While Polish support for Ukraine has been exceptional since day one, the parallels between what Ukraine and Israel are facing seem to have escaped Polish leaders.
Polish antisemitism is nothing new. There is a reason the last pogrom of WW2 was in Poland in 1946. They won't even accept their complicity in the Holocaust.
Poland, btw gives the world nothing. It never has. Well they gave the world Kemilnicki, and nationalist antisemitism. So the nazis learned good from the Poles.
They have also systematically dishonored what happened at Auschwitz for decades by trying to make Poland the victim rather than Jews. They are, and have always been, a nothing country.
Poland has made significant contributions to global culture, science, and history, despite facing immense challenges throughout its history. A few examples include:
* Maria Skłodowska-Curie: The only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences (Physics and Chemistry) for her groundbreaking work on radioactivity.
* Stanisław Ulam: A mathematician whose contributions to the Manhattan Project were critical in developing nuclear technology.
* The Lwów School of Mathematics: A renowned group of mathematicians whose work laid the foundation for many modern mathematical theories.
* The Enigma Decryption: Polish cryptographers Marian Rejewski, Jerzy Różycki, and Henryk Zygalski cracked the German Enigma code, providing critical intelligence to the Allied forces during WWII.
It’s also worth highlighting Poland’s cultural contributions, such as Fryderyk Chopin in music and its enduring literature, including Nobel Prize winners like Wisława Szymborska and Olga Tokarczuk.
Before WWII, Poland had the largest Jewish population in Europe and one of the largest in the world, with over 3 million Jews calling it home. Polish cities like Warsaw and Kraków were major centers of Jewish culture, religious scholarship, and economic activity. The vibrant Jewish life in Poland before the Holocaust was an essential part of the country's heritage, and its tragic destruction remains a profound loss not only to Poland but to the world.
Regarding history: Poland has wrestled with its past, as have many countries. The Kielce pogrom of 1946 and other dark chapters are acknowledged by many historians and leaders in Poland as tragedies that must never be forgotten or repeated. Simultaneously, thousands of Poles risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, as evidenced by Poland having the highest number of Righteous Among the Nations honors awarded by Yad Vashem.
Finally, Poland’s suffering during WWII was immense. Over 5 million Polish citizens, including 3 million Polish Jews, were murdered. Recognizing Poland’s victimhood does not diminish the Holocaust but acknowledges the complex realities of occupation and war.
Poland is not a “nothing country.” It’s a resilient nation that has faced extraordinary adversity, contributed richly to global progress, and continues to do so today.
Over 90% of the Jewish community in Poland was slaughtered in the Holocaust. It didn’t happen without Polish collusion. When the Jews were fighting in the Warsaw ghetto they asked the Polish underground for help and was refused. So don’t expect tears for the Poles that died fighting the Nazis. They didn’t fight to save the Jews. Many turned in their Jews, just like the other underground’s in Eastern Europe.
And the Jewish community before the war existed in spite of Polish antisemitism. You can pretend Poland was some kind of human rights nation. But in truth it was a nation of virulent antisemites who by the way haven’t changed 1 iota.
Funny you didn’t mention Chemilniki and his contributions. I wonder why. Could it be the massive antisemitism in his reign which remained part and parcel of the Polish culture?
Your comment is simply a bunch of lies and manipulations.
First of all - Bohdan Chmielnicki was not Polish!!!! He was an Ukrainian Cossack leader who led a rebellion (the Chmielnicki Uprising, 1648–1657) against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Now, addressing the rest of your points:
* Polish Collusion in the Holocaust: It’s undeniable that some individuals in Poland collaborated with the Nazis. However, Poland as a state did not exist during the Nazi occupation, having been dismantled in 1939. Many Poles were also victims of the Nazis, with millions killed, and others risking their lives to save Jews. Poland has the HIGHEST number of individuals recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem for saving Jews during the Holocaust.
* Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: The Jewish resistance fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto showed extraordinary bravery. While the Polish underground, the Armia Krajowa, did not provide extensive support, IT DID SUPPLY weapons and assistance to the extent it could, given its own fight for survival against the Nazis. Suggesting that they "refused" help is a lie!
* Pre-War Jewish Community and Antisemitism: Before WWII, Poland was home to the largest Jewish community in Europe, contributing immensely to Polish culture, science, and economy. While antisemitism did exist—as it did across Europe—Poland was also a center of Jewish life and learning. The community thrived, with a rich cultural and religious heritage that was tragically decimated during the Holocaust.
* Modern Antisemitism: While antisemitism persists in Poland, as it does in many countries, it is not accurate to claim that Poland has not changed "1 iota." Poland today actively commemorates the Holocaust, preserves Jewish heritage sites, and works to confront its history, despite ongoing challenges.
PS: Moreover, one of my family members (sister of my grandma) saved a Jewish girl during the war, further illustrating the resistance to Nazi atrocities that existed among many Poles. Yeah, the family wasn't happy about that but they simply kept it all to themselves. The girl survived, emigrated to UK and died around the age of 80!
You are wrong about much of what you’ve said. Referring to Poland as a "nothing country" reveals the true tone of your attitude and bias. It’s akin to saying the United States is just a country of obese people with negative IQs—an unfair, oversimplified, and offensive generalization.
You haven’t addressed a single point I raised earlier, nor engaged with the historical context I provided. Instead, you’ve made sweeping accusations, as if the entire Polish population of 38 million people is inherently antisemitic. Such a claim is not only absurd but deeply counterproductive to meaningful dialogue.
Poland, like any country, has its share of individuals with prejudices, but it also has laws that explicitly penalize antisemitic behavior and hate speech. Today, many Poles actively work to preserve Jewish memory, confront the past, and combat antisemitism. Painting an entire nation with the same brush does a disservice to the complexity of history and to those who strive to build bridges between communities.
Even in my small town, there are memorials in place of synagogues and cemeteries destroyed by the Nazis—a testament to the effort to honor and remember Jewish life in Poland.
If you’re open to meaningful discussion, I’d be happy to continue addressing your concerns point by point.
Everything EKB wrote above. I grew up hearing the stories from the personal experience of relatives. (And, . . . I have an MA in Comparative Literature; our syllabus did not contain one Polish author. Just saying.)
It’s telling that the foundation of your opinion rests on the claims of someone whose arguments have already been thoroughly dismantled. EKB’s statements, riddled with inaccuracies and manipulations, have been exposed for what they are - an exercise in deflection and distortion. Her suggestion that Bohdan Khmelnytsky was Polish, for instance, is a glaring error; Khmelnytsky was, in fact Ukrainian (Ruthenian to be precise) and one of Poland’s most formidable adversaries during the 17th century, not its representative. Such a fundamental misunderstanding of history reveals a lack of basic knowledge about the subject she presumed to critique.
Every one of her accusations has been addressed and refuted with evidence and reason. Yet, after her falsehoods were laid bare, she didn’t even have the courtesy to respond, let alone defend her claims. What does it say about the strength of her arguments - or the integrity of her position - if she refuses to engage after being confronted with the truth?
As for your reliance on her narrative, doesn’t it warrant some self-reflection? If her knowledge about Poland has been demonstrated to be essentially nonexistent, perhaps it’s time to question whether the stories you grew up hearing or the opinions you’ve adopted hold up to scrutiny in the same way. Repeating unexamined narratives doesn’t advance understanding - it only perpetuates ignorance.
Also, it's fascinating that your Comparative Literature syllabus didn’t include a single Polish author. Does this omission imply that every other country’s literature was covered, and Poland alone was deemed irrelevant? Or does it speak more to the limitations of the program than to the value of Polish contributions to world literature?
Because to overlook figures like Miłosz, Tokarczuk, Gombrowicz, Schulz, or Szymborska isn’t just an oversight - it’s a glaring gap in understanding the literary landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries. The absence of Polish authors on your syllabus says far less about Poland’s cultural significance and far more about the narrow lens through which you’ve chosen to view it.
There is no way Polands contributions rival those of France England Italy and Spain in the literary field. It’s highly doubtful my program was deficient: Rutgers. Perhaps we were more focused on the west. For good reason.
Very lazy answer. You didn’t address any of the points I raised. And what exactly do you mean by ‘For good reason’? Are you saying that literature from Eastern countries, like Poland, is something that should just be ignored? I’m really curious to know why you think that’s a valid position.
Palestinianism is a genocidal project designed to end Israel as well as Jews globally and Jewish history through cultural appropriation and historical revisionism. Arabs and muslims and all who subscribe to Palestinianism seek to complete the goal of the nazis and they are hardly deterred by the existence of Israel but rather emboldened by it.
Jews and Israel are in danger of annihilation so long as Palestinianism persists.
I am sitting with guilt. Even though I know it’s not mine, I feel the need to lean into it—to understand what it wants to tell me. Guilt often comes with regret, but when we make choices, they are what we believe to be right in that moment. Whether they were truly right or wrong is something we only understand with time and hindsight. Nazi Germany occupied Poland during the first year of World War II. There was collaboration, and there was resistance. Poland has endured countless occupations, leaving scars of lingering anger—anger that sometimes manifests in regrettable ways until people begin to wake up and confront it.
I feel deeply for the Jewish people, so often used as scapegoats or black sheep in society, ostracized simply for their differences or their approach to life. Yet, it is them who showed me empathy, and that, in Berlin. The same is true for Black communities, who have endured constant marginalization. How much pain can a people bear before enough is enough?
I recognize that I’m a white woman and could be seen as fortunate. Yet, why have I always felt scapegoated and mocked for my otherness—just for being me? Like anyone who has been marginalized, I have longed for equality, balance, and peace. These are universal desires, shared by every human being on this planet we all call home.
I fully understand why the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau is not being commemorated in a place where Jews are no longer welcomed, but instead in Israel—a place they can truly call home. That choice is not just symbolic but a profound statement of resilience, a testament to a people who have endured so much and now have a space where they can be embraced and belong.
It feels so strange to reflect on this. Back in Ireland, in what feels like a former life, I was friends with a Polish girl who grew up in Oswiecim—not too far from the camp. And there I was, an East German girl with Polish, Jewish, and German heritage, trying to make sense of my purpose. Why did the universe place me in certain places, with certain people?
Today, I understand that I was planting seeds, unbeknownst to myself—of empathy, compassion, joy, and mercy—wherever they were needed. But it wasn’t just about the seeds; it was because I needed to learn to commit to my higher self first, to recognize and accept the work.
But it’s bittersweet. That girl, once my friend, seems to have forgotten who she truly is. She has aligned herself in ways that disregard the struggles of her own people—those Polish immigrants who sought a better life in the UK and Ireland, yearning for safety and acceptance. I can’t help but wonder: what does it do to someone to grow up next to a German Nazi camp, to be confronted with that history daily? A history that becomes inextricably enmeshed with another's. It must leave an imprint on the human spirit. And then, sitting in front of me—sitting in my presence—someone whose past is deeply interwoven with hers.
I realize that we are all interconnected, but some are aware of it, while others remain blind to it, fighting an impossible fight against a part of themselves.
In my naïveté, I believed that such proximity to history would inspire transformation—a call to become a kinder, more decent human being. But the change I hoped for is still waiting to come... I have faith!
Your reflections are poetic, even poignant, but they rest on assumptions that crumble under scrutiny. While the weight of history and personal experience can shape perspectives, truth demands more than subjective generalizations and misinterpretations of context. Allow me to address the core of your arguments with clarity and respect for the complexity of the subject matter.
First, the claim about Polish collaboration during the Nazi occupation is both misleading and historically reductive. Poland was the only country occupied by Nazi Germany where assisting Jews carried the automatic penalty of death for the individual and often their entire family. Despite this, thousands of Poles risked and lost their lives to save Jews. Poland has the highest number of individuals recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem—a testament to courage, not collusion. The Polish Underground State, the largest resistance movement in occupied Europe, established Żegota, an organization specifically dedicated to rescuing Jews. These facts don’t absolve individuals who acted reprehensibly, but they stand as a counterweight to the sweeping indictment you imply.
Your assertion that Jews are no longer welcomed in Poland is not only unfounded but dismissive of the efforts Poland has made to preserve Jewish memory and culture. Did you know that Holocaust education is a mandatory part of the Polish curriculum, spanning multiple subjects such as history and literature? Students read books like "Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank, "Mendel Gdański" by Maria Konopnicka, and "Medallions" by Zofia Nałkowska, engaging deeply with the tragedies of the Holocaust and Jewish contributions to Polish culture. Furthermore, cities like Kraków host the Jewish Culture Festival, an internationally acclaimed event celebrating Jewish heritage. Pilgrimages to the tomb of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and other sites of Jewish spiritual significance occur regularly, bringing together people from all over the world.
The suggestion that Auschwitz-Birkenau’s anniversary commemoration in Israel implies a lack of welcome in Poland is a misreading of symbolic choices. Auschwitz remains a meticulously preserved memorial under Polish stewardship, visited by millions annually to confront the horrors of the Holocaust. Poland’s government, educators, and activists work tirelessly to ensure that Auschwitz remains a place of reflection, not revisionism. To suggest otherwise is to ignore these realities in favor of an emotive narrative.
As for the idea that proximity to Auschwitz inherently transforms individuals into paragons of empathy—human behavior and history are far more nuanced. Trauma, especially inherited trauma, can manifest in myriad ways, sometimes leading to a defensive distancing rather than engagement. The scars left by the Nazi occupation were not confined to one group, and the suffering endured by Poles—including the systematic targeting of the Polish intelligentsia and clergy—cannot be disentangled from the broader tapestry of the Holocaust.
The statement, "I recognize that I’m a white woman and could be seen as fortunate," feels misplaced in the context of a discussion about systemic oppression and historical atrocities like the Holocaust. While it gestures at the privilege often associated with whiteness in contemporary discourse, its relevance to the topic at hand is tenuous at best. This comment risks trivializing the profound suffering and annihilation faced by millions—Jewish, Polish, Romani, and others—during the Holocaust, where the markers of privilege were entirely rewritten by the genocidal ideology of Nazi Germany.
During that dark chapter in history, one's "whiteness" provided no immunity if they were Jewish, Polish, or otherwise deemed "undesirable" by the Nazi regime. To interject a modern framework of privilege into such a conversation risks oversimplifying and distorting historical realities. Furthermore, the phrase itself carries a tone of self-centeredness in what should be a discussion focused on historical accountability, collective memory, and human solidarity.
Rather than emphasizing personal identity or perceived fortune, this moment calls for an empathetic and informed engagement with history, not platitudes that obscure the weight of the discussion.
Finally, I find it troubling that you frame Polish immigrants in the UK and Ireland as neglecting their “own people’s struggles.” This broad-brush critique of individuals seeking better lives abroad reflects the same kind of stereotyping you claim to oppose. Polish immigrants, like all immigrants, carry complex identities shaped by history, hardship, and hope. To diminish them by implying they’ve forgotten who they are is both unfair and reductive.
In closing, your reflections, while heartfelt, lack the factual grounding necessary to engage with the profound complexities of history. I encourage you to dig deeper, to seek out sources beyond personal anecdotes and poetic musings. Start with the Holocaust education curriculum in Poland or visit a Jewish cultural event in Kraków. Or perhaps explore the stories of Righteous Poles who risked everything to save their Jewish neighbors.
I am Polish (although I left the country 30 years ago) and I am truly ashamed about what's happening.
Unfortunately, I'm also not surprised. There was a time when I was carefully optimistic after meeting some Israel supporters on one of my trips back. I got to know teachers who together with the Israeli Embassy worked on a curriculum for Polish students wanting to educate the young generation. I met people cleaning and restoring the overgrown Jewish cemeteries, documenting the tragic past, reviving the Jewish culture, and teaching others about what happened. Unfortunately, these wonderful people are a minority and while they might have some influence in the cultural realm, they are not involved in politics, as far as I know. And the old horrible antisemitic attitudes are still alive. It is truly shameful! Of all the people, we should have learned.
It's doesn't change the fact, that Netanjahu is committing dreadful genocide right now, as we speak. I'm proud that my country is following the just ruling of the international court. Every criminal needs to be punished, Netanjahu, Putin and others.
Implying that Poland is acting that way because of anti-Semitism is disgusting, shows only the true colours of people who say such things.
Thank you for your wonderful article.....That's right. NEVER AGAIN , because we have Israel.....and our glorious IDF, (God bless and protect) AM ISRAEL CHAI.....
My parents grew up in a shtetl in what is now Lithuania, but was Poland during their youth. They were the sole survivors of their families. I heard from my earliest memories how hateful the Poles were to Jews. The Jews cringed at Christmas and Easter, for fear of a pogrom during these holidays.
Recently, I read a book by Jan Grabrowski called WHITEWASH: POLAND AND THE JEWS. The author delves deeply into the extent to which Poland has negated the Jewish experience in WWII Poland. Their government, together with other institutions, have been working diligently to show that the Polish were totally innocent in the Holocaust; they claim that the Polish people suffered at least as much as the Jews, IF NOT MORE; that many thousands, if not MILLIONS—of Poles rescued Jews. Note that 3 million Polish Jews were murdered, because the Nazis had lots of help with the task. Now,
the Poles are steadily changing the purpose of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was to murder JEWS, in statements, and museum exhibits which present Poles as the victims. Jews are barely mentioned. Grabowski gives examples of Poles looting Jewish homes, and extorting Jews’ gold and Jewels by promising to help them, then killing them. Poland made out very well with the Jews’ stolen property and their possessions, knowing they will never return to claim it.
He reports how the Jews, locked up in the cattle cars, screamed and begged for water whenever the trains pulled into a station en route to Auschwitz, Treblinka, or any of the other Extermination camps (all in Poland). The Poles would bring buckets of water, but gave them a miserable sip ONLY if the Jews gave them the outrageous prices they demanded. The starving, thirsty Jews in the cattle cars gave whatever the Poles wanted.
The Polish gov’t is even changing the names of Ghettos from their Polish names to GERMAN names, all to show that it was the Nazis that perpetrated the Holocaust, NOT the Polish. An absolute LIE.
To claim that Poland has “negated the Jewish experience in WWII” or is engaged in some conspiratorial campaign of Holocaust denial is not only a gross distortion of the truth—it’s an affront to the countless Poles who suffered, resisted, and died under the same genocidal machinery of Nazi Germany. Poland was not a bystander to World War II; it was the first victim of Nazi aggression, carved up, brutalized, and occupied, with millions of its citizens—Jewish and non-Jewish alike—systematically murdered.
Let us be clear: Poland was not complicit in the Holocaust in the sense that its state or institutions aided in the Nazis' plans. There was no Polish state. The government had been dismantled, the land occupied, its people enslaved or conscripted. The notion of “Poland,” as you present it, helping the Nazis murder 3 million Polish Jews, is a fiction that disregards both the historical record and the nature of Nazi occupation. To conflate the actions of a minority of collaborators with the collective guilt of a nation crushed under the iron heel of the Third Reich is not only intellectually dishonest—it is morally bankrupt.
Your invocation of Jan Grabowski’s work demands scrutiny. Grabowski himself has been critiqued for methodological biases and selective storytelling, emphasizing anecdotal cases of Polish betrayal while downplaying the extraordinary and often fatal risks taken by tens of thousands of Poles to shelter, feed, and protect their Jewish neighbors. Yad Vashem recognizes more Poles as Righteous Among the Nations — over 7,000 — than individuals from any other country. Each of these cases represents immense bravery, often in the face of immediate execution for both the rescuer and their family. To ignore this is to erase not only their courage but also the nuanced reality of survival under occupation.
Regarding your charge that Poland has sought to reframe Auschwitz-Birkenau as a site of Polish victimhood: this is a distortion. Auschwitz remains a central symbol of the Holocaust, and the suffering of Jewish victims is foregrounded in its exhibitions and commemorations. However, it is also a fact that Auschwitz was a place where *Poles*—Christians, intellectuals, members of the resistance—were among the first to perish. Recognizing this does not diminish the Jewish tragedy; it contextualizes the enormity of Nazi barbarism.
Your anecdote about Jews in cattle cars being extorted for water is heart-wrenching, but it also demands nuance. Yes, there were opportunists who exploited the vulnerable—there always are in times of catastrophe. But to present this as emblematic of Polish behavior during the Holocaust is a smear. For every looter, there was someone who risked everything to smuggle food into the ghettos, to forge false papers, to open their home to the hunted.
As for the “Germanization” of ghetto names: this assertion is misleading. Historical research often uses the German-imposed names of ghettos because they reflect the administrative realities of the Nazi occupation. It is the Nazis, not the Poles, who stripped these places of their Polish names. To claim that this is part of a Polish effort to absolve itself of guilt is an inversion of truth.
Finally, to imply that Poles “made out very well” on Jewish suffering ignores a fundamental truth: the Holocaust was not a transfer of wealth—it was a cataclysmic destruction of life and culture. Poles, too, were dispossessed, starved, and brutalized. After the war, Poland was left a smoking ruin, its cities reduced to rubble, its population decimated. No one “made out well.”
What your comment reflects is not a quest for understanding but a need to assign blame—a need that mirrors the very forces of scapegoating and dehumanization that you claim to abhor. If we are to honor the memory of those who suffered, we must resist the temptation to weaponize their pain for the sake of division. We must tell the truth, even when it is inconvenient, even when it does not conform to the comforting clarity of victim and villain.
History is not a zero-sum game. The suffering of one people does not negate the suffering of another. The Holocaust was a tragedy that consumed 6 million Jews and millions of others—Poles, Romani, disabled individuals, political prisoners. To stand in solidarity with the Jewish victims of Nazism is to stand against all forms of hate, against all forms of historical revisionism—including those that would demonize the Polish people as a whole.
If your goal is justice, then let it be rooted in truth, not in the perpetuation of myths that only serve to deepen the wounds of history. Will you reflect on this, or is your mind already closed?
Poľsko bolo a bude antisemitským štátom, ktorý vďaka vzniku tábora smrti počas 2 sv.vojny profituje na návštevnosti tábira Oswienčim a Birkenau.Mnoho poliakov počas vojny zjavne kolabolovalo z nemcami pri likvidácií židov. Že sa politickí predstavitelia zdržali stanoviska k 7.októbru nepriamo podpirili teroristov Hamasu na vraždení židov.
Systran online translation Polish to English: "Poland was, and will be, an anti-Semitic state which, thanks to the creation of the death camp during the 2nd War, benefits from visiting the Oswienchi and Birkenau camps. Many poles apparently collapsed from the Germans during the war to eradicate the Jews. That political leaders had refrained from taking a stand on 7 October indirectly supporting Hamas terrorists in the murder of Jews."
Your assertion that “Poland was, and will be, an anti-Semitic state” is a simplistic and dangerous generalization, one that overlooks both the complexity of history and the current realities in Poland. Poland, like any country, has struggled with the forces of prejudice and hatred throughout its history, but to label the entire nation as irredeemably anti-Semitic is to ignore the ongoing, courageous efforts of many Poles who are actively working to preserve Jewish heritage, confront past wrongs, and educate future generations.
Poland did not create the death camps. The death camps in Auschwitz, Treblinka, Sobibor, and others were created by Nazi Germany. The Nazi regime sought to exterminate Jews as part of its genocidal program, and it was the Nazis who orchestrated and carried out the Holocaust—not the Polish state, which had been destroyed and occupied. To claim that Poland “benefits” from these camps is both inaccurate and morally repugnant. The loss of over 3 million Polish Jews, along with the immense suffering of Polish citizens under Nazi rule, is a shared tragedy—not one that can be reduced to an opportunistic benefit for Poland.
To suggest that “many Poles collapsed from the Germans” is a distortion of the truth. Yes, there were some individuals who collaborated with the Nazis, as was the case in many occupied countries. However, to imply that Poland as a whole was complicit in the Holocaust is an insult to the thousands of Polish heroes who risked their lives to save Jews—an effort so significant that Yad Vashem recognizes over 7,000 Poles as “Righteous Among the Nations.” These individuals stood against the tide of Nazi barbarity, demonstrating courage and moral clarity in the face of the greatest evil.
The accusation that Poland’s political leaders “refrained from taking a stand” on 7 October and indirectly supported Hamas terrorists is completely unfounded. Poland has been a strong ally of Israel and a vocal opponent of terrorism. Poland’s government has condemned the actions of Hamas, reaffirming its commitment to Israel’s security. To suggest otherwise is to completely ignore Poland’s official stance and international actions, which have been consistently in favor of defending Israel’s right to exist and protect its people from terrorism.
To engage in this kind of narrative, which paints an entire nation and its people with a broad brush of historical and contemporary hatred, is not only misleading—it is harmful. It perpetuates division, fostering animosity where there should be understanding. Poland, like every nation, is a complex society with a history marked by tragedy, suffering, and resilience. If we truly wish to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust and work toward a more peaceful future, we must confront history honestly—acknowledging the mistakes of the past, yes, but also recognizing the heroic acts of resistance and solidarity that occurred, often at great personal cost.
Perhaps it is time to abandon simplistic narratives that serve no purpose other than to divide and demonize, and instead engage with history in a way that brings us closer to understanding, healing, and peace.
A possible alternative that would satisfy the ‘global’ portion of the organisation’s title would be Taiwan, another nation menaced by hostile power. The KMT was historically pro-Zionism and was treated very shabbily by Israel after losing the war. Now that Machtpolitik has tied the two countries by mutual alliance with the US, it may be the time to remember that old affinity.
Just stop genocide in Gaza. Auschwitz isn't solely about genocide of the Jewish people, first and foremost it's about genocide of the weak, it's the lesson for the whole of humanity, also for Israel
Benjamin Netanjahu is accused of genocide by the ICC, a court Poland is a party of. Instead of complaining about us or any other member 125 states for acting lawfully, criticize the ICC itself. This article is even more laughable when you consider how International Law and the crime of genocide is a construct created after WW2 by Jewish lawyers. So if anyone's missing the lessons of Holocaust - it's you.
First of all, Netanyahu is a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court. In light of international agreements signed by Poland, the country must respect the decisions of this court, and therefore there is no legal possibility for Netanyahu to avoid getting arrested upon his arrival to Poland. That's not something that can be negotiated. Secondly, here in Poland we still remember how a few years back Netanyahu and his ministers (as well as other Israeli politicians and media) were trying to rewrite Poland's history by attempting to attribute to Poland the guilt for Holocaust and how they all were spewing at Poland for enacting a bill that criminalizes such attempts. How ironic it would be if Netanyahu would now got arrested in Poland for his crimes on Palestinians... Karma is a bitch - it always returns. Last but not least, there is no paralel between Ukraine defending itself from russian invaders and Israel committing a mass genocide on Palestinian civilians in the isolated Gaza strip.
First of all, Netanyahu is a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court. In light of international agreements signed by Poland, the country must respect the decisions of this court, and therefore there is no legal possibility for Netanyahu to avoid getting arrested upon his arrival to Poland. That's not something that can be negotiated. Secondly, here in Poland we still remember how a few years back Netanyahu and his ministers (as well as other Israeli politicians and media) were trying to rewrite Poland's history by attempting to attribute to Poland the guilt for Holocaust and how they all were spewing at Poland for enacting a bill that criminalizes such attempts. How ironic it would be if Netanyahu would now got arrested in Poland for his crimes on Palestinians... Karma is a bitch - it always returns. Last but not least, there is no paralel between Ukraine defending itself from russian invaders and Israel committing a mass genocide on Palestinian civilians in the isolated Gaza strip.
Polish antisemitism is nothing new. There is a reason the last pogrom of WW2 was in Poland in 1946. They won't even accept their complicity in the Holocaust.
Poland, btw gives the world nothing. It never has. Well they gave the world Kemilnicki, and nationalist antisemitism. So the nazis learned good from the Poles.
They have also systematically dishonored what happened at Auschwitz for decades by trying to make Poland the victim rather than Jews. They are, and have always been, a nothing country.
Poland has made significant contributions to global culture, science, and history, despite facing immense challenges throughout its history. A few examples include:
* Maria Skłodowska-Curie: The only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences (Physics and Chemistry) for her groundbreaking work on radioactivity.
* Stanisław Ulam: A mathematician whose contributions to the Manhattan Project were critical in developing nuclear technology.
* The Lwów School of Mathematics: A renowned group of mathematicians whose work laid the foundation for many modern mathematical theories.
* The Enigma Decryption: Polish cryptographers Marian Rejewski, Jerzy Różycki, and Henryk Zygalski cracked the German Enigma code, providing critical intelligence to the Allied forces during WWII.
It’s also worth highlighting Poland’s cultural contributions, such as Fryderyk Chopin in music and its enduring literature, including Nobel Prize winners like Wisława Szymborska and Olga Tokarczuk.
Before WWII, Poland had the largest Jewish population in Europe and one of the largest in the world, with over 3 million Jews calling it home. Polish cities like Warsaw and Kraków were major centers of Jewish culture, religious scholarship, and economic activity. The vibrant Jewish life in Poland before the Holocaust was an essential part of the country's heritage, and its tragic destruction remains a profound loss not only to Poland but to the world.
Regarding history: Poland has wrestled with its past, as have many countries. The Kielce pogrom of 1946 and other dark chapters are acknowledged by many historians and leaders in Poland as tragedies that must never be forgotten or repeated. Simultaneously, thousands of Poles risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, as evidenced by Poland having the highest number of Righteous Among the Nations honors awarded by Yad Vashem.
Finally, Poland’s suffering during WWII was immense. Over 5 million Polish citizens, including 3 million Polish Jews, were murdered. Recognizing Poland’s victimhood does not diminish the Holocaust but acknowledges the complex realities of occupation and war.
Poland is not a “nothing country.” It’s a resilient nation that has faced extraordinary adversity, contributed richly to global progress, and continues to do so today.
Over 90% of the Jewish community in Poland was slaughtered in the Holocaust. It didn’t happen without Polish collusion. When the Jews were fighting in the Warsaw ghetto they asked the Polish underground for help and was refused. So don’t expect tears for the Poles that died fighting the Nazis. They didn’t fight to save the Jews. Many turned in their Jews, just like the other underground’s in Eastern Europe.
And the Jewish community before the war existed in spite of Polish antisemitism. You can pretend Poland was some kind of human rights nation. But in truth it was a nation of virulent antisemites who by the way haven’t changed 1 iota.
Funny you didn’t mention Chemilniki and his contributions. I wonder why. Could it be the massive antisemitism in his reign which remained part and parcel of the Polish culture?
Your comment is simply a bunch of lies and manipulations.
First of all - Bohdan Chmielnicki was not Polish!!!! He was an Ukrainian Cossack leader who led a rebellion (the Chmielnicki Uprising, 1648–1657) against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Now, addressing the rest of your points:
* Polish Collusion in the Holocaust: It’s undeniable that some individuals in Poland collaborated with the Nazis. However, Poland as a state did not exist during the Nazi occupation, having been dismantled in 1939. Many Poles were also victims of the Nazis, with millions killed, and others risking their lives to save Jews. Poland has the HIGHEST number of individuals recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem for saving Jews during the Holocaust.
* Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: The Jewish resistance fighters in the Warsaw Ghetto showed extraordinary bravery. While the Polish underground, the Armia Krajowa, did not provide extensive support, IT DID SUPPLY weapons and assistance to the extent it could, given its own fight for survival against the Nazis. Suggesting that they "refused" help is a lie!
* Pre-War Jewish Community and Antisemitism: Before WWII, Poland was home to the largest Jewish community in Europe, contributing immensely to Polish culture, science, and economy. While antisemitism did exist—as it did across Europe—Poland was also a center of Jewish life and learning. The community thrived, with a rich cultural and religious heritage that was tragically decimated during the Holocaust.
* Modern Antisemitism: While antisemitism persists in Poland, as it does in many countries, it is not accurate to claim that Poland has not changed "1 iota." Poland today actively commemorates the Holocaust, preserves Jewish heritage sites, and works to confront its history, despite ongoing challenges.
I do stand corrected about Chmielnicki.
The rest i am not wrong about
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-attitudes-of-the-poles-toward-the-jews
PS: Moreover, one of my family members (sister of my grandma) saved a Jewish girl during the war, further illustrating the resistance to Nazi atrocities that existed among many Poles. Yeah, the family wasn't happy about that but they simply kept it all to themselves. The girl survived, emigrated to UK and died around the age of 80!
That is very nice and brave of your relatives. But you didn’t respond to the link I provided. That is my response.
You are wrong about much of what you’ve said. Referring to Poland as a "nothing country" reveals the true tone of your attitude and bias. It’s akin to saying the United States is just a country of obese people with negative IQs—an unfair, oversimplified, and offensive generalization.
You haven’t addressed a single point I raised earlier, nor engaged with the historical context I provided. Instead, you’ve made sweeping accusations, as if the entire Polish population of 38 million people is inherently antisemitic. Such a claim is not only absurd but deeply counterproductive to meaningful dialogue.
Poland, like any country, has its share of individuals with prejudices, but it also has laws that explicitly penalize antisemitic behavior and hate speech. Today, many Poles actively work to preserve Jewish memory, confront the past, and combat antisemitism. Painting an entire nation with the same brush does a disservice to the complexity of history and to those who strive to build bridges between communities.
Even in my small town, there are memorials in place of synagogues and cemeteries destroyed by the Nazis—a testament to the effort to honor and remember Jewish life in Poland.
If you’re open to meaningful discussion, I’d be happy to continue addressing your concerns point by point.
"A nothing country" -- I love that. It's so true. Sausage?
Why do you love to call Poland "a nothing country"?
Everything EKB wrote above. I grew up hearing the stories from the personal experience of relatives. (And, . . . I have an MA in Comparative Literature; our syllabus did not contain one Polish author. Just saying.)
It’s telling that the foundation of your opinion rests on the claims of someone whose arguments have already been thoroughly dismantled. EKB’s statements, riddled with inaccuracies and manipulations, have been exposed for what they are - an exercise in deflection and distortion. Her suggestion that Bohdan Khmelnytsky was Polish, for instance, is a glaring error; Khmelnytsky was, in fact Ukrainian (Ruthenian to be precise) and one of Poland’s most formidable adversaries during the 17th century, not its representative. Such a fundamental misunderstanding of history reveals a lack of basic knowledge about the subject she presumed to critique.
Every one of her accusations has been addressed and refuted with evidence and reason. Yet, after her falsehoods were laid bare, she didn’t even have the courtesy to respond, let alone defend her claims. What does it say about the strength of her arguments - or the integrity of her position - if she refuses to engage after being confronted with the truth?
As for your reliance on her narrative, doesn’t it warrant some self-reflection? If her knowledge about Poland has been demonstrated to be essentially nonexistent, perhaps it’s time to question whether the stories you grew up hearing or the opinions you’ve adopted hold up to scrutiny in the same way. Repeating unexamined narratives doesn’t advance understanding - it only perpetuates ignorance.
Also, it's fascinating that your Comparative Literature syllabus didn’t include a single Polish author. Does this omission imply that every other country’s literature was covered, and Poland alone was deemed irrelevant? Or does it speak more to the limitations of the program than to the value of Polish contributions to world literature?
Because to overlook figures like Miłosz, Tokarczuk, Gombrowicz, Schulz, or Szymborska isn’t just an oversight - it’s a glaring gap in understanding the literary landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries. The absence of Polish authors on your syllabus says far less about Poland’s cultural significance and far more about the narrow lens through which you’ve chosen to view it.
There is no way Polands contributions rival those of France England Italy and Spain in the literary field. It’s highly doubtful my program was deficient: Rutgers. Perhaps we were more focused on the west. For good reason.
Very lazy answer. You didn’t address any of the points I raised. And what exactly do you mean by ‘For good reason’? Are you saying that literature from Eastern countries, like Poland, is something that should just be ignored? I’m really curious to know why you think that’s a valid position.
Sausage is German.
I am just so disappointed by Poland's actions with respect to Israel.
Note, I did not write "surprised".
Poland murdered survivors who had crawled back to their own properties. Israel is Never Again.
WTF are you talking about?
Palestinianism is a genocidal project designed to end Israel as well as Jews globally and Jewish history through cultural appropriation and historical revisionism. Arabs and muslims and all who subscribe to Palestinianism seek to complete the goal of the nazis and they are hardly deterred by the existence of Israel but rather emboldened by it.
Jews and Israel are in danger of annihilation so long as Palestinianism persists.
Thank you. Succinct. Excellent.
I am sitting with guilt. Even though I know it’s not mine, I feel the need to lean into it—to understand what it wants to tell me. Guilt often comes with regret, but when we make choices, they are what we believe to be right in that moment. Whether they were truly right or wrong is something we only understand with time and hindsight. Nazi Germany occupied Poland during the first year of World War II. There was collaboration, and there was resistance. Poland has endured countless occupations, leaving scars of lingering anger—anger that sometimes manifests in regrettable ways until people begin to wake up and confront it.
I feel deeply for the Jewish people, so often used as scapegoats or black sheep in society, ostracized simply for their differences or their approach to life. Yet, it is them who showed me empathy, and that, in Berlin. The same is true for Black communities, who have endured constant marginalization. How much pain can a people bear before enough is enough?
I recognize that I’m a white woman and could be seen as fortunate. Yet, why have I always felt scapegoated and mocked for my otherness—just for being me? Like anyone who has been marginalized, I have longed for equality, balance, and peace. These are universal desires, shared by every human being on this planet we all call home.
I fully understand why the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau is not being commemorated in a place where Jews are no longer welcomed, but instead in Israel—a place they can truly call home. That choice is not just symbolic but a profound statement of resilience, a testament to a people who have endured so much and now have a space where they can be embraced and belong.
It feels so strange to reflect on this. Back in Ireland, in what feels like a former life, I was friends with a Polish girl who grew up in Oswiecim—not too far from the camp. And there I was, an East German girl with Polish, Jewish, and German heritage, trying to make sense of my purpose. Why did the universe place me in certain places, with certain people?
Today, I understand that I was planting seeds, unbeknownst to myself—of empathy, compassion, joy, and mercy—wherever they were needed. But it wasn’t just about the seeds; it was because I needed to learn to commit to my higher self first, to recognize and accept the work.
But it’s bittersweet. That girl, once my friend, seems to have forgotten who she truly is. She has aligned herself in ways that disregard the struggles of her own people—those Polish immigrants who sought a better life in the UK and Ireland, yearning for safety and acceptance. I can’t help but wonder: what does it do to someone to grow up next to a German Nazi camp, to be confronted with that history daily? A history that becomes inextricably enmeshed with another's. It must leave an imprint on the human spirit. And then, sitting in front of me—sitting in my presence—someone whose past is deeply interwoven with hers.
I realize that we are all interconnected, but some are aware of it, while others remain blind to it, fighting an impossible fight against a part of themselves.
In my naïveté, I believed that such proximity to history would inspire transformation—a call to become a kinder, more decent human being. But the change I hoped for is still waiting to come... I have faith!
Thank you so much for the article!
Your reflections are poetic, even poignant, but they rest on assumptions that crumble under scrutiny. While the weight of history and personal experience can shape perspectives, truth demands more than subjective generalizations and misinterpretations of context. Allow me to address the core of your arguments with clarity and respect for the complexity of the subject matter.
First, the claim about Polish collaboration during the Nazi occupation is both misleading and historically reductive. Poland was the only country occupied by Nazi Germany where assisting Jews carried the automatic penalty of death for the individual and often their entire family. Despite this, thousands of Poles risked and lost their lives to save Jews. Poland has the highest number of individuals recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem—a testament to courage, not collusion. The Polish Underground State, the largest resistance movement in occupied Europe, established Żegota, an organization specifically dedicated to rescuing Jews. These facts don’t absolve individuals who acted reprehensibly, but they stand as a counterweight to the sweeping indictment you imply.
Your assertion that Jews are no longer welcomed in Poland is not only unfounded but dismissive of the efforts Poland has made to preserve Jewish memory and culture. Did you know that Holocaust education is a mandatory part of the Polish curriculum, spanning multiple subjects such as history and literature? Students read books like "Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank, "Mendel Gdański" by Maria Konopnicka, and "Medallions" by Zofia Nałkowska, engaging deeply with the tragedies of the Holocaust and Jewish contributions to Polish culture. Furthermore, cities like Kraków host the Jewish Culture Festival, an internationally acclaimed event celebrating Jewish heritage. Pilgrimages to the tomb of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk and other sites of Jewish spiritual significance occur regularly, bringing together people from all over the world.
The suggestion that Auschwitz-Birkenau’s anniversary commemoration in Israel implies a lack of welcome in Poland is a misreading of symbolic choices. Auschwitz remains a meticulously preserved memorial under Polish stewardship, visited by millions annually to confront the horrors of the Holocaust. Poland’s government, educators, and activists work tirelessly to ensure that Auschwitz remains a place of reflection, not revisionism. To suggest otherwise is to ignore these realities in favor of an emotive narrative.
As for the idea that proximity to Auschwitz inherently transforms individuals into paragons of empathy—human behavior and history are far more nuanced. Trauma, especially inherited trauma, can manifest in myriad ways, sometimes leading to a defensive distancing rather than engagement. The scars left by the Nazi occupation were not confined to one group, and the suffering endured by Poles—including the systematic targeting of the Polish intelligentsia and clergy—cannot be disentangled from the broader tapestry of the Holocaust.
The statement, "I recognize that I’m a white woman and could be seen as fortunate," feels misplaced in the context of a discussion about systemic oppression and historical atrocities like the Holocaust. While it gestures at the privilege often associated with whiteness in contemporary discourse, its relevance to the topic at hand is tenuous at best. This comment risks trivializing the profound suffering and annihilation faced by millions—Jewish, Polish, Romani, and others—during the Holocaust, where the markers of privilege were entirely rewritten by the genocidal ideology of Nazi Germany.
During that dark chapter in history, one's "whiteness" provided no immunity if they were Jewish, Polish, or otherwise deemed "undesirable" by the Nazi regime. To interject a modern framework of privilege into such a conversation risks oversimplifying and distorting historical realities. Furthermore, the phrase itself carries a tone of self-centeredness in what should be a discussion focused on historical accountability, collective memory, and human solidarity.
Rather than emphasizing personal identity or perceived fortune, this moment calls for an empathetic and informed engagement with history, not platitudes that obscure the weight of the discussion.
Finally, I find it troubling that you frame Polish immigrants in the UK and Ireland as neglecting their “own people’s struggles.” This broad-brush critique of individuals seeking better lives abroad reflects the same kind of stereotyping you claim to oppose. Polish immigrants, like all immigrants, carry complex identities shaped by history, hardship, and hope. To diminish them by implying they’ve forgotten who they are is both unfair and reductive.
In closing, your reflections, while heartfelt, lack the factual grounding necessary to engage with the profound complexities of history. I encourage you to dig deeper, to seek out sources beyond personal anecdotes and poetic musings. Start with the Holocaust education curriculum in Poland or visit a Jewish cultural event in Kraków. Or perhaps explore the stories of Righteous Poles who risked everything to save their Jewish neighbors.
I am Polish (although I left the country 30 years ago) and I am truly ashamed about what's happening.
Unfortunately, I'm also not surprised. There was a time when I was carefully optimistic after meeting some Israel supporters on one of my trips back. I got to know teachers who together with the Israeli Embassy worked on a curriculum for Polish students wanting to educate the young generation. I met people cleaning and restoring the overgrown Jewish cemeteries, documenting the tragic past, reviving the Jewish culture, and teaching others about what happened. Unfortunately, these wonderful people are a minority and while they might have some influence in the cultural realm, they are not involved in politics, as far as I know. And the old horrible antisemitic attitudes are still alive. It is truly shameful! Of all the people, we should have learned.
Am Israel Chai 🇮🇱
It's doesn't change the fact, that Netanjahu is committing dreadful genocide right now, as we speak. I'm proud that my country is following the just ruling of the international court. Every criminal needs to be punished, Netanjahu, Putin and others.
Implying that Poland is acting that way because of anti-Semitism is disgusting, shows only the true colours of people who say such things.
Thank you for your wonderful article.....That's right. NEVER AGAIN , because we have Israel.....and our glorious IDF, (God bless and protect) AM ISRAEL CHAI.....
It was no accident that all of the German extermination camps were located in Poland.
Why do you lie?
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/full-listing-of-concentration-camps
Austria
Belgium
Czechoslovakia
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Holland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Poland
Russia
Yugoslavia
My parents grew up in a shtetl in what is now Lithuania, but was Poland during their youth. They were the sole survivors of their families. I heard from my earliest memories how hateful the Poles were to Jews. The Jews cringed at Christmas and Easter, for fear of a pogrom during these holidays.
Recently, I read a book by Jan Grabrowski called WHITEWASH: POLAND AND THE JEWS. The author delves deeply into the extent to which Poland has negated the Jewish experience in WWII Poland. Their government, together with other institutions, have been working diligently to show that the Polish were totally innocent in the Holocaust; they claim that the Polish people suffered at least as much as the Jews, IF NOT MORE; that many thousands, if not MILLIONS—of Poles rescued Jews. Note that 3 million Polish Jews were murdered, because the Nazis had lots of help with the task. Now,
the Poles are steadily changing the purpose of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was to murder JEWS, in statements, and museum exhibits which present Poles as the victims. Jews are barely mentioned. Grabowski gives examples of Poles looting Jewish homes, and extorting Jews’ gold and Jewels by promising to help them, then killing them. Poland made out very well with the Jews’ stolen property and their possessions, knowing they will never return to claim it.
He reports how the Jews, locked up in the cattle cars, screamed and begged for water whenever the trains pulled into a station en route to Auschwitz, Treblinka, or any of the other Extermination camps (all in Poland). The Poles would bring buckets of water, but gave them a miserable sip ONLY if the Jews gave them the outrageous prices they demanded. The starving, thirsty Jews in the cattle cars gave whatever the Poles wanted.
The Polish gov’t is even changing the names of Ghettos from their Polish names to GERMAN names, all to show that it was the Nazis that perpetrated the Holocaust, NOT the Polish. An absolute LIE.
To claim that Poland has “negated the Jewish experience in WWII” or is engaged in some conspiratorial campaign of Holocaust denial is not only a gross distortion of the truth—it’s an affront to the countless Poles who suffered, resisted, and died under the same genocidal machinery of Nazi Germany. Poland was not a bystander to World War II; it was the first victim of Nazi aggression, carved up, brutalized, and occupied, with millions of its citizens—Jewish and non-Jewish alike—systematically murdered.
Let us be clear: Poland was not complicit in the Holocaust in the sense that its state or institutions aided in the Nazis' plans. There was no Polish state. The government had been dismantled, the land occupied, its people enslaved or conscripted. The notion of “Poland,” as you present it, helping the Nazis murder 3 million Polish Jews, is a fiction that disregards both the historical record and the nature of Nazi occupation. To conflate the actions of a minority of collaborators with the collective guilt of a nation crushed under the iron heel of the Third Reich is not only intellectually dishonest—it is morally bankrupt.
Your invocation of Jan Grabowski’s work demands scrutiny. Grabowski himself has been critiqued for methodological biases and selective storytelling, emphasizing anecdotal cases of Polish betrayal while downplaying the extraordinary and often fatal risks taken by tens of thousands of Poles to shelter, feed, and protect their Jewish neighbors. Yad Vashem recognizes more Poles as Righteous Among the Nations — over 7,000 — than individuals from any other country. Each of these cases represents immense bravery, often in the face of immediate execution for both the rescuer and their family. To ignore this is to erase not only their courage but also the nuanced reality of survival under occupation.
Regarding your charge that Poland has sought to reframe Auschwitz-Birkenau as a site of Polish victimhood: this is a distortion. Auschwitz remains a central symbol of the Holocaust, and the suffering of Jewish victims is foregrounded in its exhibitions and commemorations. However, it is also a fact that Auschwitz was a place where *Poles*—Christians, intellectuals, members of the resistance—were among the first to perish. Recognizing this does not diminish the Jewish tragedy; it contextualizes the enormity of Nazi barbarism.
Your anecdote about Jews in cattle cars being extorted for water is heart-wrenching, but it also demands nuance. Yes, there were opportunists who exploited the vulnerable—there always are in times of catastrophe. But to present this as emblematic of Polish behavior during the Holocaust is a smear. For every looter, there was someone who risked everything to smuggle food into the ghettos, to forge false papers, to open their home to the hunted.
As for the “Germanization” of ghetto names: this assertion is misleading. Historical research often uses the German-imposed names of ghettos because they reflect the administrative realities of the Nazi occupation. It is the Nazis, not the Poles, who stripped these places of their Polish names. To claim that this is part of a Polish effort to absolve itself of guilt is an inversion of truth.
Finally, to imply that Poles “made out very well” on Jewish suffering ignores a fundamental truth: the Holocaust was not a transfer of wealth—it was a cataclysmic destruction of life and culture. Poles, too, were dispossessed, starved, and brutalized. After the war, Poland was left a smoking ruin, its cities reduced to rubble, its population decimated. No one “made out well.”
What your comment reflects is not a quest for understanding but a need to assign blame—a need that mirrors the very forces of scapegoating and dehumanization that you claim to abhor. If we are to honor the memory of those who suffered, we must resist the temptation to weaponize their pain for the sake of division. We must tell the truth, even when it is inconvenient, even when it does not conform to the comforting clarity of victim and villain.
History is not a zero-sum game. The suffering of one people does not negate the suffering of another. The Holocaust was a tragedy that consumed 6 million Jews and millions of others—Poles, Romani, disabled individuals, political prisoners. To stand in solidarity with the Jewish victims of Nazism is to stand against all forms of hate, against all forms of historical revisionism—including those that would demonize the Polish people as a whole.
If your goal is justice, then let it be rooted in truth, not in the perpetuation of myths that only serve to deepen the wounds of history. Will you reflect on this, or is your mind already closed?
Ordered the book. Thanks for the tip.
Poľsko bolo a bude antisemitským štátom, ktorý vďaka vzniku tábora smrti počas 2 sv.vojny profituje na návštevnosti tábira Oswienčim a Birkenau.Mnoho poliakov počas vojny zjavne kolabolovalo z nemcami pri likvidácií židov. Že sa politickí predstavitelia zdržali stanoviska k 7.októbru nepriamo podpirili teroristov Hamasu na vraždení židov.
Systran online translation Polish to English: "Poland was, and will be, an anti-Semitic state which, thanks to the creation of the death camp during the 2nd War, benefits from visiting the Oswienchi and Birkenau camps. Many poles apparently collapsed from the Germans during the war to eradicate the Jews. That political leaders had refrained from taking a stand on 7 October indirectly supporting Hamas terrorists in the murder of Jews."
Shouldn’t that read “collaborated with the Germans”?
Your assertion that “Poland was, and will be, an anti-Semitic state” is a simplistic and dangerous generalization, one that overlooks both the complexity of history and the current realities in Poland. Poland, like any country, has struggled with the forces of prejudice and hatred throughout its history, but to label the entire nation as irredeemably anti-Semitic is to ignore the ongoing, courageous efforts of many Poles who are actively working to preserve Jewish heritage, confront past wrongs, and educate future generations.
Poland did not create the death camps. The death camps in Auschwitz, Treblinka, Sobibor, and others were created by Nazi Germany. The Nazi regime sought to exterminate Jews as part of its genocidal program, and it was the Nazis who orchestrated and carried out the Holocaust—not the Polish state, which had been destroyed and occupied. To claim that Poland “benefits” from these camps is both inaccurate and morally repugnant. The loss of over 3 million Polish Jews, along with the immense suffering of Polish citizens under Nazi rule, is a shared tragedy—not one that can be reduced to an opportunistic benefit for Poland.
To suggest that “many Poles collapsed from the Germans” is a distortion of the truth. Yes, there were some individuals who collaborated with the Nazis, as was the case in many occupied countries. However, to imply that Poland as a whole was complicit in the Holocaust is an insult to the thousands of Polish heroes who risked their lives to save Jews—an effort so significant that Yad Vashem recognizes over 7,000 Poles as “Righteous Among the Nations.” These individuals stood against the tide of Nazi barbarity, demonstrating courage and moral clarity in the face of the greatest evil.
The accusation that Poland’s political leaders “refrained from taking a stand” on 7 October and indirectly supported Hamas terrorists is completely unfounded. Poland has been a strong ally of Israel and a vocal opponent of terrorism. Poland’s government has condemned the actions of Hamas, reaffirming its commitment to Israel’s security. To suggest otherwise is to completely ignore Poland’s official stance and international actions, which have been consistently in favor of defending Israel’s right to exist and protect its people from terrorism.
To engage in this kind of narrative, which paints an entire nation and its people with a broad brush of historical and contemporary hatred, is not only misleading—it is harmful. It perpetuates division, fostering animosity where there should be understanding. Poland, like every nation, is a complex society with a history marked by tragedy, suffering, and resilience. If we truly wish to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust and work toward a more peaceful future, we must confront history honestly—acknowledging the mistakes of the past, yes, but also recognizing the heroic acts of resistance and solidarity that occurred, often at great personal cost.
Perhaps it is time to abandon simplistic narratives that serve no purpose other than to divide and demonize, and instead engage with history in a way that brings us closer to understanding, healing, and peace.
A possible alternative that would satisfy the ‘global’ portion of the organisation’s title would be Taiwan, another nation menaced by hostile power. The KMT was historically pro-Zionism and was treated very shabbily by Israel after losing the war. Now that Machtpolitik has tied the two countries by mutual alliance with the US, it may be the time to remember that old affinity.
Just stop genocide in Gaza. Auschwitz isn't solely about genocide of the Jewish people, first and foremost it's about genocide of the weak, it's the lesson for the whole of humanity, also for Israel
Benjamin Netanjahu is accused of genocide by the ICC, a court Poland is a party of. Instead of complaining about us or any other member 125 states for acting lawfully, criticize the ICC itself. This article is even more laughable when you consider how International Law and the crime of genocide is a construct created after WW2 by Jewish lawyers. So if anyone's missing the lessons of Holocaust - it's you.
First of all, Netanyahu is a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court. In light of international agreements signed by Poland, the country must respect the decisions of this court, and therefore there is no legal possibility for Netanyahu to avoid getting arrested upon his arrival to Poland. That's not something that can be negotiated. Secondly, here in Poland we still remember how a few years back Netanyahu and his ministers (as well as other Israeli politicians and media) were trying to rewrite Poland's history by attempting to attribute to Poland the guilt for Holocaust and how they all were spewing at Poland for enacting a bill that criminalizes such attempts. How ironic it would be if Netanyahu would now got arrested in Poland for his crimes on Palestinians... Karma is a bitch - it always returns. Last but not least, there is no paralel between Ukraine defending itself from russian invaders and Israel committing a mass genocide on Palestinian civilians in the isolated Gaza strip.
Greetings from Poland.
First of all, Netanyahu is a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court. In light of international agreements signed by Poland, the country must respect the decisions of this court, and therefore there is no legal possibility for Netanyahu to avoid getting arrested upon his arrival to Poland. That's not something that can be negotiated. Secondly, here in Poland we still remember how a few years back Netanyahu and his ministers (as well as other Israeli politicians and media) were trying to rewrite Poland's history by attempting to attribute to Poland the guilt for Holocaust and how they all were spewing at Poland for enacting a bill that criminalizes such attempts. How ironic it would be if Netanyahu would now got arrested in Poland for his crimes on Palestinians... Karma is a bitch - it always returns. Last but not least, there is no paralel between Ukraine defending itself from russian invaders and Israel committing a mass genocide on Palestinian civilians in the isolated Gaza strip.
Greetings from Poland.