Polish Christian survivors of WWII oppression tell their stories

24 Sep 2009 / #1

Polish Christian survivors of WWII oppression

All wars disrupt; they leave behind the dead and the living, the victims and the survivors. The war that tore apart Poland in 1939 with Hitler's avowed annihilation of an eastern neighbor "for German expansion", Stalin's westward thrust with Soviet communism and the mass deportation to Siberia of whole societies, all ensured that while millions died, those who survived could not or would not speak of their ordeal. Theirs was the story of deprivation and of humiliation; it was the realization that not only was a homeland lost, but that an entire future was denied.

Published this September, the book is available through Amazon, and Barnes & Noble websites, or through your local bookstore.

lightning-and-ashes.blogspot

Ozi Dan 26 | 566

25 Sep 2009 / #2

All wars disrupt; they leave behind the dead and the living

I'm not sure how much attention it has received, but I think a largely untouched field of investigation into the effects of WW2 and Stalinist oppression in Poland would surely relate to Polish death by suicide during these periods as a consequence of these events.

For example, my father had two friends who committed suicide in the 1950's because they (he believes) were simply crushed in mind, body and spirit, and couldn't cope, having survived WW2 and then having to live the nightmare of the Stalin years.

I'd be interested to hear if any other members have had family with similar experiences or have been directly touched by suicide committed during WW2 or the Stalinist era. In my opinion, the psychological aspect of 'winning' WW2 then being 'rewarded' with the imposition of an alien and oppresive regime cannot be downplayed or marginalised in this context.

sjam 2 | 541

25 Sep 2009 / #3

I can totally recommend this book!

It is pretty unique as it covers the Polish experience both under Nazi Germany and the Soviets including post-war period in one volume. Memoir accounts that have never been published before.

Author's website: polishdiaspora.net

Polonius3 980 | 12275

27 Sep 2009 / #4

This site deals with the non-Jewish victims of the Holocaust: holocaustforgotten.com