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WWII - Poland at War Trivia Quiz

Poland's sacrifices and contributions in WWII

A multiple-choice quiz by Tohemp. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Tohemp

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
328,270

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
432

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A little over two weeks following Germany's invasion of Poland in September of 1939, the Poles braced for another blow when they learned what? Hint

Their allies refused to declare war on Germany.

The Soviet Union was attacking from the East.

Germany had V2 rockets.

Their military leaders had gone into exile.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Following their country's downfall, approximately how many Poles served in the resistance movement? Hint

380,000

3,800

Their was no resistance movement in Poland.

38,000

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Question 3 of 10

3. Polish mathematicians who escaped to Britain were instrumental in breaking German codes because they had been building Enigma machines to intercept German naval messages since what year. Hint

1900

1939

1932

1918

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Question 4 of 10

4. Though Polish fighter pilots accounted for only 5% of the allied airmen during the Battle of Britain, they accounted for what percentage of the downed German planes? Hint

12%

10%

25%

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Question 5 of 10

5. The infamous Katyn Forest Massacre occurred in 1940. In what year did the Soviet Union officially admit that they had falsely blamed the Nazis for the killings? Hint

1980

1960

1990

1970

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Polish 2nd Corps, also known as Anders' Army, was captured by the Soviet army while attempting a fighting retreat from the Germans. What became of them immediately afterwards? Hint

They were forced to fight for the Soviet Army.

The were sent to gulags throughout Russia.

They were imprisoned in Warsaw.

They were stationed on the Chinese border with Russia.

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Question 7 of 10

7. After an arduous journey through the Middle East, the Polish 2nd Corps eventually joined the British 8th Army and played a key role in what allied assault? Hint

The taking of Monte Cassino.

The Battle of the Bulge.

The D-Day invasion.

Operation Market Garden.

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Question 8 of 10

8. While passing through Israel, General Anders allowed a Jewish member of the 2nd Corps to stay behind and fight for Israeli independence. That soldier was? Hint

David Ben-Gurion

Menachim Begin

Yitzhak Rabin

Moshe Dayan

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Question 9 of 10

9. In the end, Poles would see a higher percentage of their fellow citizens die during WWII than any other nation. Approximately what percentage of the Polish population perished in the war? Hint

16%

12%

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Question 10 of 10

10. At the close of the war approximately 103,000 soldiers made up the remainder of the Polish 2nd Corps. What became of most of them? Hint

They returned to Poland as heroes.

They immigrated to America.

They were returned to prisons in the Soviet Union.

They lived out their lives in exile in England.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A little over two weeks following Germany's invasion of Poland in September of 1939, the Poles braced for another blow when they learned what?

Answer: The Soviet Union was attacking from the East.

In a secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrob treaty, Germany and the Soviet Union had agreed to divide Eastern Europe between themselves.

2. Following their country's downfall, approximately how many Poles served in the resistance movement?

Answer: 380,000

The Armia Krajowa fought both the Soviets and the Germans. (The figure of 380,000 is provided by the Polish Encyclopedia WIEM).

3. Polish mathematicians who escaped to Britain were instrumental in breaking German codes because they had been building Enigma machines to intercept German naval messages since what year.

Answer: 1932

Though they had been cracking the German codes for almost a decade, the Polish mathematicians were marginalized by the British code breakers.

4. Though Polish fighter pilots accounted for only 5% of the allied airmen during the Battle of Britain, they accounted for what percentage of the downed German planes?

Answer: 12%

The 303rd Polish "Kosciuszko" Squadron accounted for 126 kills, the highest of any squadron in the battle. All together about 145 Polish pilots assisted the British in the defense of their homeland.

5. The infamous Katyn Forest Massacre occurred in 1940. In what year did the Soviet Union officially admit that they had falsely blamed the Nazis for the killings?

Answer: 1990

It took 50 years for the Soviet Union to admit that they were responsible for the massacre of Polish soldiers and citizens. Later, in March 2005, the Prosecutor's General Office of the Russian Federation concluded the investigation of the massacre. Chief Military Prosecutor Alexander Savenkov announced that the investigation was able to confirm the deaths of 1,803 out of 14,542 Polish citizens from three Soviet camps who had been sentenced to death. Later reports place the death total as high as 22,000.

6. The Polish 2nd Corps, also known as Anders' Army, was captured by the Soviet army while attempting a fighting retreat from the Germans. What became of them immediately afterwards?

Answer: The were sent to gulags throughout Russia.

General Wladyslaw Anders was repeatedly tortured until Germany betrayed Stalin and the English became the Soviet Union's new ally. At the request of the British, Anders and his men were freed. The Soviet Union, fearing Polish retributions, sent the Polish 2nd Corps into exile.

7. After an arduous journey through the Middle East, the Polish 2nd Corps eventually joined the British 8th Army and played a key role in what allied assault?

Answer: The taking of Monte Cassino.

Following a trek that led them from Russia to Persia and on to Italy, the Polish 2nd Corps finally got their chance to repay Germany. After numerous other units had been repelled by the defenses at Monte Cassino, it was members of Anders' Army who drove the Germans off and raised the Polish flag over the monastery.

8. While passing through Israel, General Anders allowed a Jewish member of the 2nd Corps to stay behind and fight for Israeli independence. That soldier was?

Answer: Menachim Begin

Begin would become Israel's 6th Prime Minister and co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.

9. In the end, Poles would see a higher percentage of their fellow citizens die during WWII than any other nation. Approximately what percentage of the Polish population perished in the war?

Answer: 16%

Approximately 6,000,000 Poles, about one out of every 6 citizens, died during WWII.

10. At the close of the war approximately 103,000 soldiers made up the remainder of the Polish 2nd Corps. What became of most of them?

Answer: They lived out their lives in exile in England.

General Anders joined his comrades in exile in England and served in the Polish Government in Exile. Following his death in 1970 he was buried, in accordance with his wishes, amongst his fallen soldiers from the 2nd Polish Corps at the Polish War Cemetery at Monte Cassino in Italy.

Source: Author Tohemp

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