THE POLISH REVIEW WEEKLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY THE POLISH REVIEW PUBLISHING CO., with the assistance of the POLISH GOVERNMENT INFORMATION CENTER STANISLAW L. CENTKIEWICZ, Editor —745 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 22, N. Y. • ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOUR DOLLARS • SINGLE COPY TEN CENTS
MAIN FEATURES
Polish Under ground Appeals to the World •
100th Anniver sary of the Lwow Polytechnic Institute •
Polish Second Corps Wins "Virtuti Militari" in Italy
Wilno—-"The Polish Athens" •
"I Believe"— . A Testament of Faith •
Medical Welfare Activities of TOZ Among Jews in Poland
VOL IV. No. 28 AUGUST 2. 1944
Old Street in Wilno "... For closer Union, common and mutual brother love, in eternal common defense of both countries, for the eternal glory of God, with eternal thanks to the glory of these two excellent nations, Poland and Lithuania . . . we have renewed that old alliance, and agreed upon the rules hereto set forth: . . . That the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are now a body one and indivisible, Editorial, The New York Herald Tribune, July 17, 1944 a Republic one and indivisible consisting of two States and Nations, who joined to form one people." —Union of Lublin (1569) by which Poland and Lithuania voluntarily united to become one state.
POLISH UNDERGROUND APPEALS On the Diplomatic Front TO THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD On January 8, 1944, representatives of the major Although the cause of the United Nations is Hitler would like to see; they are not hampering political parties of Poland met in secret session in War making splendid progress behind the bayonets of the efficient and united prosecution of the war. saw to draw up the following appeal to the nations of the world. This was published in the January 15 issue RZECZPOSPOLITA the Red Army in eastern Europe, what many will The Polish statement does not hint at any funda of "Rzeczpospolita Polska,” an underground newspaper. consider a disturbing reminder of the failure of mental change of position on the part of the gov N the eve of the Allied invasion, on the eve of the Allied diplomacy to make equivalent progress has ernment which issued it, but neither is the word POLSKA decisive encounter with the Germans in which the ROK IV. N». I (73) /rz \xr A K’ SZ A W A______15 STYCZNIA 1044 R just emerged from London. The Polish govern ing of a sort which would impose insuperable Polish army abroad as well as the Polish Home Army ment-in-exile has issued a statement calling the Oshall fight shoulder to shoulder with our Western Allies, the DO NARODÓW ŚWIATA barriers to a just and rational settlement or aggra W przededniu rozstrzygającego uderze i nie o współczucie nam chodzi, gdy stwier world should take into account the situation of the Polish nia sil sojiisznk zy
2 3 lOOTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LWOW POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE b7 JERZY W. MEIER ONG before lutionary uprising of 1848 that strove to break the despotism the war, of the Holy Alliance. Lwow. In 1872, the Lwow Technical Academy was changed L plans to The Galician massacre in the Cracow region, the Austrian to the Polytechnical School. A rector and senate were placed celebrate the one- occupation of hitherto free Cracow, the uprising in Poznan, in charge of it with the right to hold state examinations and hundredth anni the temporary freedom of Lwow and the revengeful bom grant state diplomas in engineering. This placed the Institute versary of the bardment of the city by General Hammerstein which de on a par with the Polytechnic School at Vienna. At the same founding of the stroyed the old University of Lwow followed. All this along time, classes were transferred to a new building. At last the Lwow Polytech with later repressions under Austrian rule developed the school was assured of steady growth and progress. This was nic Institute were character of the Poles and the technical progress of their the era of the pioneer engineer Stanislaw Szczepanowski and made by the di school far more than the program of education dictated by of positivist tendencies in Russian-held Poland. Technology rectors of the Vienna. Once again progress was disrupted by the Insurrec grew in popularity, and the school gained an ever-increasing Institute, now in tion of 1863, in Russian-held Poland, when youths from number of students. The failure of the insurrections and the exile. They un Lwow as well as from every part of Poland crossed the bor proverbial poverty of bureaucratically governed Galicia fur dertook the con- der and flocked to join the colors. This time repression was ther stimulated the desire to create on Polish soil technologi struction of not so severe, as the artificial dual monarchy was already cal schools equal to any found in Western Europe. The seven large build shaken by its disastrous defeat at the hands of the Germans Lwow Institute thus became not only an institute of tech ings for the Me- at Sadowa in 1866. To rescue their decaying empire, the nology but also a school of Polish patriotism. Many of its chanical and Hapsburgs adopted a constitution and granted limited self- students were among the first to join the ranks of Pilsudski’s Electrotechnical government to their subject peoples. Legions in 1914, and fought through the World War at his Departments, Education was reorganized by the Provincial Seym in side. Independent Poland awarded the Lwow Institute the "Polonia Restituta medal for its achievements in science and the outstanding part played by the school in the fight for independence. The city of Lwow gave the Institute the “Cross of the Defense of Lwow.” Pollowing the first war, after regaining the right to rule Kazimierz Bartel, former Prime Minister and Pro itself, the enrollment of the Lwow Polytechnical Institute rose fessor at the Lwow Polytechnic, was executed by the to more than 3,000 students, from the pre-war total of 360. Germans in Lwow for refusing to cooperate with Buildings, class rooms, and dormitories were inadequate. The them. Institute, however, was fortunate in obtaining the buildings of the Magdalena Convent. along with new dormitories for aviation students and In 1937, construction of new buildings for the Department testing laboratories for the civil engineering students. of Mechanical Engineering began on land donated by the All these workshops of the school were used during city of Lwow. Seven buildings were to have been erected the development of the Central Industrial Area of for the new departments of theoretic and practical engineering, Poland. metallurgical technology and the use of scrap materials, in A special anniversary book was to have been pub dustrial and metallurgical laboratories, etc. The first two of these projected Lwow Polytechnic Institute. lished which would have given a brief review of past departments of achievements and a detailed report of Polish technical buildings were in process of com architecture, civil work and the contribution of Polish thought to the and marine engi development of technical study. A series of monographs pletion and their equipment was neering, mechan was to have been published on the work of alumni of ical engineering, the Lwow Polytechnic Institute and of the general Con ready for instal lation at the out and chemistry gress of Polish Engineers. This work was disrupted by was also added Germany s aggression and the ensuing occupation. Po break of the war. The organiza the department lish professors—-those who still live—are in German of military and concentration camps, young Polish engineers and stu tion and program of the Polytech general engineer dents are either in the Allied armies, have joined the ing. The entire Home Army, or are prisoners of war. nic Institute un program was The beginnings of this Institute reach back to 1825. derwent many changes after the brought up to when Stanislaw Staszic became head of the Polytech date and e n- nical Council called by the Polish Government to organ rebirth of Po land. In 1919, larged. ize a Polytechnic under the direction of Kajetan Gar At the begin binski. Staszic opened this school two weeks before his two other inde pendent educa ning of the 20th death. The school progressed steadily and its program century, the en was enlarged and improved until the Uprising of 1831. tional institu ; WM(CI jTVbCHTew *NWWITEC . . w. OMONfE - LWIW4 • f- IHlTm-W- MT4CÜ - tions, the Agri W1'WTłWI«- tXt-MNWItï-KkfT. «EMM». tire department Not until 1844 was another attempt made to estab -Nit« TW4MWSK1 - - WIKT • WtlhdtSXl - - PN • WIŁWttKl --W- tUttl ■ IN • tt-Xl Wt Mi - tI cultural Acad of mechanical en lish another such school under the name of “Technical emy in Dublany S..i Vhu* »•iVClWÖKI* *IW • * J4N • HCCW6WSKÎ - - - MlłNtWłCt - • • LEtMtb-MlFVSiW- - gineering was in Academy.” nte?. Mn «m i «w'rw! -$XAXItf.iXt.. W XT4NCX- nflCZ-WWCfK • M4XS- WVMCflWtCI --MU- FdKXtEWtXI- and the Forestry the hands of Normally, in the life of a nation, a hundred years Academy in three professors, is no great length of time, but the last century before Franke, Jaksa- Lwow were ab -ÄttKX• xv>xttwiti - rrrvs - kvnkiewi * • $t4ü - kwmtkiwski - * -rsh • xvtmew
OURAGEOUS and foresighted officers, brave soldiers, nines. There in those snow-covered mountains, and a careful, detailed plan conscientiously executed the daring and decisions of small groups were C brought Polish soldiers in Italy their first “Virtuti more important than tanks or heavy artillery. Militari”* as well as 10 Crosses of Valor. After an all-night march, wading through snow On a bright Sunday in the square of a small Italian moun drifts most of the way, they came upon the Ger tainside village, there was not long ago a big military celebra mans’ first line of defense near Hill 1463: The tion. Trumpets sounded the march of the Carpathian Bri latter proved an excellent point of observation. gade. A standard embroidered with the words Tobruk and From the summit one could see deep into enemy- Gazala proudly waved over the rows of olive green helmets. held territory. Taking care not to be seen, the Italian urchins peeked from behind houses to witness the Polish patrol gained the top. From there they ceremony. saw a small farmhouse about 1% miles to the In front of the guard of honor, stood 11 of the Corps’ west. Four German soldiers were sunning them finest soldiers at their head a young lieutenant with dark selves before the hut. Dirty and dressed in ragged eyes and strong features set in a swarthy face who stood clothing, they were slapping fleas. still as a bronze statue. Had the ceremony taken place in Although the lieutenant had been assigned only Poland, these heroes would have been showered with flowers to observe enemy positions, he decided that this by happy throngs. However, General Anders himself pinned new situation automatically changed his orders. the decorations on the breasts of these men who had trapped The little house was secluded. The nearest Ger an entire German outpost. man positions were at least a kilometer or two Two of these seasoned warriors were veterans of the Car away. This was an isolated enemy outpost. Dur pathian Brigade. Two had already twice received the Cross ing the day these soldiers remained hidden near Polish troops guard German prisoners taken by them in Italy. of Valor. Most of them came from families that had long the house while at night they brought out their fought and died for Polish Independence. Private Stanislaw machine guns to cover approaches to German lines. I he Germans replied with blasts from their machine-guns, N., tall, slender with a strong broad face that revealed his “As I formulated my plans of action, I realized that I had but were soon silenced by our snipers. Our two groups gypsy origin, had had many ups and downs during his short to take full responsibility for whatever happened,” related stormed the house and took up firing positions. Our artillery life. During the siege of Warsaw he had been wounded, Lieutenant O. “I thought it all over again and decided that increased its range by 200 meters. The enemy still tried to taken prisoner, but after four months had escaped, crossing they were ripe for an attack. Our painstaking and tiresome shoot from gun embrasures in the north and south walls of the river Bug into Russia. From there he went to the Middle observation went on until evening. Around noon two more the, building. Soon, however, even these positions were “too East where he joined the Carpathian Brigade. He had the Germans joined the outpost. The enemy was not at all hot’ and they were forced to retreat. P., one of our sharp muscles of a wild cat and when he smiled two rows of white aware of its danger. shooters, ran up to one of these gun holes with a hand teeth lit up his sun-burned face. “We worked out a detailed plan. The artillery attack was grenade, but encountered unexpected opposition in the form Private Stanislaw W., the leading figure in this story, to begin at 8 o’clock sharp. Simultaneously two groups, one of a screen. Not losing his head, however, he placed the was also tall and slender with a face somewhat ascetic and of Lieutenant O., and the other led by Private W. were to grenade on the sill, and took cover further along the wall. a little fanatical. His company called him “platoon leader.” strike and take the house in a “pincers movement.” The He had been 13 when the war broke out in 1939, and only A month earlier he had been stripped of rank. He lost rank lieutenant’s group was to strike directly at the building from 15 when the Polish Army in exile was formed. He had to when he thoughtlessly let a drunken soldier drive a military Hill 1463. The other group, under cover of our artillery lie about his age to get in, but his youth did not keep him car. But the army not only punishes but also rewards the fire was to move down the mountain side. As soon as the from winning the Cross of Valor for this action. meritorious. hut was taken, our artillery was to increase its range of fire “ The force of the explosion ripped out the window and part by 200 meters, in this way cutting off any possible escape of the adjoining wall. Three more grenades were thrown * The “Virtuti Militari,” or Cross of Military Valor, is Poland’s high General Wladyslaw Anders decorates Polish troops in Italy. routes for the Germans. in and heard to explode. Cries followed, then silence. At the est military award for bravery on the field of battle. The order was “Our details were ready by 7 p.m. The artillery waited same time, Sniper W. and three others threw grenades founded in 1792, during the reign of Poland’s last king, Stanislaw General Anders called Private W. to step out of rank. only for the signal to open fire. Everyone’s nerves were August. through the other windows. Detonations in the hut were Two quick steps and the clatter of his tense. The hands of our watches dragged on at a snail’s again followed by complete silence. Private W. called in carbine being shifted and Private W. pace. Finally they said German for any one still stood before his general. 8 o’clock. alive to come out and. “Private W., I advance you to the “Our plans worked surrender. No answer. rank of private first class,” said General without a single hitch. Anders as he pinned the Corps’ first “The firing continued. On the dot at 8 o’clock Privates Czeslaw P. and “Virtuti Militari” on his breast. He the artillery barrage be won it one April night on the Sangro Jozef S. broke in the gan. Although we had north door. The lieuten River front. never shot from that po ant threw in two more It happened like this. sition before, our fire grenades. The interior “Lieutenant O.”, said the battalion was surprisingly accu commander, “in today’s action you are was still shrouded in rate, our first shells go smoke when two men, to lead patrol No. 16.” ing only some 50 meters tommy guns in hand The lieutenant and his patrol of 20 over the mark. Lieuten crossed no man’s land, wading through went in. Others broke in ant Z. remained at the through a n opposite deep snow drifts. They all wore white summit of Hill 1463 to winter camouflage. An artillery officer door. The remaining direct fire. After the first Germans surrendered and 3 artillerymen, a first aid corpsman shots the range was cor and two sharpshooters went along. The without any further re rected and Polish shells sistance. Hands clasped patrol was equipped with carbines, three struck the little house. At Bren guns, 10 Thompson sub-machine behind their heads they the same time our two guns and two radios. were marched out. In The patrol was typical of the kind of groups pushed down the this way they could not warfare carried on for three months by mountainside. The grade hide any grenades. was steep and wet. Polish heroes buried at Monte Cairo (Piedimonte). Removing the wounded from the Cassino battlefield. the Carpathian Brigade in the Apen (Please turn to page 14)
6 7 WILNO THE “POLISH ATHENS’’ by WITOLD HORESZKO icine, moral and po TILNO is faculties: philosophy, litical sciences, and \A/ one of the canon law and theol literature and liberal ▼ ’ most impor ogy. Its first rector arts. Moreover, the tant centers of Polish was the famous schools of the Wilno culture, filled with orator and writer district in the pro precious memories, Piotr Skarga, and vinces of Wilno, dear to every Polish its professorial body Grodno, Witebsk, heart. With it is as included the first Mohylew, Minsk, sociated the memory translator of the Volhynia, Kiev and of Adam Mickiewicz, Bible, Jakob Wujek, Podole were placed Juliusz Słowacki, and Mateusz Sar- under the direction Joachim Lelewel, Jo biewski, author of of the university and zef Ignacy Kraszew excellent poems in Prince Adam Czarto ski, and many others, the Latin tongue. The ryski as curator. His including Jozef Pil Academy continued torians of that time sudski. It is a bea its development up wrote that the “Rec con of Western civil to the middle of the torship was in fact a ization lighted on the XVIIth century ac kind of ministry.” quiring a faculty of outskirts of Eastern The collaboration King Stefan Batory, who founded Wilno Uni law founded by Ka Europe.” of Prince Czartory versity in 1579. Detail of "Batory at Pskow" In these words zimierz Leon Sa by Jan Matejko. pieha. ski, inspector of Leon Wasilewski schools Tadeusz Cza ended his famous article on the Polish character of Wilno, The invasion of cki and rector Jan which was published in “Le Monde Slave.’ I he writer the Russians, who Śniadecki, gave high author was an outstanding publicist and statesman, a mem occupied Wilno for ly positive results in ber of the Polish Delegation to the Peace Conference of 6 years, halted the spite of pressure on Poland and the U.S.S.R. held at Riga in 1921. He was the activities of the the part of the Rus Academy. But it father of Wanda Wasilewska, now a Communist writer. sian administration. Leon Wasilewski knew Wilno well. He knew the town was reopened and re- V The well-known per and the soul of the town, enthralled in its ancient University organized in 1773- Church towers in Wilno. walls, in the stone towers of its forty churches ; Wilno, with 1781 by an Educa- secutor of the Poles its dark monastery-like library tional Commission and facul Novosiltsov was particularly distinguished for his methods Piotr Skarga Paweski, famous Jesuit preacher and first rector halls, its dim side-streets, its ties of medicine and architec of terror. But in this period the University of Wilno con of Wilno University (1579). slow-flowing Wilja, by whose ture were added. Its name was tinued to produce great men—Danilewicz, Frank, Niszkow- blue waters Polish romantic changed at that time and it ski, Goluchowski, Herberski and the historian Joachim the University. There were six faculties : theology, literature, poets sat and dreamed. He became the “Principal School the exact sciences, law and social science, medicine and fine Lelewel, of whom Professor Janowski wrote “this famous arts. The University library numbered more than 350,000 knew the traditions of the of the Grand Duchy of Lithua Wilno professor became the founder of a new historical town, where the Miraculous nia.” Besides its university volumes and 12,582 manuscripts, and was open to everyone. Virgin of Ostra Brama had duties it was to be in charge of school ; he placed the study of history on a level never before The hopes of Lelewel, who lay buried nearby, had been become the object of special the administration of all other achieved . . .” realized. Wilno again became one of the principal centers of reverence of all Christian Po schools in the district. During Under the direction of such exceptional professors the the spiritual life of the country, conscious of her great role land ; a town which had earned this period it produced such young people received their education. They likewise estab as the “Polish Athens.” through the centuries the hon eminent scholars as the astron lished academic circles. In the years 1805-1808 the friends But there was more than the famous Wilno University to ored name of the “Polish omer Poczobut, the architect of science society “Philomats" bring renown to this town whose Athens.” Gucewicz, Pilchowski, Malew was founded and reached the Polish culture had for centuries That name perhaps most ski, Gilibert, Hussarzewski, height of its activity in 1817 un radiated throughout the country. correctly describes the role of Strojnowski and many others. der the influence of Tomasz Zan Wilno had also a fine tradition of Wilno in the history of Polish With the last partition of and Adam Mickiewicz, later to literature and writing, art and culture. No other Polish city Poland, the school lost its become the greatest poet in Po Polish music, libraries and the —with the exception of Cra autonomy and its name was lish history. There was also a theatre. cow — was so organically changed to the “Principal Wil secret independence club called The first printed books ap bound up with its university. no School.” The University “Philarets.” The Czar’s commis peared in Wilno in 1525 but the Its people left Wilno only to did not give up, however, but sioner. Novosiltsov, broke up real development of literature in spread its fame throughout the continued its work. Scholars of these academic societies, their Wilno occurred during the reign world and to return always in European fame, such as the members were arrested and in of the Polish King Zygmunt memory to the quiet town and eminent chemist Jedrzej Śnia the year 1824 many of them with August. Wilno, together with its narrow Florentine streets. decki, the naturalist Stanislaw Mickiewicz, Zan, Czeczot and Warsaw and Cracow, became The University of Wilno Jundzillo and the painter Fran Odyniec at the head were exiled one of the main literary centers, had its beginning in the XVIth ciszek Smuglewicz lent luster into the interior of Russia. After a workshop of pamphlets and re century. In 1579 Stefan Ba to the University’s faculty. the uprising of 1831 the Univer ligious, political and social papers. tory, King of Poland, bestowed In 1803 the school was fi sity was closed to be reopened In the beginning of the XIXth upon the Jesuit College there nally given the title “Imperial only on August 28, 1919, after century it became the cradle of the privileges of an Academy, the return of Wilno to Poland. Polish romantic literature. Two University of Wilno.” It now of the most eminent representa- which were confirmed by Pope There now began a second Wing of Wilno University housing the astronomical observatory Gregory XIII. The Academy comprised four faculties : phys- The great Polish poet, Adam Mickiewicz, in Wilno. Painting by ico-mathematical sciences, med splendid period in the history of founded by the brilliant 18th century Polish scientist Jan Śniadecki. (Please turn to page 10) at first consisted only of three W. Wańkowicz (1823). 9 8 WILNO — THE "POLISH ATHENS”
(Continued from page 9) Polish opera and song will always be bound up with the “I BELIEVE” - - A TESTAMENT OF FAITH tives of Polish romanticism, Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz work of one of the greatest of Polish composers, Stanislaw Słowacki began their work in Wilno, at a time when classi Moniuszko. In 1840 the latter settled in Wilno and presented The German occupation of Poland since 1939 has been children are sold in the market place like cattle—and does cism had reached its zenith and the need for fresh influences there the premiere (1848) of his “Halka,” which later be so cruel and inhuman that one wonders how the people anyone put in a good word for us? was painfully felt. In Wilno literary periodicals were pub came the national Polish opera. The Wilno theatre origi of that martyred land can bear their burden. Polish “We are alone in this country, suffering the worst things lished which were distributed all over Poland ; e.g. the pe nated as miracle plays organized by the Jesuits there in the morale has remained remarkably high despite a five-year that have ever happened to human beings ! That’s why I riodical “Atheneum” edited by the eminent novelist Jan XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, in which University students reign of terror. But occasionally the heartache is so don’t want to see people ! I don’t want newspapers ! I don’t Ignacy Kraszewski. The famous writer Eliza Orszeszkowa took part. Later it evolved into court plays given by mag great that doubts as to ultimate victory arc bound to want to know or hear ! My children will never see their also set up a publishing firm in that city and struggled in vain nates, e.g. Prince Radziwiłł of Nieśwież and finally in 1785 beset even the strongest. In 1943 “Zywia,” the under father again. I know there are thousands of such children ! with Russian authorities for its existence. the “father of the Polish Theater” Wojciech Boguslawski ground weekly for women, published this moving scene Why delude ourselves any more? It is better to lock one Wilno’s publishing tradition dates from the XVIth century founded in Wilno the first permanent Polish theater. Moraw between two Polish women. The testament of faith self up in one’s home and not know anything, not hear when Leon Mamonicz installed the first printing press in ski and Maciej Kazynski continued in this tradition present spoken by its author sheds some light on the reasons for anything ! . . .” that city. Besides the printing ing in addition to foreign authors German failure to break the Polish nation. She sat there trembling, pale and tearful, nervously sewing establishments of the very active a Polish repertoire. From 1845 on a child’s shirt. We sat in silence for a long time before University Publishing House, the Polish repertoire had to be S far as Zoska is concerned, the war has been going on I began to speak slowly and carefully, trying not to hurt her. the establishments of the entre supplemented by plays of the much too long. Just a few months ago, when she had “Who says human beings are not alone all their life? preneur Jozef Zawadzki of Poz Russian invader. The Russians A- been notified of the death of her only brother in the Think how deep is the solitude of the dying, always, not only nan were noted for their bold designated 3,000 roubles yearly Oświęcim concentration in wartime ; and howr terri initiative. The latter revolution for this purpose, but neverthe camp, she had not shed a bly alone in her pain is a ized the Wilno publishing busi less in spite of constant pres tear. Surely his sacrifice mother giving birth to a ness and the town assumed the sure, the Moscow repertoire is not in vain, she said. new life . . . It is not a character of an intellectual cen was unpopular and a patriotic But her nerves can no question of being alone but ter whose influences spread far public systematically boycotted longer take it. She wan of keeping your faith— beyond the boundaries of the the compulsory Russian plays. ders about her home quiet faith which you cannot ex federated states of Poland and The renascence of the perma and resigned without a plain by reason and which Lithuania. For example, in the nent Polish stage came in 1906 smile for her children or you cannot measure by years 1854-1865 the Zawadzki with the founding of a new the a song on her lips. She thoughts—faith in the ulti firms published 348 works in ater by Mlodziejowska and has stopped making plans mate victory of Good, the Polish language, 105 in Poplawski. They played the for the future, when “her which is as eternal as evil Lithuanian, 107 in Latin, 11 in romantic and neo-romantic man” will return. is powerful today. French and German, 25 in poets such as Mickiewicz, Sło Zoska no longer reads. “And no one can help Ukrainian. Besides the Zawad wacki and Wyspiański, and the She has lost interest in the in this, neither friend, nor zki enterprise there were a num well-known painter and pro underground press, al society, nor the govern ber of other active, publishing ducer Ferdinand Ruszczyc came though she used to be the ment. He who has lost firms, of which the most famous to Wilno. most avid reader of the faith that he can withstand was the book company “Lux” When independence had been secret newspapers that all evil, who does not be of Ludwik Chominski. After its won, Wilno became one of the came to the village. I de lieve, that despite every return to Poland there were centers of Polish theatrical life. cided it was high time for thing he can still achieve more than 30 graphic establish Artists played in the Teatr me to call on Zoska. something in life, is as ments in Wilno. Miejski (Municipal Theater), We talked about this empty and toneless as a It is not strange that a town at Pohulanka, in the Lutnia. and that. I asked about bell with its heart torn out. so rich in writing talent, imbued The famous “Reduta” was set her children and inquired You are not like that ! You with so intellectual an atmos up, the first Polish experimental about her mother, who was still have much to say in phere, should lead all others in theater, under the direction of staying at her sister’s in life, much to give. None the number and wealth of its the learned Mieczysław Lima another village. of us the living knows libraries. nowski and the actor Juljusz But somehow our con how much, how horribly In addition to the above men Osterwa. In every respect the versation lagged. Finally much he can stand. Just tioned University Library city was indeed coming to be the I took a deep breath and as none of us can decide (350,000 volumes), Wilno has “Polish Athens.” asked point blank : “Listen, that he has finished his its National Library, founded But it is not only the Polish Zoska, what is the matter work in the world. by Tadeusz Wroblewski, a Athens. Its greatness may be with you? Why are you “The same thing applies Wilno lawyer, with 100,000 measured on another scale. so listless? In these days to our Nation. It is not true that we are alone ! volumes, 30,000 “feuilles vo The first Polish edition of the Bible to appear anywhere came from Wilno “united two brother na when we must feel with lantes,” 3,160 manuscripts, and the presses of the Radziwiłł printery in 1563. Collection of Wilno tions in one fatherland.” Over our heart, think with every It’s not true ! Never were an iconographical museum, a University Library. its stone streets for centuries cell of our brain, when we must offer help, advice, encourage there such large human groups defying death day after day famous Masonry collection, and a collection of documents Lithuanians and Poles had walked together, before the altars ment—you retreat into your shell as if the world and its in the most difficult labor of conspiracy. They are stronger relating to Wilno and environs. It has its library of the of its churches representatives of both nations had knelt in affairs did not matter to you !” than death because they do not fear it ! They believe, they Friends of Science (scientific works), its libraries of the common prayer, without disputes or quarrels, joined in At first Zoska tried to avoid the issue. Why, she hadn’t know that they serve a cause that will outlive death ! Evangelical Synod, of the Catholic Seminary, the Orthodox brotherly love and mutual anxiety for the boundaries of their changed at all. It was all my imagination. But she couldn’t “Loneliness and personal grief are forgotten in serving Seminary, the Medical Society, the Pedagogical Society and united kingdom. The greatest Polish poet, Mickiewicz, be keep up the comedy. Suddenly she grew silent and a moment Poland. You know that, don’t you? And don’t think the many others, including the well-known Tomasz Zan Memo gins his epic poem “Pan Tadeusz” with the invocation : later exploded : world has forgotten us ! It is only our improvident, inveter rial Library and 1,000 people’s libraries and 500 school “Lithuania, my country, thou art like health itself !” “Because I don’t believe in anything any more, under ate optimism that impels us to say the war will end today, libraries. It may be that the vision of a poet is no argument for stand? Human laws, eternal justice, human goodness— tomorrow or the next day. A vain hope that has no basis Polish music which, like literature, experienced its highest politicians. But the fact that on Lithuanian soil two of the everything fails! Evil rules the world. Evil, see? We are in reality. Poland has never been in such a difficult position level of development during the reign of King Stanislaw greatest leaders of Poland were born, her chiefs of the nation, alone, in all our deepest misery we are alone. Alone—do you as she is today. But never in her past did she have such a August, owes its early development to Polish magnates who, Tadeusz Kościuszko and Jozef Pilsudski speaks for itself. know what that means?” great chance of victory. following the example of their King, maintained opera For there were times when the Polish Athens became the “Zoska ! Zoska !” I repeated, stunned by her outburst. But “Our whole land lives, its pulse beats so strongly that the troupes and orchestras at their own expense. In the year Polish Thermopylae and a poet’s vision clothed perforce the she didn’t hear me. world stands amazed by our endurance. Our soldiers, en 1818 there was established in Wilno an Association of the defenders of a common cause and a common fatherland in “And we are all of us alone ! For almost four years we’ve camped at the ends of the earth, eat up every bit of news Friends of Music producing operas. The renaissance of armor of steel. been dying in concentration camps, they are killing us on the about us. and study it for a hint about you. me, their mother, thresholds of our cottages, hanging us on the gallows, our (Please turn to page 14) 10 11 Medical Welfare Activities Of TOZ Among Jews In Poland 1919 * 1939 W U L M A N, M. D.
of the need for cleanliness and proper care The outbreak of war in September, 1939, brought to of the body, this slogan was used from a violent end normal Jewish community life in Poland, one end of the country to the other : which had been built up with care and at great sacrifice. “The cure of the sick is a charitable Great interest attaches to the medical welfare work deed—mitzweh—but the prevention of carried on in Poland by the Jews between the two wars, sickness stands higher.” and it is of value as a guide for future relief work in The means employed to drive home this Poland after peace returns. truth were many. Lectures were held, No one is better qualified than Dr. Leon Wulman to movies shown, brochures, posters, pam describe the work and achievements of T.O.Z. in Poland phlets distributed by the million. Visiting for the readers of The Polish Review. Dr. Wulman nurses from sanitation squads and health was the founder and the head of the T.O.Z. in Poland. centers instructed the families in health Prior to this he had been depxity director of the medical protection, “cleanliness week” were held department of the American “Joint” in Poland. The and clean clothes, linen and soap were dis author of several books and numerous articles on public tributed. The press, popular publications, hygiene, from 1928 to 1939 edited “Social Medicine,” and magazines lent valuable assistance in a Polish scientific magasine devoted to health problems this educational campaign. among the Jews. 2. I he medical care of children was Now in the United States, Dr. Wulman is Director divided into three parts : for infants, of the American OSE Committee for safeguarding the through dispensaries, milk depots and health of the Jews and edits the “OSE Review.” child clinics ; for children of pre-school The following article is based on his recent lectures to age—through nurseries and kindergar students of the J.D.C. Introductory Coxirses at Columbia tens ; for school children through the U niversity : teaching of hygiene in schools, health colonies and childrens’ clinics. Tens of thousands of children were served in these Model of TOZ tuberculosis sanitarium in Bialystok, Poland. OZ (Towarzystwo Ochrony Zdrowia), an organization institutions and in the schools. TOZ for protection of the health of the Jews in Poland, was operated in schools of all kinds—religious, secular, Hebrew established at a time when the J.D.C. active in Poland infection of homes and b) it give direct help to the sick by T and Yiddish. placing them in recognized medical institutions, distributing since the end of the first World War, had already completed General poverty and the needs of the parents hindered proper food and finding proper places for the victims to live its emergency relief program, that included the provision of the efforts to improve the health of the children. It was nec clothing, food, medicines and the building of hospitals, poly and work. essary to feed the children, and in recent years breakfasts The fight against ringworm was originally undertaken by clinics, bath houses, etc. The J.D.C. laid the foundation for and lunches were distributed to more than 45,000 children the establishment of TOZ. the J.D.C. and later continued by the TOZ which cured daily. I he same kind of work was done in the summer colo 27,760 cases. The following instance well illustrates what The development of TOZ was gradual. During the first nies which sought to give rest, nourishment and medical aid was achieved : in 1922 it was found that in the religious year five branches with a small number of medical institu to the children during the summer months. In the summer schools of Bialystok and Wilno, one out of every six children tions were established in the larger cities. At the beginning of 1939, more than 36,000 children attended the summer had ringworm. Entire schools were affected with this di of 1939 TOZ already had 70 branches in Poland and 368 colonies of TOZ. Besides these colonies, many other camps 61 day camps ; 1 nurses’ schools ; 1 orthopedic institute, etc., sease. In recent years an inspection was made of these same medical and hygienic centers. existed for needy children. schools and it was found that the disease was virtually non Among these 368 centers were 34 general polyclinics ; 10 etc. This work was carried on with the support of the 3. Of social diseases three were most prevalent among the 15,433 TOZ Members. existent. In the history of medicine there is no parallel to school polyclinics; 41 dental institutions; 10 tuberculosis Jewish masses in Poland : tuberculosis, ringworm and this story of the cure of a disease as widespread as was ring dispensaries for neurological cases; 48 physicotherapic in Factors that contributed to the; progress of TOZ’s medical trachoma. A two-fold campaign to eradicate these diseases work were many : first, the participation of prominent physi worm in Poland, and that by a private agency without official stitutions; 3 tuberculosis sanatoria; 3 hospitals; 15 day was carried on by TOZ. a) it sought to check the spread by powers. nurseries for young children ; 39 camps for school children ; cians and public leaders, close to the Jewish isolation, registration of the sick, hygienic information, dis scene, familiar with the living conditions of the 4. The extreme poverty of the Jewish people and the Jewish masses, who knew their psychology and inadequate medical aid to Jews compelled TOZ to enjoyed their confidence. Another factor con concern itself also with purely therapeutic services. tributing to the success of the organization was Medical clinics, hospitals, sanatoria, X-ray cabinets, the wide social base on which it was built. dental clinics were organized and conducted. The There were people from all walks of life and no number of such institutions before the war was up distinctions were drawn as regards professions, ward of one hundred and fifty most active institu education or party affiliations. This broad tions. The Central Radiologic Institute in Warsaw, basis of people from all groups and classes gave with its complete X-ray equipment and facilities for the organization strength and influence. A diagnosis and treatment of ringworm ; the Sanato third and vital factor was the handsome finan rium for tubercular children in Bialystok, the sum cial support of American Jewry through the mer camps and homes for children in Wilno, Lwow Joint Distribution Committee, the assistance of and Cracow, the Nurses’ School in Wilno and many the World Union for health protection among others deserve mention. Thousands of patients vis Jews—OSE—and the friendly attitude of the ited these institutions and benefited from their help. Polish government and communal authorities 5. TOZ was not satisfied merely to give practical toward TOZ, whose work they appreciated medical aid to the thousands who needed it, but highly. sought out the causes of their physical handicaps, The work of TOZ comprised: 1) Dissemina gathering material regarding the health conditions tion of public information; 2) Medical care of of the Jews in Poland and comparing it with that of children; 3) Combating and eradication of the non-Jewish population of similar economic status. Similarly TOZ conducted important research into Dormitory for children in Warsaw run by TOZ (Organization for the protection of the health social diseases; 4) General medical aid; 5) the mortality rates of Jews and non-Jews, the spread of Jews in Poland). When the Germans created the Ghetto in Warsaw, they ruthlessly Scientific research. Nursing school of TOZ in Wilno, Poland. ( Please turn to page 15) destroyed the dormitory and sent the children to camps of death where they were murdered. 1. To arouse among the masses a realization 13 12 lOOTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LWOW POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE POLISH UNDERGROUND APPEALS TO THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD nist ; Szymon Wierdak, editor of Sylwana, all played im (Continued from page 5) portant roles in the development of the school and the train (Continued from page 3) liberation and the end of massacre, in the form of cooperation and Anczyc. Drafting was first introduced by Professor with our Government and army to speed the day of invasion, ing of students. . . cades to come. At every step he ruthlessly applies the prin Edwin Hauswald who was given his chair in 1904 and is In the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanislaw ciple of collective responsibility. Seeing how impossible it is in the form of fastest possible deliveries of arms and ammu now the oldest living Lwow professor. nition to our Home Army, that stands ready to face the Most famous among the older professors of architecture Anczyc, great friend of youth and a famous social benefactor, to break our spirit, he has increased his bestiality to a degree Thaddeus Fiedler, engineer and philosopher, Maximilian enemy in the final victorious struggle. were Julian Zacharjewicz and Teodor lalowski, Edward never before attained in the history of the world. Thaddeus Huber, world famous as a mechanical engineer, Kovacs who propagated wood decoration, and Antoni Popiel, Mass executions have killed about two and a half million Now, in this most tragic moment of our history, faced with Edwin Hauswald, popular for the many anecdotes about his Jews in Poland. Present-day conditions have overshadowed the increased butchering of our population, we have the right sculptor and creator of the Mickiewicz monument in Lwow. inventions, Diesel, famous constructor of machines, Ludwik Younger members of the staff were Jan Sas Zubrzycki, even the darkest medieval legends of this unhappy people. to turn to you, nations of the world, for reassurance that our Eberman, well known teacher, Julian habianski, petroleum sacrifices in this fight are not in vain, that in the post-war admirer of Polish gothic and author of about 60 scientific engineer, Zygmunt Ciechanowski, to mention only a few This refined sadism of public executions of Poles that has works on Polish architectural relics, Thaddeus Ominski, prevailed throughout the country has no historical parallel. world the rights and interests of Poland shall be unques members of the large staff. architect of the Polytechnical library and restorer of Lwow From October, 1943, the streets of Warsaw and many other tionably recognized. Poland, which occupies the key position Cathedral, Witold Minkiewicz, Wladyslaw Klimczak, Wla While Poland was partitioned, the Polish Polytechnic So between east and west, has for ages past blocked the path of ciety organized all Polish engineers in Austrian-held Poland Polish cities resound with the shots of firing squads killing dyslaw Derdacki and Kazimierz Bartel, several times prime new hostages. On certain days in Warsaw alone as many as Prussian aggression to the East, and for centuries has been minister of Poland, killed by the Germans in Lwow after his and was active in all Polish matters. One of its most famous an outpost and defender of Western culture and civilization presidents was Stanislaw Szczepanowski. An equally famous 300 persons are executed in the streets and squares. To refusal to become a Quisling. emphasize their threat, microphones fixed in streets all over against the Asiatic hordes that periodically swept over In the Department of Engineering were Maximilian fhul- secretary of the organization was Wladyslaw Sikorski, who the city announce the names of the liquidated, as well as Europe. lie, who lectured at the Polytechnic Institute from 1890 to later became Polish Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief. Secret political and military meetings were commonplace. those of the next batch of hostages scheduled for this organ We Poles, face to face with the most terrible danger, have 1939, Jan Bogucki, Kasper Weigel, famous geodetist, killed the right to demand assurances that: by the Germans in Warsaw, Stefan Bryla, Wladyslaw Woj- Now the Polytechnic Institute has been closed by the Ger ized murder. Big red posters plastered on walls also an tan, famous Polish technical lexicographer, Artur Kuehnel, mans, its professors have been ruthlessly murdered. The nounce this. During the past few weeks in Warsaw, over No one shall rob us of any territory, Karol Watorek, Lucian Grabowski the astronomer, three pro Germans have replaced it with a German-Ukrainian Tech 1,000 hostages have died in this manner. In the same period, No one shall have the right to control our internal affairs ; fessors of marine engineering, Maximilian Matakiewicz, Otto nical Institute. They have looted its laboratories and libra 5,000 more were killed in other parts of the country. Mass that our Government, based on the free will of our people, Nadolski and Jan Łopuszański, and two mathematicians, ries on the pretext that Poles have no need for such things. executions of prisoners by firing squads or in gas chambers shall be fully recognized. Włodzimierz Stożek, Dr. Lucian Boettcher. But Polish sweat and blood in building up the institution also continue in concentration camps and prisons. The integrity and independence of the Republic of Poland In the Department of Chemistry the leading professors cannot be erased so easily. No matter what happens, even We have no doubt that the Germans want, if not to exter and its decimated population shall be regarded as sacred by were Ignacy Mościcki, Thaddeus Godlewski, Stefan Niemen- if the fortunes of war destroy the Institute completely, Poles minate the entire Polish nation, at least to weaken it so that the world. towski, Pawlewski, Wisniewski, Victor Syniewski, Adolf will return and build it anew. After the war the Lwow Poly we shall never again constitute a threat to them. Recent The assurance that the nations now fighting for a free Joszt, Adam Maurizio, Wacław Lesnianski, Stanislaw Pilat, technic Institute will continue to educate Polish engineers, statements by Himmler reveal plans for continued anti-Polish world shall acknowledge these just demands of ours shall and Thaddeus Kuczyński. terror. And should the Germans be forced to evacuate Polish increase ten-fold our efforts in the fight with the enemies of In the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Stefan who will direct post-war reconstruction and help build a new Polish economic system based on equality of opportunity for territory, this criminal promises that everything there shall freedom. Pawlik, Karol Malsburg, Leopold Caro the economist ; Bene be leveled and the population wiped out, except for forced dict Fulinski the zoologist; Dezydery Szymkiewicz the bota all classes of society. The Home Political Representation consisting of : labor needed in the Reich. 1 hese inhuman crimes, this extermination of the Polish The National Party “I BELIEVE” — A TESTAMENT OF FAITH nation goes on before the eyes of the world. They have The Polish Peasant Party The National Labor Party steads. I believe in the might of the Polish Spirit, which is become part of our every-day life. It is the duty of all nations (Continued from page 11) of the world to understand this and to lend a hand to a The Central Directorate of the Working strong enough to rise above the most humiliating misery. Masses Movement sister, wife . . . We are not the only ones who wait. They I believe that the sacrifices of the Polish fighters for Freedom nation fighting to the very last drop of blood for its existence. “Liberty, Equality, Independence.” wait too for that moment when they will cut the motors of are not in vain. I believe that out of the blood shed on Polish We ask of you, nations of the world, this aid. We want it their planes and glide down over Poland and land here, next soil for the eternal truths of Good and Justice will dawn the in the form of increased military action to hasten the day of —Warsaw, January 8, 1944. to us, perhaps on our community mall beyond the village. joyous Morrow of a Just Poland. I believe in the purposeful Think of it ! flight of Polish planes winging their way over the oceans of “But so that all this might come about, we must enrich the world, toward their native land. I believe that the crimes our common stock of moral force by a contribution of such of murderers of the defenseless and the weak will be effec medical welfare activities of toz among JEWS IN POLAND ardent faith that all doubts and resignation will fade before tively counteracted by the organized will of the nations that it. We must repeat like a daily prayer our indomitable serve justice. I believe—I believe in the speedy victory of (Continued from page 13) TOZ transformed medical service from mere charitable T believe.’ ” Poland ! . . . And I believe in my resilient strength which I of tuberculosis among Jews in Poland, the state of health relief into a systematic and constructive activity for the im Zoska was staring out of the window. give today and which I will give tomorrow to build lasting provement of Jewish health conditions; from mere cure of Peace and Order in my liberated country.” of Jewish school children, the population characteristics of “In what do I believe?’’ she asked without looking at me. Jews in Warsaw, Lodz and other cities, and the state of sickness to the prevention of disease, from unorganized activ “I believe that evil can not last forever ! I believe in the Zoska continued to stare into the distance. But her pale health of Jewish intellectuals. ity in different fields to a well-knit, systematic health move victorious return of Polish soldiers to their family home lips repeated after me: “I believe.’ ment with a many-sided program covering all phases of Medical conferences were held and a scientific magazine, health protection and all linked together in a large-scale Social Medicine was issued. health education program. TOZ broke away from old POLISH SECOND CORPS WINS ITS FIRST "VIRTUTI MILITARI” Such were the main lines along which modern public methods and conducted its work on a modern and scientific health work was conducted among Jews in Europe between (Continued from page 7) could search him, enemy mortars found the range. We basis. couldn’t wait any longer. Retreat was imperative. This mor the two wars. The outbreak of the war put a violent and brutal end to “Never in my life did I see people so mortally afraid,” tar fire harassed us all the way back to our base. When we W hen one considers the many-sided activities of TOZ, the this work. We are witnessing now a horrible process of Lieutenant O. said. “They held their hands up all the way were safely back we found every one alive and well.” wide scope of the medical and hygiene work it carried on mass extermination and annihilation of the Jews in Poland back to the Sangro. All through our bombardment of the In recognition of this outstanding deed and for great per between the two wars, one cannot but marvel at the magni by the brutal German invaders, exceeding in atrocity any outpost, they had lain on the floor. sonal bravery Stanislaw W. was awarded the silver cross of tude of the undertaking and the remarkable results achieved. thing recorded in history. Sad and dark is the outlook for During those years TOZ worked a tremendous change for “Nevertheless, we barely had time to march the enemy out “Virtuti Militari.” As General Anders, commander of the the future. of the house before another outpost further to the West Second Corps pinned the decoration on his breast he said : the better in the public health conditions of the Jews in “The most important trait of a soldier without which he Poland. This was reflected in a drop in the mortality rate Nevertheless, the day will come when the dance macabre of opened fire on us. Since our assignment was already accom among Jews (from 15-18 per 1000 inhabitants to 10-12) ; the forces of evil will cease to darken the world and man plished, there was no use taking further risks. Private W. cannot accomplish anything is courage . . . I am sure that during our march toward Poland, all our soldiers shall be in the infant mortality rate (from 12 per 100 birth to 6.6) ; kind will again be free. In Poland, there will be released and 4 other Polish soldiers took the prisoners back to our in the control gained over a whole series of contagious di tremendous forces that will reach new heights in the work base while our lieutenant returned to the observation hut for decorated for bravery . . . I am equally certain that these men who have proven their might and valor here on the seases (27,000 ringworm cases cured) and in the remarkable of succoring the suffering Jewish masses, for the greater further reconnaissance. improvement in the health of school children. good of the whole population in Poland. “On the floor lay a dead German soldier, but before we Italian front shall continue to serve Poland well . .
14 15 For Your Freedom and For Ours!
The soldiers of the United Nations are shedding their blood on all the battlefields of the world.
Help save the life of a soldier, sailor or marine by giving a pint of blood to the Red Cross Blood Bank.
Poles, do your duty! Make your appointment now at your nearest American Red Cross Chapter!