Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. — Matthew 18:18
Seventy-one years ago, on September 1, 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland. In those first days and the six years that followed, more than five million Poles died.
Resources and reflections on Poland and the start of World War II:
John Guzlowski’s poem: Landscape with Dead Horses wherein he seeks to capture and describe the feelings of his parents and the Poles of their generation.
A poem: I Sing the Song of Maczkowce, by Martin Stepek commemorating his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and all Poles from the pre-war eastern border area who were forcible resettled in labour camps in Siberia by the Soviet Red Army in 1940 and 1941.
New Duns exhibition will focus on moving story of Polish troops: ‘For Our Freedom and Yours’ – the story of the 1st Polish armored division at the Duns library. The exhibit traces the story of the famous Polish armoured division, from their formation in Duns in 1942 to their campaigns in western Europe in 1944-1945 under the command of the esteemed General Stanislaw Maczek. Admission to the exhibition in Duns Library Exhibition Room is free from August 13th to September 24th.
The Doomed Soldiers – Polish Underground Soldiers 1944-1963 – The Untold Story: The story behind the underground armies resisting Nazi German and Russian Communist occupiers as well as collaborators.
Ułani, ułani – Archival information on the Polish Calvary and resistance during the first days of the war. Abandoned by allies, and attacked from behind by the Red Army, the documentary includes interviews with surviving cavalry from the September campaign, statements from Nazi German leaders, and the fate of the Polish cavalry after surrender.
Night Of Flames – A historical novel and winner of the 2007 “Outstanding Achievemnet Award” from the Wisconsin Library Association. The story follows Polish cavalry officer, Jan Kopernik, and his wife, Anna, through five years of war and the underground resistance in their courageous quest for freedom.
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The Katyn Order, the acclaimed historical novel/thriller set in World War II surrounding one of history’s most heinous war crimes.
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M.B.B. Biskupski’s Hollywood’s War with Poland: 1939-1945. Danuta Goska reviews the book at Writing the Polish Diaspora and states:
[The book] is a must-buy, must-read and must-keep book for several audiences. Twenty-first century American citizens seeking insight into ethnic jockeying for power will want to read this book. Conspiracy theorists fascinated by the ability of popular culture to twist human minds will find support for their most Orwellian nightmares. Polish Americans who care about the abysmal position of Polonia in the arts, politics, journalism and academia will buy, read, and reread it. Biskupski’s style is straightforward, without academic or aesthetic flourishes. The average reader will have no problem.
Hollywood’s War with Poland is an essential resource that proves, beyond any question, that powerful people, prompted by geopolitical competition and deep hostility worked hard to sully the image of Poles, Polish-Americans, and Poland. They did this during World War II, when Poland was playing a key historical role. World War II began when Nazi Germany invaded Poland…
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From Polskie Radio: Landmark Solidarity ‘August Agreement’ remembered
Today marks the anniversary of the famed August Agreement, signed 31 years ago on 31 August 1980 – an event that marked the beginning of the end for communism in Poland.
Also known as the Gdansk Agreement, the breakthrough followed strikes at the fabled shipyards in the northern Polish city, with former employee Lech Walesa at the helm.
By 24 April 1980, the communist government estimated that some 130,000 employees from 140 companies in Gdansk and neighbouring Gdynia had joined the strike. The nearby port city of Gdynia followed suit, with approximately 60,000 not turning up for work.
The authorities were compelled to act. As it happened, Poland’s communist leader Edward Gierek called for a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Negotiations ensued between the so-called Interfactory Strike Committee (MKS) and the government. Talks touched on such key themes as censorship restrictions, the release of political prisoners and the allowing of the Church to participate in radio and television programmes.
The first point in the famed 21-demands struck a decisive blow:
“Acceptance of free trade unions that are independent of the party, and of enterprises, in accordance with convention No. 87 of the International Labor Organization concerning the right to form free trade unions.”
The agreement caused a brief eruption of freedom of expression in Poland, before the clampdown of December 1981, when a state of martial law was declared.
Nevertheless, the regime eventually fell due to efforts of Solidarity campaigners, culminating in the Round Table Agreement of spring 1989.
The Poster Art above is for the documentary Robotnicy ’80. In this clip from the movie you hear Lech Wałęsa say: Mamy prawo do strajku! (We have the right to strike!)
Forwarded by Dr. John Guzlowski
GRINNELL COLLEGE: Tenure-track position in the Department of English (Ethnic American Literature and Poetry Writing), starting Fall 2012. Assistant Professor (Ph.D.) preferred; Instructor (ABD) or Associate Professor possible. Grinnell College is a highly selective undergraduate liberal arts college whose English department offers courses in a broad range of literary traditions spanning the long history and present multiplicity of writing in English. The College’s curriculum is founded on a strong advising system and close student-faculty interaction, with few college-wide requirements beyond the completion of a major. The teaching schedule of five courses over two semesters will include Literary Analysis, a survey and an advanced seminar in Ethnic American literature, and eventually introductory and advanced courses in poetry writing. Every few years one course will be Tutorial (a writing/critical thinking course for first-year students, oriented toward a special topic of the instructor’s choice).
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I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. — Romans 12:1-2
