Why am I writing about German Concentration Camps in my blog about Poland? Well, it’s really simple. Apparently there are some people out there who do not realize that it was the Germans who created the concentration camps that killed millions of Jews as well as hundreds of thousand of Poles, but the Germans built those concentration camps on Polish soil. The camps were created by the Nazi Germans, manned by them, and built of German materials. Yet, somehow, somewhere, some ignorant, careless media slobs have from time to time refered to these as Polish Concentration Camps.
Before I went to Poland, I always wondered if Polish people were anti-Semitic. I was not sure. I did not think so, but I wanted to know for sure. And then our tour guide told me some of the stories of all the Poles who risked (and sometimes gave) their lives to hide Jews from the German Nazis, all the Poles who stood up to defend their fellow countrymen, even if such defense meant possible imprisonment or death. In the USA we think of “Anne Frank” and that amazing story. But similar things happened all over Poland. Now, to be fair, there were a few Poles who may have been anti-semitic, and some who may have sided with the Germans in their hatred of the Jews. But these Poles were few and far between. As a matter of fact, today Israel remembers and acknowleges many people who helped the Jews during the holocaust, and the most represtented nationality is the Poles.
So, I have found my answer, both through personal investigation and informed reading. Throughout its history, Poland has been very welcoming to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. Poland became a Mecca for Jews because of its tolerance. Hitler and the Nazis hated the Jews and used them as scapegoats. The Poles, by and large, defended the Jews, aided them, and did all they could to mitigate the holocaust. In fact, a lot of the western world turned their backs on the plight of the Jews in World War II. Poland is where that battle was fought, and Poland fought for its brothers and sisters who were Jewish.
So, if you ever, Ever, EVER… hear someone speak of Polish Concentration Camps, you can know that they are either ignorant or bigots or racists—or all of the above. Poland was a conquered country, subservient to the Nazi Germans during World War II, unaided by her western allies such as France and England. And she paid a price, being used as the killing fields for millions of people, mostly Jews. But know this, and know it for a certainty… throughout its long and glorious history, Poland has welcomed all people, including Jews, and welcomed and embraced them. Poland was indeed the first great country of freedom.
If you’d like to know more about this topic, I suggest you follow these two links:
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-storozynski/the-medias-slander-of-pol_b_773173.html
- http://www.thekf.org/events/news/petition/
But whatever you do, know that Polish people are maybe the most welcoming people in all the world, and have a long history it. Though perhaps after years of living under communism, they are not that much in favor of that…..
