Wojna obronna 1939 roku

By: Kit Yami

It takes true strength to stand back up after one has been shoved to the ground. It takes true strength to smile when it is easier to frown. Some say it is stupidity to be like this. It is strength, one without a fist.

Chapter One: It begins

"This night for the first time Polish regular soldiers fired on our territory. Since 5.45 A.M. we have been returning the fire, and from now on bombs will be met by bombs. Whoever fight with poison gas will be fought with poison gas. Whoever departs from the rules of humane warfare can only expect that we shall do the same. I will continue this struggle, no matter against whom, until the safety of the Reich and its rights are secured." Adolf Hitler, September 1, 1939

Feliks Łukasiewicz quickly made his way through the streets of Warszawa heading towards Pałac Prezydencki. An eerie feeling had been stirring in the pit of his stomach since nearly four in the morning. Something was going wrong, and it didn't help that Germany had been on his ass these past few weeks.

Currently he is rushing through the halls heading towards the President's office when a sudden pain shoots up from his lower right side. The pain is so sudden it causes Feliks' legs to collapse beneath him and he ends up on his backside both hands pressed tight to the wound. With a wince the Pole pushes himself off the ground moving towards the office again.

He throws the door open when he arrives to be greeted by the sight of Prezydent Ignacy Mościcki as well as some of his advisors. Feliks walks right up to the desk and stares the Prezydent in the eyes worried. "Prezydent Ignacy Mościcki, Co się dzieje?"

Returning Poland's gaze the President replies, "Niemcy rozpoczęły atak."

The countries eyes widen and his breath stops for a moment. Once the words of his President sinks in his eyes narrow and anger courses through his veins. He spins on his heel and moves to leave the room, but the President jumps up and stops him.

"Nie, czekaj! Nie można wejść," Prezydent Ignacy Mościcki orders.

Feliks looks back at the other male, "Dlaczego nie?"

As soon as the words pass his lips another wave of pain courses through his body. This one isn't a single wave it is needle after needle stabbed into his side. His vision swims from it and he doubles over, the word invasion on his lips.

Although it is quite painful for the President to watch he uses this moment of inability to user everyone out of the room leaving his nation alone, "Przykro mi, Polska." With those words he closes and locks the door.

Feliks forces himself back onto his feet and rushes to the door trying to pull it open despite knowing it is locked. He resorts to banging on it and yelling to be let out. Finally he gives up when more waves of pain course from other parts of his body.

He slowly sinks to the floor and looks around for something to help him when his eyes land on the phone. Forcing himself up once again he moves over to the phone and dials England's number from memory.

When he puts the phone to his ear it rings, rings, and rings. After five rings he knows no one is going to answer, but he holds out hope, please England. Finally he slams the phone onto the receiver and tries France's number. Again it rings with no answer.

Angry tears burn his eyes as the knowledge of what is really happening sinks in. He quickly wipes them away mumbling to himself, "I like won't die that easily."

With a deep slightly calming breath he looks over to the window behind the President's desk. The sun is beginning to raise illuminating Feliks' beautiful capital city. A smile crosses the nation's features, though it is slightly pained. "I have totally got to be strong for my people."

Feliks settles himself on the floor his back pressed against the desk to wait for the time when he will be allowed to go and help. He closes his eyes listening to his people and ignoring his own pain.

He sits there new wounds appearing all over him for who knows how long before he moves into a kneeling position and begins praying.

"Heaven help in all our battles, Heaven see love, heaven help us, protect us."

He breathes the words barely speaking them, repeating his thanks and asking for blessing, before moving into reciting a prayer.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next."

He flows through the prayers he has memorized over the years of his life. He is so caught up in his prayers that he doesn't notice his new wounds even as they get more and more painful.

Finally he is roused by the sound of a lock clicking and the door opening. Feliks looks up to see an American walking in. Trying to push himself up he finds that he can't and that at least of one his legs is broken. So he decides to just stay there.

"Like, what is happening? Why are the Germans getting so close? Like, can I go out there now?" Feliks bombards the man with questions frantic for answers.

The American opens his mouth to try and respond to the Polish man, to try and calm him even the slightest before he is cut off. "Polska!" a familiar voice says drawing the nation away from the American to look at his boss.

"Prezydent Ignacy Mościcki," Feliks says acknowledging him, "Co to jest?"

"Musisz zostawić," the President responds with a grim look.

A second of anger crosses the nations face before he responds with a solid, "Nie mogę opuścić!"

"Musisz zostawić," the man repeats trying to stay calm and collected.

"Nie mogę zostawić moich ludzi," Feliks says a bit louder this time.

"Przykro mi Polska," President Mościcki says, "Nie możesz tu zostać."

Feliks opens his mouth to respond when a new wave of pain hits him this one springing from his left side. He drops to the ground from the sudden overwhelming pain that occurs all over his body. Poland turns his gaze to his left side staring at it in shock. He isn't staring at the blood in shock, no he had long gotten used to that. What he is shocked at is the fact that the wounds are there.

Quickly his stare turns into a glare and he growls out, "Russia." The word is said with much more venom and hatred then one would expect of the Polish man from his general cheery attitude. His hatred is not only sent towards the enemy nation, but also at himself for not realizing that, that man would break his treaties.

More waves of pain spread over the nation causing his vision to blur and soon after the world goes black: the pain having been too much.

Przykro mi Polska… I will not die.

Notes:
Translations:
Prezydent Ignacy Mościcki, Co się dzieje? – President, what is happening?
Niemcy rozpoczęły atak. – Germany has begun to attack.
Nie, czekaj! Nie można wejść, – No, wait! You cannot go.
Dlaczego nie? – Why not?
Przykro mi, Polska – I am sorry, Poland.
Wojna obronna 1939 roku - 1939 Defensive War
Co to jest? – What is it?
Musisz zostawić – You must leave
Nie mogę opuścić –I cannot leave
Nie mogę zostawić moich ludzi – I cannot leave my people
Przykro mi Polska – I'm sorry Poland
Nie możesz tu zostać – You cannot stay here