Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]

I used to visit it a lot when I was in my teens. I really loved to wander around. We spent several summers nearby. But that was years ago. Surely before Wajda filmed 'Zemsta' there and uncle Google says the film was made in 2002.

Even then it did have a parking lot, some cafes or bars. There were souvenir shops in some of the chambers.

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]

As for Szlak Orlich Gniazd, the Ogrodzieniec Castle is just amazing. Not much to see in the village but the ruins make up for everything.

The castle seems to rise from the rocks on which it was built. It's open to tourists.
I think they sometimes organise these medieval fairs (similarly to other castles on the trail).

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

As for Jewish involvement in Stalinist atrocities, it is a taboo. Even Solzhenitsyn was criticised and ostracised for mentioning it in one of his books.

Or postwar Poland and Jewish Stalinist persecutors like Romkowski, Brystiger, Wolinska or Rozycki and many more. Should we reverse Lyzko's argument and say that communists chose Jews to persecute Poles because of their anti-polonism? They would torture and sentence to death people like Pilecki. The man who had volunteered into Auschwitz to gather intelligence was tortured by a Jew... He and other victims of the Stalinist regime were thrown into mass graves and many still remain unidentified. And their oppressors were never punished.

But I'm not going to make such generalisations about a whole nation based on certain individuals.
Why were there so many Jews in Poland before the war? Because ethnic Poles and Polish Jews could live happily together. There were good Poles and bad Poles, good Jews and bad Jews. Also the German, Russian or Ukrainian minorities. All had to face Nazis. Many were killed. Many fought bravely against the occupant. Shamefully, some helped Nazis - some of them were ethnic Germans, Poles, Ukrainians and yes - Jews too.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

@dolnoslask
I know. That's how I feel as well. And to think that he preaches his 'facts' to others is just terrifying.
Is it my impression that he has just found out about the destruction of Warsaw? And what does he compare it, too? German cities. As much as you feel sorry for civilians there, it was a bloody consequence of what Nazis had done to numerous European cities, towns and villages. A great number of them in Poland. Where's sympathy for their civilians?

On the other hand, somebody taught him that, too. That basically posts a question about the level of history classes in the US. Is it just him or is it common?

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

Yet another example he is more compassionate towards Germans than to Poles.
A history teacher? It is horrible to think he spread his 'knowledge' about WW2 to others - full of prejudice and lacking information.

Genealogy / Need help finding a place in Suwalki region (from Russian times) [14]

familysearch.org/wiki/en/Poland_Archives_and_Libraries

The link above gives you information about how to look for data in Poland.
Bujauskas sounds Lithuanian. He may have been born in Poland, though.
If he was Roman Catholic, you may try to contact the diocese in Ełk
kuria@diecezja.elk.pl

Work / Business ideas for Poland [63]

Sure it doesn't. A great bargain :)

As for business opportunities, I'd focus on things you have experience in. So don't open a restaurant if you have never worked in one. Also, think about the location. If there are already two gyms in the area, don't open a third one.

How about franchising?

Work / Business ideas for Poland [63]

10kg for 28.50?

Classifieds / American guy in London looking for a Polish girl [29]

If you are really in London, just go out and socialise.
There are lots of Polish women there ...

History / 75th anniversay of Dr Janusz Korczak's death - a true Polish hero [26]

A wonderful and kind man, totally devoted to children. Till the end.
There is a heartbreaking excerpt from an interview with Irena Sendler in which she talks about the last time she saw him and the children - on their way to the Umschlagplatz.

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]

You are very welcome :) I really like Kraków.

Enjoy your time there!

Travel / Why do you visit Poland? [223]

@Lyzko
I do understand your English. I understand some of your Polish (still try my best). You make a lot of mistakes. Some make your posts in Polish incomprehensible.

The guy was talking about his trip to Auschwitz. What did you come up with again? Bad Roman Catholics.
Of course, first you had to judge the guy about how he had felt about Auschwitz. You have never been there, but you knew better.

@paul02
Have you been to the Wieliczka Salt Mine? It's a must when you are in the area -beautiful chambers carved out of rock salt underground.

Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska with beautiful nature and castles like the one in Ogrodzieniec.
The castle in Pieskowa Skała.
Ojców National Park.
However, they're not in Kraków but close.

In Kraków, apart from the main square and the Royal Castle, I'd recommend Kazimierz - the Jewish Quarter, Rynek Underground Museum, the Archeological Museum. I have also heard about Muzeum PRL u, that presents life in Poland under communism. Or just wander away from the crowds of tourists and get lost in some old streets of Kraków.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

It seems to me the guy is just biased. Or a troll. Or both.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

Lyzko seems to be nicer in PMs.
I told him about my grandparents' war experiences -all of them forced labourers. Now I wish I hadn't. Waste of time.

I'm sorry for your family, dolnoslask. From what I have read it was hell on earth.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

As I have already pointed out, I'm not denying anti-semitism in Poland. But it exists everywhere. Even among Jews.
Gross - a son of an ethnic Pole and a Polish Jew. Yet another example of how anti-semitic Poles are. I mean, if you can't hurt Jew in any other way, just marry one ... pff

So care to explain why there were so many Jews in Poland despite its anti-semitism?

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

Denmark lost 3000 people in the war. Further 4000 were killed fighting for the German army. The king was still in the country. Most institutions worked perfectly normal.

You compare that to Poland?

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

Any difference in numbers concerning Jewish population in both groups? It just keeps me wondering why there were so many Polish Jews if Poland was such a terribly anti-semitic country. Care to explain?

Any difference in the rage with which they were invaded?
Any agents form the latter group who volunteered into Auschwitz to gather intelligence which was then totally ignored by the Allies?

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

@Lyzko
In what way does Poland share responsibility for the Holocaust? Could you elaborate on this?

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

I quoted what I found disturbing about your posts. You can read it above in both mine and your post. Read them again. Perhaps, after all, it's you who can't understand.

I remember your post about Socha and Karski. But I also remember those about Poland's responsibility in the Holocaust and about "good" Poles (these inverted commas ...)

Just to get it straight, so that you could understand: Poland is not responsible for the Holocaust.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

The thing is that I do understand what you're posting and I disagree with you - about your claims about Poland's responsibilty for the Holocaust - that's what made me start this obviously pointless discussion with you.

Or what you have just written: 'for every "good" Catholic Pole there were plenty out there willing to turn in their Jewish neighbour'.
You see, you're so biased that even when you write about Poles who risked or sacrificed their lives for their Jewish neighbours, you put the word 'good' in inverted commas. Not to mention, the way you compare the numbers: one "good" Pole vs plenty bad ones. Any sources or just your prejudice again?

I'm afraid you are as biased towards Poles as anti-semites are biased against Jews. It's hatred both ways.
Honestly speaking, I'm tired and disgusted by the amount of hatred in these two treads. If that's how you want to feel about people, it's your choice.

Have a good life.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

@Lyzko
The Polish Catholic clergy were also prosecuted by the Nazis and imprisoned in concentration camps.
Jewish children were given shelter and false identities in Catholic orphanages.
Pope John Paul II had lots of friends of Jewish origin. How come if he grew in the society and religiion you claim to be so anti Jewish?

History / Poles and (Polish) Jews... Victims of war... and beyond [380]

@Lyzko
I'm sorry but your Polish is far less fluent than anybody's English here. I refrained myself from making any comments about mistakes you make in Polish so why don't you do the same?

Patronising people is not an argument in a discussion.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

You see, I come from a town that was half Jewish before the war. The synagogue was about 200 metres from the Catholic church. When Germans put the synagogue on fire and started shooting at Jews, they were offered shelter and first aid by the priest and nuns from the church. A nun-nurse from the local hospital was sent to Ravensbruck when it was found out she had helped two doctors in providing false identities and treatment to Jewish patients against the Nazi order.

Oh, those Polish catholics ...

History / Poles and (Polish) Jews... Victims of war... and beyond [380]

Is Poland to be blamed for being invaded by Nazi Germany and the USSR?
Lyzko, what are your family's experiences during the war that make you state such things? Did your family live here then?

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

I just don't get these anti-Polish sentiments. Why all the prejudice?

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

That's a pity then. It's like spitting these people in the face.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

Over a quarter of all Righteous among the Nations are Poles. Even though Poland was the only country where helping Jews was punished by death. One of the most notorious cases was what happened to the Ulma family.

etnhnic Poles were also victims of the war -imprisoned in labour camps, Nazi and Soviet concentration camps, shot dead in the battle or in the street. Not to mention what happened after the war.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

@Lyzko
Can you elaborate on what you wrote? In what way was Poland responsible for the Holocaust?
I do realise there were Polish anti-semites during the war. Just like today. But antisemitism is not unique for Poland only. It exists everywhere.
Just like anti-Polish sentiments.
I suggest watching an interview with Władysław Szpilman - the man whose life was the basis for 'The Pianist'. It's entitled 'Własnymi słowami' and you can find it on YouTube. A real story of a Polish Jew who survived the war.

History / Can anyone from Poland tell me about Auschwitz and The Ghetto? [625]

Poland's responsible for the Holocaust ... how lovely ...

Language / Short Polish<->English translations [1049]

It would be 'palacz'