the stage for the breakdown in relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.
Reviews / Votes
An amazingly detailed account of the US Air Force's attempt to help the Poles in Warsaw. Inspiring! * Books Monthly * The strength of the book lies largely in the human interest story. * Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
40 color and b/w photos
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-61200-560-7 (9781612005607)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

John Radzilowski | Jerzy Szczeniak
Frantic 7
The American Effort to Aid the Warsaw Uprising and the Origins of the Cold War, 1944
E-Book
01/2020
Casemate
€18.18
Available for download
Persons
John Radzilowski, Ph.D., is associate professor of history at the University of Alaska. He is the author or co-author of numerous books and articles on U.S. and Polish history, including Traveller's History of Poland and American Immigration: An Encyclopedia of Political, Social and Cultural Change.