The Chelsea History Festival is back for its eighth year, bringing world-class history writing to the heart of London. It is taking place from Thursday 1 October to Sunday 4 October 2026.

Discover the history of Warsaw’s six-year struggle through the devastation of war and the city’s enduring spirit with Prit Buttar and Lottie Taylor in this fascinating talk.

About the event

In Warsaw: A City at War 1939–45, historians Prit Buttar and Lottie Taylor bring to light the unparalleled experience of a city caught between two invading powers, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, and the resilience of its citizens.

This fascinating history illuminates how Warsaw’s centuries-old fight for identity shaped the course of its wartime experience. For a mere 21 years, Warsaw thrived as the proud capital of an independent Poland, only to be betrayed when Nazi Germany invaded in 1939. Yet the heart of the city – its people – refused to surrender. From the tragic Ghetto Uprising to the heroic city-wide revolt, Warsaw’s resistance was fierce as it faced the systematic attempt to erase it from the map. The story does not end with the conclusion of the war, as Warsaw found itself trapped behind the Iron Curtain.

About the speakers

Prit Buttar is a retired GP, who also served as a doctor in the British Army. He has written extensively on the Eastern Front in both World Wars. His books include the critically acclaimed ‘Battleground Prussia’, as well as a two-part history of the Siege of Leningrad.

Lottie Taylor is the Co-author of Warsaw, A city at War, 1939-1945. Her research for this book was focused on Warsaw’s wartime history and the experiences of civilians.

WHEN: Saturday 3 Oct 2026, 2.00pm

WHERE: National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HT

TICKETS: £15.00 (plus £2 booking fee per transaction) to buy here

Check out the full event listings and book online.