Jewish Soldiers in Polish Forces Distinguish Themselves in Battle for Rome

Jewish soldiers in the Polish forces fighting along the road to Rome have distinguished themselves in the bloody battles which are raging on the Fifth and Eighth Army fronts, it is reported today by a front-line correspondent of the Polish Telegraphic Agency.

“Many examples of the courage, heroism and patriotism of Polish soldiers of the Jewish faith can be quoted and they are spoken of appreciatively by the Air Corps commander and other commanding officers,” the correspondent writes.

As examples of courageous Jewish fighting men he cites Cadet Officer Grynberg, who led three soldiers in a sudden assault on a German pill-box on Phantom Ridge, which earned that name because the soldiers said nobody but a phantom could live on it in face of the murderous German fire. In an attempt to destroy a group of Germans who threatened his position, Grynberg was killed, but not until he had accounted for several Nazis. He was the first man in his company to receive posthumously the Virtuti Militari, highest Polish decoration.

Cadet Officer Jakob Liberman, the correspondent reports, refused to be taken to the rear although seriously wounded and continued fighting until killed. Cadet Officer K (whose name is not given apparently because his family is still in Poland) took over a platoon when the commanding officer was killed and fought for ten hours until seriously wounded. Lance Cpl. K remained unscathed, due, he said, to the fact that he carried a Jewish prayer book and his wife’s picture.

Other heroes mentioned are Private Abraham G, of the city of Kresowa, who, single-handed, wiped out a German pill box. He was captured by the Germans who refused to treat his wound or give him food when they discovered he was Jewish. One German conscript from Silesia, however, secretly gave him food, Private G revealed when he was rescued by advancing Polish troops. In one commando unit are seven Jewish youths who enlisted in England when they came of age. They have been in Italy since December, and several of them wear decorations.

The correspondent says that “a special page in the history of the fight for Monte Cassino must be reserved for Jewish medical officers” many of whom manned advanced dressing stations. He reports that numerous other Polish Jews have fallen in the fighting in Italy, and tells how a military chaplain and a cantor conducted memorial services for them.