3rdGenEuroAmer
20 Jun 2010
History / The Two Saddest Nations on Earth... Poles and Jews [243]
I am sharing an article I found on the Official United States Holocaust Memorial Online Museum:
I searched for "Poland" on their site. This particular result is from another official online holocaust museum: holocausttaskforce.org.
"Poland's commitment to education, remembrance and promotion of Holocaust research is primarily determined by two factors: our history and our geographical location. Poland, not by its own will, was chosen by the Third Reich as the place where the Holocaust would be perpetrated. The future victims of the Nazis were transported to Poland from all corners of Europe and even North Africa. Hundreds of thousands of Polish Jews and those from other countries were herded into ghettos where they were decimated by hunger and disease. The survivors were taken to concentration and death camps. Yet, we should also remember that Jews, as soldiers of the Polish Army, fought against the German invaders from the first hours of the war. Jews were also the first in Europe to stage civilian uprisings against the Germans; they took place in Warsaw and Białystok
Remembrance of the war in Poland is multifaceted: it involves the annihilation of the Jews and the suffering of the Polish people. We look with sadness and regret at those pages of our history that recall shameful deeds. The fact that some Poles killed their Jewish neighbours, or denounced fugitive Jews to the Gestapo, fills us with sincere pain and utmost condemnation. But we also remember and admire the valour of very many Poles who risked their lives to help their Jewish compatriots.
Also, we are aware and proud of the thousand-year-long Polish-Jewish history. We embrace as our own the heritage of Polish Jews, many of whom have enhanced the international stature of Poland."
"An Overview of Holocaust-related activities in Poland
Poland - the first country to fight Hitler - became the place where millions of Jews perished during World War Two. Six Nazi German death camps were established on occupied Polish soil.
We shall never forget that in 1939 Polish Jews fought against the German invaders, and in 1943 they were the first to stage civilian uprisings. Our special concern for the preservation of Holocaust sites and memories of the Holocaust is a way to honour the victims and caution future generations. It is our firm belief that Poland should never again be too weak to protect all its citizens. Finally, we believe in the continuation of Polish-Jewish history of which the Holocaust was certainly not the last chapter.
Radosław Sikorski
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland"
I am sharing an article I found on the Official United States Holocaust Memorial Online Museum:
I searched for "Poland" on their site. This particular result is from another official online holocaust museum: holocausttaskforce.org.
"Poland's commitment to education, remembrance and promotion of Holocaust research is primarily determined by two factors: our history and our geographical location. Poland, not by its own will, was chosen by the Third Reich as the place where the Holocaust would be perpetrated. The future victims of the Nazis were transported to Poland from all corners of Europe and even North Africa. Hundreds of thousands of Polish Jews and those from other countries were herded into ghettos where they were decimated by hunger and disease. The survivors were taken to concentration and death camps. Yet, we should also remember that Jews, as soldiers of the Polish Army, fought against the German invaders from the first hours of the war. Jews were also the first in Europe to stage civilian uprisings against the Germans; they took place in Warsaw and Białystok
Remembrance of the war in Poland is multifaceted: it involves the annihilation of the Jews and the suffering of the Polish people. We look with sadness and regret at those pages of our history that recall shameful deeds. The fact that some Poles killed their Jewish neighbours, or denounced fugitive Jews to the Gestapo, fills us with sincere pain and utmost condemnation. But we also remember and admire the valour of very many Poles who risked their lives to help their Jewish compatriots.
Also, we are aware and proud of the thousand-year-long Polish-Jewish history. We embrace as our own the heritage of Polish Jews, many of whom have enhanced the international stature of Poland."
"An Overview of Holocaust-related activities in Poland
Poland - the first country to fight Hitler - became the place where millions of Jews perished during World War Two. Six Nazi German death camps were established on occupied Polish soil.
We shall never forget that in 1939 Polish Jews fought against the German invaders, and in 1943 they were the first to stage civilian uprisings. Our special concern for the preservation of Holocaust sites and memories of the Holocaust is a way to honour the victims and caution future generations. It is our firm belief that Poland should never again be too weak to protect all its citizens. Finally, we believe in the continuation of Polish-Jewish history of which the Holocaust was certainly not the last chapter.
Radosław Sikorski
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland"