With the British forces at the gates of Toberuk, it was reported here today that a number of Jews serving in the Polish Army in the Middle East were awarded medals for bravery as “defenders of Tobruk.” The decorations were bestowed upon them by Gen. Sikorski, the Polish Premier, who visited Tobruk on an inspection tour of the Polish forces in the Middle East.
Many of these Jews are reported to have fought with the Polish Army during the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. A substantial number, however, of the decorated Polish Jews have been living in Palestine and Egypt for some time and joined the Polish forces when they were moved to this part of the world to participate in the Libyan battle. The fighting qualities of the Jews in the Polish forces is appreciated by Polish military leaders to such an extent that Gen. Sikorski has been urged to revise the old Polish policy and appoint Jews to the post of commanding officers.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
