Poland loses out on top NATO military job Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:42am EST Email | Print | Share| Reprints | Single Page | Recommend (0) [-] Text [+] Related News NATO scales down plans for rapid reaction force NATO under pressure for more Afghan troops Turkey recalls ambassador to U.S. over Armenians Sarkozy sets French terms for return to NATO command French soldier dies in attack in Kabul powered by Sphere Featured Broker sponsored link Learn to Trade with a FREE Guide.BRUSSELS, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Poland lost its bid to become the first former Warsaw Pact country to fill the post of NATO's top soldier on Wednesday after alliance defence chiefs named an Italian to the sought-after position.
Italian Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola beat Polish General Franciszek Gagor in a secret ballot at NATO headquarters to become chairman of the Military Committee, the alliance's top military authority composed of 26 national chiefs of defence.
Di Paola, 63, the current Italian chief of defence staff, will start his three-year term in June 2008, replacing outgoing Canadian General Ray Henault, NATO said in a statement.
It was the first time an officer from a former Warsaw Pact nation had stood for the position and some in the alliance had tipped Gagor, 56, as a favourite to get the job.
"The Poles felt quite confident with what they considered a very good candidate, even indeed at times a front-runner," said one alliance diplomat who requested anonymity.
The NATO statement provided no details of the voting by national defence chiefs in the secret ballot, except to confirm that Di Paola won a majority of the 26 votes.
The election came at a time of rising tensions between NATO and Russia on a range of issues, including U.S. plans to base a missile defence shield in east Europe with interceptors in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic.
The post of chairman of the military committee is NATO's highest uniformed position. It is distinct from the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) held by U.S. General John Craddock, who is the top commander of NATO operations. (Reporting by Mark John and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Charles Dick)
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - NATO defense chiefs chose Italian Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola on Wednesday as chairman of the alliance's military committee, the alliance's senior military post. Di Paola was voted in ahead of rivals from Spain and Poland. «I am honored by the confidence shown in me by my fellow chiefs of defense,» Di Paola said, adding that he intended to continue reforms to modernize NATO's military. He will replace Canadian Gen. Ray Henault who steps down in June after his three-year term expires. Di Paola, who has been Italy's chief of defense for almost four years, will be the second Italian to hold the post.
Standing against Di Paola were Gen. Franciszek Gagor, the Polish chief of defense staff, and his Spanish counterpart Gen. Felix Sanz Roldan
Brussels - Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola of Italy was elected Wednesday as the chief military advisor to NATO's secretary-general, the military alliance said in a statement। Di Paola replaces General Ray Henault of Canada as Chairman of the Military Committee। His term of office, which normally runs for three years, is expected to start in June 2008.
The Italian admiral was elected by NATO's 26 chiefs of defence, defeating rival candidates from Poland and Spain. "I am honoured by the confidence shown in me by my fellow chiefs of defence," Di Paola said. "General Henault's leadership has guided us through some significant changes in NATO's history, and it is my firm intention to continue to build on this reform and transformation agenda," he added. Di Paola will act as the principal military advisor to Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer. He will liaison with NATO's 26 chiefs of defence and oversee NATO's ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Born in a town near Naples on August 15, 1944, Di Paola was promoted admiral and appointed as chief of defence in 2004. He is the second Italian to have been appointed to the highly influential post since it became full time and decided through an election, in 1963.
General Franciszek Gągor of Poland Not for Nato Head.
2006 -
General Franciszek Gągor was born in 1951 in Koniuszowa near Nowy Sącz, Poland.
He graduated from the Mechanized Infantry Officer College in Wrocław in 1973 and holds a master of arts degree in English philology from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (1983). In 1998 he earned a doctorate in military science from the National Defence University in Warsaw. The General also graduated from the NATO Defense College in Rome in 2001 and in 2002 he was a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College of the National Defense University in Washington DC.
In 1973 General Gągor was appointed to his first military assignment as part of the 2nd Tank Regiment, 10th Armoured Division in Opole, where he remained in various command posts at junior ranks until 1978. Meantime he was an operations and executive officer responsible for planning and operational activities in UNEF and UNDOF missions. In 1978 he moved to the Mechanized Infantry Officer College in Wrocław, where he performed duties of senior instructor responsible for preparations and training of Polish contingents designated for peacekeeping operations until 1988 and, during that time, took an active part in operations (1980/1981 and 1985/1986 - UNDOF) as an operations officer. Between 1988 and 1990 General Gągor served at UNDOF HQ as Deputy Chief of Logistics.
He was then assigned to the Combat Training Division and next to the Military Foreign Affairs Division of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. In the role of Chief of the Peacekeeping Operations Branch he dealt with operational and training issues, was directly responsible for the preparation, coordination and monitoring of Polish units abroad and he fulfilled foreign military missions and multinational military co-operation at the strategic and operational levels. Meantime, in 1991 he was an executive officer/2nd in command at the Polish Military Contingent to Desert Storm Operation and in 1991/1992 – Deputy Sector Commander of UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission UNIKOM.
With the rank of Colonel in 1993 he assumed the position of Chief of Peacekeeping Division of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, where he was responsible for command and control over the increased number of Polish units participating in abroad missions. In 1994 he assumed the post of Director of the Arms Control and Peacekeeping Operations Bureau and in 1996 he became the Director of the Military Foreign Affairs Department and headed the department until 1999. During that time General Gągor represented the Polish Ministry of National Defence in international negotiations on arms control, disarmament and confidence-building measures, implementation of respective treaties on Polish side, bilateral and multilateral military cooperation. His area of responsibility included also co-ordination of Polish participation in Partnership for Peace Programme and Planning and Review Process. He was a key member of the Polish Armed Forces preparations team for Polish accession to NATO, taking care of initial and first rounds of NATO Defence Planning (Force Planning and Defence Review) for Poland.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1997 and in 1999 he was assigned as the Chief of the J-3 Operations Directorate in the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, where he served until 2003. During that period his broad responsibilities included preparation of joint training doctrines, operational planning and readiness of the Polish Armed Forces, current operations and participation of Polish troops in PSO/CRO operations as well as defence planning within the Polish military.
Between 2003 and 2006 General Gągor further broadened his multinational experience in UN peacekeeping missions and within NATO/EU institutions at the highest commanding levels within the following assignments:
2003 Force Commander of UNIKOM, Iraq / Assistant Sec. Gen. UN; 2003−2004 Force Commander of UNDOF, Syria / Assistant Sec. Gen. UN; 2004−2006 Polish Military Representative to NATO and EU Military Committees in Brussels. On 27 February 2006, General Gagor assumed the position of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces and he was promoted to the rank of General on May the 3rd 2006.
General Gągor’s decorations include the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Cavalier's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Golden Cross of Merit, the Golden National Defence Medal, the Golden Military Service Medal as well as the UN Medal in the Service of Peace and several medals awarded by foreign states.
Gen. Gągor is an author of numerous articles and publications on military affairs and co-operation, defence transformation and armed forces modernization. General Gągor speaks English, French and Russian. His hobbies and interests include areas of crisis operations, history, English literature, skiing, tennis, volleyball and jogging.
He is married to Lucyna and has two children.
Wystąpienie Generała Franciszka Gągora 14.08.2007 r.
(wersja polska)
Panowie Ministrowie,
Ekscelencje,
Panowie Generałowie,
Attache Obrony,
Panie i Panowie,
W imieniu polskich żołnierzy oraz moim własnym, pragnę podziękować Państwu za przybycie i uczestnictwo w tych jakże wyjątkowych obchodach. W Polsce istnieje bardzo silna tradycja obchodzenia Święta Wojska Polskiego. Jest to dziedzictwo naszej nie najłatwiejszej i czasami dramatycznej historii oraz wyraz szacunku i poważania, jakimi darzy naszych żołnierzy opinia publiczna.
15 sierpnia 1920 stanowi wyjątkową datę nie tylko w polskiej historii, ale także w historii Europy i świata. Świętujemy ten dzień na pamiątkę zwycięskiej Bitwy Warszawskiej w wojnie przeciwko bolszewikom. Bitwa ta, nazywana „cudem nad Wisłą", uchroniła dopiero co odzyskaną polską niepodległość i zatrzymała bolszewicką ofensywę na Europę.
Kultywowanie tradycji Święta Wojska Polskiego było i nadal jest jednym z najważniejszych czynników integrujących wojsko i wzmacniających jego więzi ze społeczeństwem.
Wojsko Polskie szczyci się wielowiekową tradycją. Od początku swojego powstania trwało na straży suwerenności i integralności państwa, a słowa: „za wolność waszą i naszą", zawarte w polskim hymnie narodowym, były jego hasłem przewodnim.
W czasie II wojny światowej żołnierz polski walczył na wielu frontach w ramach armii sojuszniczych, a od ponad pół wieku uczestniczy w międzynarodowych wysiłkach na rzecz przywracania i utrzymywania pokoju na świecie.
Żołnierze polscy służyli bądź służą w Afganistanie, Kosowie, Bośni i Hercegowinie, Libanie, na Wzgórzach Golan, w wielu krajach Afryki, w Pakistanie, na Morzu Śródziemnym i innych miejscach na świecie, gdzie istnieje potrzeba niesienia pomocy przy przywracaniu lub utrzymywaniu pokoju.
Szanowni goście,
Pięćdziesiąt osiem lat temu Traktat Północnoatlantycki dał podwaliny NATO, które nadal stanowi niezachwiany filar naszego bezpieczeństwa. W roku 1949 jego ojcowie założyciele stworzyli wyjątkową organizację polityczno-wojskową: zjednoczoną, silną i sprawną. Świat zawdzięcza jej zwycięstwo nad komunistycznym Związkiem Radzieckim. W Polsce pamiętamy o tym, że dzięki sile i determinacji NATO udało nam się powrócić do rodziny demokratycznych narodów i korzystać z wolności, demokracji, praw człowieka oraz wolnorynkowej gospodarki.
Polska i inne kraje, które przystąpiły do Sojuszu po 1989 roku, okazały się nie tylko zbiorowymi konsumentami obrony. Aktywnie odpowiedzieliśmy na nowe wyzwania, wysyłając oddziały wojskowe tam, gdzie Sojusz tworzy swoje misje. Myślę, że wszyscy odrobiliśmy przykładnie naszą pracę domową, podejmując głębokie reformy w zakresie obrony i bezpieczeństwa. Wymagało to od nas ogromnych inwestycji oraz dużego poświęcenia, aby zlikwidować zbyt liczne siły zbrojne odziedziczone po poprzedniej epoce i na ich miejsce stworzyć mniejszą, ale bardziej sprawną armię. Odnieśliśmy sukces, przyczyniając się tym samym do wspólnego dobra Sojuszu.
Mam nadzieję, że wielu z Was podziela moje zdanie, iż nie nadszedł jeszcze czas na odpoczynek, ale wprost przeciwnie. Z uwagi na nowe wyzwania i zagrożenia dla bezpieczeństwa, należy utrzymać wiodącą pozycję NATO w dziedzinie bezpieczeństwa, aby budować pokój i stabilność oraz tworzyć nową tożsamość obszaru euro-atlantyckiego.
Dowodem dynamizmu NATO jest jego głęboka transformacja przy zachowaniu Artykułu V Traktatu Waszyngtońskiego jako podstawy naszego planu obrony oraz postawy wojskowej. Jednakże na horyzoncie pojawiają się nowe wyzwania takie jak: terroryzm, ekstremistyczne grupy islamskie, państwa upadłe, konflikty etniczne, rozpowszechnianie broni masowego rażenia czy też technologii rakiet balistycznych. Stąd też, zwiększa się operacyjna rola NATO, a program Sojuszu w okresie między szczytem w Rydze i Bukareszcie będzie bardzo bogaty i wymagający.
Wszyscy jesteśmy zaangażowani w najtrudniejsze z zadań w całej historii Sojuszu, tzn. stworzenie bezpiecznego środowiska dla odbudowy Afganistanu. Operacja ta jasno pokazuje, że musimy stawić czoła wielu wyzwaniom, jeśli zależy nam na sprawnym i znaczącym Sojuszu. Chciałbym również zauważyć, że potrzebujemy więcej sił do udziału w operacjach ekspedycyjnych, a także musimy odpowiedzieć globalnie i skutecznie na sytuacje kryzysowe, współpracując z innymi organizacjami, takimi jak UE czy ONZ.
Jesteśmy razem zaangażowani w transformację NATO, która ma na celu poprawienie jakości naszych wojsk oraz współczesnych zdolności. Wśród tych ostatnich Siły Odpowiedzi NATO są być może najważniejsze i najlepiej widoczne dla opinii publicznej. Mimo, że osiągnęły pełną zdolność bojową w ubiegłym roku, nadal pozostają braki do wypełnienia.
Inne istotne obszary w planie pracy NATO stanowią: jego rozszerzenie oraz współpraca z partnerami. Chociaż nie podjęto jeszcze żadnej decyzji, szczyt w Bukareszcie może przynieść decyzję o kolejnej rundzie rozszerzenia. Tak jak poprzednio, zarówno struktury cywilne jak i wojskowe Sojuszu są głęboko zaangażowane w pomoc nowym krajom członkowskim przy realizowaniu nowych zadań i obowiązków.
Wszystkie sojusze NATO, w tym ze statusem Partnerstwa dla Pokoju, również te z Rosją i Ukrainą, państwami Dialogu Śródziemnomorskiego, jak też w ramach Stambulskiej Inicjatywy Współpracy oraz z państwami kontaktowymi wymagają od NATO stałego zaangażowania. Pozytywna i konkretna odpowiedź na te dążenia leży w naszym wspólnym interesie.
Panie i panowie,
Współczesne wyzwania wymagają odpowiedzi ze strony NATO. Przede wszystkim, wymagają odpowiedniego przygotowania i reakcji ze strony zbrojnego ramienia Sojuszu, na czele którego stoi Komitet Wojskowy. Chciałbym poświęcić chwilę temu jakże istotnemu organowi wojskowemu Sojuszu, który wybierał będzie swojego nowego przewodniczącego późną jesienią tego roku.
Zaangażowanie Komitetu Wojskowego niewątpliwie walnie przyczyni się do promocji, kontynuacji oraz udanego zakończenia wszystkich inicjatyw NATO na polu wojskowym. Żaden proces ani inicjatywa w ramach NATO nie może istnieć bez jego silnego wymiaru wojskowego.
Przewodniczący Komitetu Wojskowego jest w pewnym sensie strażnikiem wojskowej spójności NATO. Kierując Komitetem Wojskowym, musi on brać pod uwagę zarówno punkt widzenia Sekretarza Generalnego, jak i Komitetu Północnoatlantyckiego, szefów obrony i ich narodowych instytucji wojskowych, jak również Dowódców Strategicznych. Często oznacza to, że musi on negocjować na granicy niemożliwego, ale jest to niezbędne dla sukcesu NATO. Musi stawić czoła wielu wyzwaniom w tej kwestii.
Chciałbym wspomnieć tylko o czterech z nich:
istnieją dobre powody, dla których na czele dwóch strategicznych dowództw NATO, tzn. ACT i ACO, stoją dwaj amerykańscy generałowie. Uważam, że w takich okolicznościach, Przewodniczący KW powinien zapewnić, że zarówno w przypadku operacji Sojuszu jak i jego transformacji, zrozumiany i zachowany będzie europejski wymiar NATO. Powinien współpracować z SACEUR i SACT, aby wzmocnić i rozwijać więzi transatlantyckie, które stanowią niezbędną cechę naszego Sojuszu. Komitet Wojskowy i jego przewodniczący walnie przyczyniają się do właściwego przeprowadzenia operacji Sojuszu. Dziś centrum zainteresowania stanowi oczywiście Afganistan. Jedną z najbardziej delikatnych kwestii związanych z tą misją jest stopień politycznej kontroli, jaką Sojusz powinien sprawować w zakresie użycia swoich sił na poziomie operacyjnym. Jest to zdecydowanie zadanie dla naszych dowódców polowych i nikt nie chce zaakceptować idei tzw. „wojny komitetów". Jednak czasami postępy w teatrze działań mają poważne implikacje strategiczne, a struktura polityczna tzn. Komitet Północnoatlantycki ma prawo zabrać głos. Moim zdaniem, Przewodniczący Komitetu Wojskowego reprezentujący szefów obrony Sojuszu ma do odegrania istotną rolę między SACEUR a Sekretarzem Generalnym NATO w zakresie równoważenia kwestii politycznych i wymagań operacyjnych. Istnieją również nowe wyzwania, w których rola NATO i Komitetu Wojskowego nie jest jeszcze do końca określona. Mam na myśli głównie kwestie bezpieczeństwa energetycznego oraz amerykańskiego Programu Obrony Przeciwrakietowej. Obie kwestie powinny być analizowane z perspektywy niepodzielności bezpieczeństwa Sojuszu i obie wymagają poważnej uwagi władz wojskowych Sojuszu. Powinniśmy też zastanowić się nad potencjalnymi możliwościami połączenia Programu Obrony Przeciwrakietowej z NATO. Moim osobistym zdaniem, w dłuższej perspektywie model planifikacji nuklearnej NATO może posłużyć nam jako przykład rozwiązania tej kwestii. Bardziej nieformalne podejście może zostać przyjęte, jeśli chodzi o wyzwania dotyczące rozwijania bliższych stosunków między NATO a UE. Uważam, że Przewodniczący Komitetu Wojskowego jest odpowiednią osobą, by zajmować się tym zadaniem promując kontakty między personelem obydwu organizacji i zwiększając liczbę kontaktów roboczych z odpowiednikami z UE, co powoli, lecz systematycznie rozwija ich zdolność odpowiedzi w sytuacjach kryzysowych.
Powyższa lista nie jest pod żadnym względem kompletna. Pokazuje jednak, jak dużo musi zostać zrobione w tym konkretnym obszarze funkcjonowania NATO, aby sprawić, że będzie ono działać lepiej i sprawniej.
Szanowni Goście i Koledzy,
Pomyślne rozwiązanie problemów i sprostanie wyzwaniom powinno być przedmiotem naszej najwyższej uwagi i działania. Wzmacnianie Sojuszu w szerokim kontekście tożsamości euro-atlantyckiej leży w naszym wspólnym interesie. NATO powinno być organizacją silną i dynamiczną, łączącą USA z Europą i UE, a także powinno stanowić zbrojne ramię krajów demokratycznych. Polska za sprawą swojej dramatycznej historii traktuje NATO jako głównego gwaranta bezpieczeństwa i pragnie aktywnie uczestniczyć we wszystkich działaniach Sojuszu. Wierzę, że Polskie Siły Zbrojne, którym dziś oddajemy cześć, nadal będą odgrywać istotną rolę we wszystkich wysiłkach międzynarodowych, które mają na celu utrzymywanie pokoju, porządku międzynarodowego, stabilności i współpracy.
Pozwólcie mi, jeszcze raz wyrazić ogromną radość że możemy być tutaj razem z wami. Dzięki waszej obecności tegoroczne Święto Wojska Polskiego nabiera szczególnego wymiaru i na długo pozostanie w naszej pamięci.
Letter from Lech Bajan Polish American to Senator George Voinovich USA. RE: U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) wrote to the Polish ambassador about anti-Semitism in Poland.
The Warsaw Uprising 1944 / Powstanie Warszawskie
U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) wrote to the Polish ambassador about anti-Semitism in Poland.
In letters Voinovich sent to the Polish envoy on Nov. 5 and to the Ukrainian ambassador on Oct. 30, the senator noted his record advocating on behalf of formerly communist lands as well as his history monitoring and combating anti-Semitism.
Voinovich noted that under the previous Polish government, ousted in Oct. 21 legislative elections, Radio Maryja, a popular broadcaster, was allowed to broadcast a stream of anti-Semitism and asked if the new coalition government would address the incitement.
Senator Voinovich,
Radio Maryja is NOT anti-Semetic! Please stay away from any of the kinds of statement which may cause damage to your Polish American votes.
The question of Radio Maryja in Poland is raised mostly by leftist groups, the post-communists,". "These people are usually against the church and not Radio Maryja itself."
Radio Maryja with community for over 4 millions poeple in Poland and all over the world. 15 years ago you began your work in humble conditions. Today Radio Maryja and your other enterprises have assumed large dimensions and are very important to the Church in Poland. The Radio is a sign of opposition. The media you have created proclaim the message, which is today important to the lives of millions.
But there are also opponents. Where do they come from?
- I think that they do not agree with what they hear. At the same time, they feel some threat to the present day monopoly to form public opinion according to their directions. We have played a different tune, different from the orchestras in which all people speak the same. Media were restricted to promote certain system of values in order to control people and to rule more easily. That was the case under the communist regime and the same can be applied to the liberal one. Media form people's opinions and thinking the way their opponents want and this is done for money. In turn, those who have money can have media and power. This is some closed triangle. But out of a sudden, a radio station has appeared and it courageously opposes the opinions, and hence it is a treat to them.
There are almost 40 million people in Poland and perhaps some 20 million Polish immigrants all over the world. We face a great task: to strengthen all people in faith and love for their Homeland. Radio Maryja is the biggest Catholic station in Poland. About 12 % of Poles listen to Radio Maryja (CBOS opinion poll in 2003), which means four million listeners. More people listen to it from time to time. One must notice that the polls do not embrace listeners abroad; via the satellite Radio Maryja reaches almost every corner of the world where Polish immigrants live. Radio Maryja is also one of the most opinion-forming stations in the country; it is quoted by other media.
I believe the American and European media owe an apology to the Polish people for printing articles in which the authors refer to them as being anti-Semitic. Such publications and articles contribute even more to the ever-present anti-Polonism in the American and European media. Did any of those so-called American historians ever investigate any attacks on the non-Jewish population?
As far as Jedwabne massacre is concerned, Poles were the victims of such cruel acts on an almost daily basis during the WWII. This fact is kept from American and European readers. Instead, the massacre in Jedwabne, which was widely known in Poland and whose files were not hidden but open for everyone to investigate, had to be "discovered" by a fame-seeking author.
The fact that Mr. Gross left Poland in 1968 tells me that a touch of revenge may be the motive for his search. In the past, Kosinski's alleged autobiographical books were eventually proven to be hoaxes. The thorough investigation into the case will only be in Poland's favor. There are files of the documents that Mr. Gross somehow ignored in his research, rather concentrating on the testimony of one witness. To understand the base of that attack, we must know the history of Poland and, in my opinion based on the observation of an average American person, we know nothing.
It is too difficult to understand the situation without being provided with wider information and truthful publications by OTHER than American and Jewish historians. Unfortunately, when a country is attacked - as in Poland's case - by two great powers, chaos occurs.
The double standards are evident by calling an event, such as the one in Jedwabne, an act of anti-Semitism, while in the United States, burning a synagogue in Worcester, Mass was called "an act of vandalism", a shooting in the Jewish Children Center in California -"an act of a mad man". If such acts took place in Poland, they would have been called anti-Semitic. American patriotism applied to Poles transfers into nationalism.
For 1000 years, Poland was the spiritual and religious center of Jewish Diaspora and produced one of the greatest world centers of Talmudic studies. 300 papers in Hebrew were published in Warsaw alone. Jews, unlike Blacks in America, were not forced to settle in Poland; they came here on their own will, prospered, attended colleges and universities, owned factories, etc.
As early as in 1264, King Boleslav of Poland granted a charter inviting the Jews there. The charter was an amazing document, granting Jews unprecedented rights and privileges. For example, it stated that:
"The testimony of the Christian alone may not be admitted in a matter which concerns the money or property of a Jew. In every such incidence there must be the testimony of both a Christian and a Jew. If a Christian injures a Jew in any which way, the accused shall pay a fine to the royal treasury."
"If a Christian desecrates or defiles a Jewish cemetery in any which way, it is our wish that he be punished severely as demanded by law."
"If a Christian should attack a Jew, the Christian shall be punished as required by the laws of this land. We absolutely forbid anyone to accuse the Jews in our domain of using the blood of human beings."
"We affirm that if any Jew cry out in the night as a result of violence done to him, and if his Christian neighbors fail to respond to his cries and do not bring the necessary help, they shall be fined."
"We also affirm that Jews are free to buy and sell all manner of things just as Christians, and if anyone hampers them, he shall pay a fine."
Polish King Kazimierz was favorably disposed towards Jews. On October 9, 1334, he confirmed the privileges granted to Jewish Poles in 1264 by Boleslaus V. Under penalty of death, he prohibited the kidnapping of Jewish children for the purpose of enforced Christian baptism. He inflicted heavy punishment for the desecration of Jewish cemeteries. Although Jews had lived in Poland since before the reign of King Kazimierz, he allowed them to settle in Poland in great numbers and protected them as people of the king.
Another Polish king, Sigismund II Augustus, issued another invitation. Here is an excerpt from his edict, granting the Jews permission to open a yeshiva at Lublin, dated August 23, 1567: "As a result of the efforts of our advisors and in keeping with the request of the Jews of Lublin we do hereby grant permission to erect a yeshiva and to outfit said yeshiva with all that is required to advance learning. All the learned men and rabbis of Lublin shall come together for among their number they shall choose one to serve as the head of the yeshiva. Let their choice be a man who will magnify Torah and bring it glory."
GOLDEN AGE OF POLISH JEWRY
In Poland, the Jews were allowed to have their own governing body called the Va'ad Arba Artzot, which was composed of various rabbis who oversaw the affairs of the Jews in eastern Europe. The Poles did not interfere with Jewish life and scholarship flourished.
Some important personalities of this period, which a student of Jewish history should remember, were:
Rabbi Moshe Isserles (1525-1572), from Krakow, also known as the Rema. After the Sephardi rabbi Joseph Karo wrote the Shulchan Aruch, the code of Jewish Law, Rabbi Isserles annotated it to fill in the rabbinic decisions from Eastern Europe. His commentary was, and continues to be, critically important in daily Jewish life.
Rabbi Ya'akov Pollack (1455-1530), from Krakow. He opened the first yeshivah in Poland and was later named the chief rabbi of Poland. He developed a method of learning Talmud called pilpul, meaning "fine distinctions." This was a type of dialectical reasoning that became very popular, whereby contradictory facts or ideas were systematically weighed with a view to the resolution of their real or apparent contradictions.
Rabbi Yehudah Loewe, (1526-1609), not from Poland but important to Eastern European Jewry. He was known as the Maharal of Prague and was one of the great mystical scholars of his time. He has been credited with having created the golem, a Frankenstein figure, a living being without soul.
Along with the growth in Torah scholarship came population growth. In 1500 there were about 50,000 Jews living in Poland. By 1650 there were 500,000 Jews. This means that by the mid 17th century about majority of the Jewish population of the world was living in Poland!
Where did these Jews settle within Poland?
Jews were generally urban people as they were historically not allowed to own land in most of the places they lived. However, they also created their own farm communities called shtetls. Although we tend to think of the shtetl today as a poor farming village (like in Fiddler on the Roof), during the Golden Age of Polish Jewry, many of these communities were actually quite prosperous. And there were thousands of them. The Jews in these independent communities spoke their own language called Yiddish. Original Yiddish was written in Hebrew letters and was a mixture of Hebrew, Slavic, and German. (Note that Yiddish underwent constant development and "modern" Yiddish is not like the "old" Yiddish which first appeared in the 13th century, nor "middle" Yiddish of this period of time.) All in all, the Jews did well, but working alongside Polish and Ukrainian Christians.
How many African Americans till the 20th century were able to do so?
Jews came to Poland on their own will, to the country of great opportunity, found shelter from the hostilities of Western Europe, stayed and prospered, had representatives in the Polish parliament, and had the freedom of expressing their religion and customs. In some towns of Eastern Poland, Jews accounted for more than 50% of the occupants. They were respected citizens, how could this be possible if the country was, as it is widely presented on the Jan Tomasz Gross book as anti-Semitic? Polish Jews enjoyed equal rights and full protection of the law under the Polish government. The laws changed under the rule of Prussia, Russia, and Austria.
Keep in mind that it also affected Poles as well. Their situation improved after WWI when the Polish government was reestablished.
Why, between wars, was the Jewish population growing 6 times faster than Christian population, if the alleged anti-Semitism took place?
The only prejudice that you can accuse Polish people of is to be anti-Communist. Marek Edelman, the last leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, who still lives in Poland, said: "It is not a Jew who is the enemy, it is an enemy who is Jewish." I'm sorry to destroy the beautiful image of the peaceful and innocent Jewish people but at the time of the massacre it was well known that there were "informers," "observers," "advisors," or in plain English "Soviet collaborators" among Jews then and through the war and post.
Those did not see the wrong they were doing, the comfort came from accepting a different way of thinking. They considered themselves Poles or Polish Jews before the war, now comfortably became only Jews, so there were no ties of loyalty to Poland or to the Polish people. Collaborators gave out Poles and Jews as well (Jakub Berman as an example).
But this would be too difficult to understand for us who for decades were fed on anti-Polish propaganda. The same propaganda that Nazis used and later Soviets and now is being repeated with a nauseating consistency by the American press.
The public does not know that Poland and Israel have a very good relationship.
It is the backwardness of American Jews to prefer the stereotype. I was hoping that with the raising of the Iron Curtain, the flow of information about Poland would be available to the average American reader and TV viewer. That did not happen, rather we prefer to publish such articles. Also by hiding from public Polish accomplishments, only adds to the image of the Poles as some primitive tribe. The fact that Poland's economy is the one of fastest growing in Europe is a thorn in the eye for some. The anti-Polish sentiment spreads to minimize their success. We already forgot who first faced the Soviet power and fought Communism.
The difference between Holocaust victims in the USA and Poland is that in Poland Jews and Christians believe that there is no price on human despair; I guess American Jews found the price tag and the Holocaust became a good business. Some are even lining up to collect money. Poles never asked to be recompensated for their losses and they did not receive any help from the Marshall Plan either.
Besides, we must not forget that Poland was not only a victim during WWII but only recently freed herself from under Soviet occupation. We should remember that Communism in Poland was FORCED upon its people, that Soviets placed Jews on high positions, which triggered atrocities. There is no perfect nation, there are honorable citizens and there is scum in all of them. But it seems that we only find the bad in Poles and all the good in Jews. For a well-balanced story, the authors should mention what Soviet Jews did to Poles (Koniuchy massacre) and the fact that, from 34 countries, the Poles are those who have the biggest number of trees at Yad Vashem.
In WWII, Poland lost almost 20% of its population; 6 million Poles were killed. It was the only country in all of Nazi-occupied Europe with the death penalty for sheltering Jews. Germans knew how sympathetic Poles were to Polish Jews and that way, they could get rid of them both. Entire families, sometimes whole towns were murdered for sheltering Jews. 75% spoke only Yiddish, which later became a problem for those who wanted to be saved and pass as Poles. I guess American Jews don't rush to reveal some other information to the American public like: what were the Judenrat and the Jewish Police doing in the ghettos? Who took over the houses of Polish officers and their families when they were taken to Siberia?
In the American consciousness the Holocaust has become synonymous with Jewish history. Historical literature of the Holocaust has focused on the six million Jewish victims with the exclusion of the sixteen to twenty million Gentile victims.
Do we inform that Poland's government was the only one in Nazi-occupied Europe to sponsor the organization to help Jews escaping the ghettos?
What did American Jews do to help their dying brothers?
We allow speculation on almost every aspect of Polish-Jewish relationship never asking: "Why don't we speculate how many Jews would save Poles if the roles were reversed?"
For me to have a different opinion is to risk being called an anti-Semite. An intelligent but objective Jewish person is called a "self-hating Jew". A "bystander" is someone who chose not to give his and his family's life for a strange, Jewish person.
Good things are happening in Poland .But noone rushes to tell the Americans about the annual Jewish Festival in Krakow or about the opening of yet another Jewish school in Warsaw. Or even about the commemorating of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. We don't rush to tell about the "Fiddler on the Roof" in Yiddish at the Jewish Theatre in Warsaw. Instead we publish misleading stories about a music concert in Auschwitz (!?) and killings in Jedwabne. Why is that? American historians should stop wasting their ink only writing about alleged Polish anti-Semitism. Any atrocities toward Jews either occurred during Nazi or Soviet occupation or were triggered by revenge and greed not to be mistaken with anti-Semitism. Also to suggest that all Polish Jews are long gone is wrong; many survived and became famous: actors (Holoubek, Zapasiewicz, Himilsbach, Rudzki), movie critics (Waldorf), writers (Tuwim), philosophers and editors (Michnik), politicians (Mazowiecki, Suchocka), musicians (Szpilman, Zimmerman), heart surgeons (Marek Edelman), athletes (Kirszenstein a.k.a. Szewinska), singers (Szmeterling a.k.a. Jantar). Some Polish Jews just recently became interested in their religion; Jewish schools are reopening, while the synagogues, museums, and Jewish cultural institutes were always present in Poland's cultural life. Positive Jewish characters are in every Polish classic, there are streets named after Jewish heroes; monuments accommodate their heroism and their tragedy. All this does not seem like an anti-Semitic country, does it? But it will stay so in the American media, as long as we allow it to.
Alex Lech Bajan Polish American CEO RAQport Inc. 2004 North Monroe Street Arlington Virginia 22207 Washington DC Area USA TEL: 703-528-0114 TEL2: 703-652-0993 FAX: 703-940-8300 EMAIL: alex@raqport.com WEB SITE: http://raqport.com
Information to contact Senator George Voinovich Office:
Washington D.C. Office524 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510phone: (202) 224-3353 Cincinnati Office36 East 7th StreetRoom 2615Cincinnati, OH 45202phone: (513) 684-3265fax: (513) 684-3269 Cleveland Office1240 East 9th StreetRoom 3061Cleveland, OH 44199phone: (216) 522-7095fax: 522-7097 Central Ohio Office37 West Broad StreetRoom 310Columbus, Ohio 43215phone: (614) 469-6697fax: 469-7733 Northeast Office1240 East 9th StreetRoom 3061 Cleveland, OH 44199 phone: (216) 522-7095fax: (216) 522-7097 Southeast Office78 West Washington Street P.O. Box 57 Nelsonville, OH 45764 phone: (740) 441-6410fax: (740) 753-3551 Toledo Office420 Madison AvenueRoom 1210Toledo, OH 43604 phone: (419) 259-3895fax: (419) 259-3899
Half of These Holocaust Victims Were Non-Jewish.
Half of These Holocaust Victims Were Non-Jewish. On August 22, 1939, a few days before the official start of World War II, Hitler authorized his commanders, with these infamous words, to kill "without pity or mercy, all men, women, and children of Polish descent or language. Only in this way can we obtain the living space [lebensraum] we need". Heinrich Himmler echoed Hitler's decree: "All Poles will disappear from the world.... It is essential that the great German people should consider it as its major task to destroy all Poles." On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland from three directions. Hitler's invincible troops attacked from the west, the north and the south. Poland never had a chance. By October 8, 1939, Polish Jews and non-Jews were stripped of all rights and, were subject to special legislation. Rationing, which allowed for only bare sustenance of food and medicine was quickly set up. Young Polish men were forcibly drafted into the German army. The Polish language was forbidden. Only the German language was allowed. All secondary schools and colleges were closed. The Polish press was liquidated. Libraries and bookshops were burned. Polish art and culture were destroyed. Polish churches and snyagogues were burned. Most of the priests were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Street signs were either destroyed or changed to new German names. Polish cities and towns were renamed in German. Ruthless obliteration of all traces of Polish history and culture. Hitler's Goal: Terrorize Polish People Into Subservience. Hundreds of Polish community leaders, mayors, local officials, priests, teachers, lawyers, judges, senators, doctors were executed in public. Much of the rest of the so-called Intelligentsia, the Polish leading class, was sent to concentration camps where they later died.The first mass execution of World War II took place in Wawer, a town near Warsaw, Poland on December 27, 1939 when 107 Polish non-Jewish men were taken from their homes in the middle of the night and shot. This was just the beginning of the street roundups and mass executions that continued throughout the war. At the same time, on the eastern border of Poland, the Soviet Union invaded and quickly conquered. Germany and the Soviet Union divided Poland in half. The western half, occupied by the Nazis, became a new German territory: "General Gouvernment". The eastern half was incorporated within the adjoining Russian border by Soviet "elections". This new border "realignment" conferred Soviet citizenship on its new Polish inhabitants. And all young Polish men were subject to being drafted into the Soviet army.Just like the Nazis the Soviets also reigned terror in Poland. The Soviets took over Polish businesses, Polish factories and destroyed churches and religious buildings. The Polish currency (zloty) was removed from circulation. All Polish banks were closed and savings accounts were blocked. During the period of the Holocaust of World War II, Poland lost: 45% of her doctors, 57% of her attorneys 40% of her professors, 30% of her technicians, more than 18% of her clergy most of her journalists. Poland's educated class was purposely targeted because the Nazis knew that this would make it easier to control the country. Non-Jews of Polish descent suffered over 100,000 deaths at Auschwitz. The Germans forcibly deported approximately 2,000,000 Polish Gentiles into slave labor for the Third Reich. The Russians deported almost 1,700,000 Polish non-Jews to Siberia. Men, women and children were forced from their homes with no warning. Transferred in cattle cars in freezing weather, many died on the way. Polish children who possessed Aryan-looking characteristics were wrenched from their mother's arms and placed in German homes to be raised as Germans. The Polish people were classified by the Nazis according to their racial characteristics. The ones who appeared Aryan were deported to Lodz for further racial examination. Most of the others were sent to the Reich to work in slave labor camps. The rest were sent to Auschwitz to die. Polish Christians and Catholics were actually the first victims of the notorious German death camp. For the first 21 months after it began in 1940, Auschwitz was inhabited almost exclusively by Polish non-Jews. The first ethnic Pole died in June 1940 and the first Jew died in October 1942. Because of the obliteration of the Polish press by the Nazis, most of the world was not aware, including many parts of Nazi-occupied Poland, of the atrocities going on. Even to this day, much documentation of the Holocaust is not available. The entire records of Auschwitz were stolen by the Soviets and not returned. It was Hitler's goal to rewrite history. The Nazis destroyed books, monuments, historical inscriptions. They began a forceful campaign of propaganda to convince the world of the inferiority and weakness of the Polish people and likewise, their invincible superiority and power.
Holocaust Forgotten - Six Million Polish Citizens Were Killed During the Holocaust I was born shortly after W.W.II in the US I hold advanced degrees in medicine and I had considered myself an educated man with a particular interest in the War. I have been to Poland, visited Auschwitz, and I came away humbled and shaken, but still I was not aware of the magnitude of the tragedy suffered by the Polish people in W.W.II until now. I wish there was a way to apologize for tolerating such ignorance for so long. J.W. Seeds
Sophie Was Eight Years Old Living in Lodz, Poland in 1939 First person story just published!
Desperate Attempt to Defend their Homeland Using secret code-names, they gathered underground - in damp sewers and dark forests.
Yad Vashem Righteous Rescuers
List of over 700 Holocaust Rescuers Polish men, women and children killed while helping Jews.
Poland's Holocaust Amazon.com Award-winning book. Extensive documentation. Excellent source for students. Gives much more understanding of the complicated issues of this volatile time than available in the media.
Poland - Maps, General Information
Polish Home Army Underground, clandestine
Return Half of These Holocaust Victims Were Non-Jewish. On August 22, 1939, a few days before the official start of World War II, Hitler authorized his commanders, with these infamous words, to kill "without pity or mercy, all men, women, and children of Polish descent or language. Only in this way can we obtain the living space [lebensraum] we need".
Heinrich Himmler echoed Hitler's decree:
"All Poles will disappear from the world.... It is essential that the great German people should consider it as its major task to destroy all Poles."
On September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland from three directions. Hitler's invincible troops attacked from the west, the north and the south. Poland never had a chance. By October 8, 1939, Polish Jews and non-Jews were stripped of all rights and, were subject to special legislation. Rationing, which allowed for only bare sustenance of food and medicine was quickly set up.
Young Polish men were forcibly drafted into the German army. The Polish language was forbidden. Only the German language was allowed. All secondary schools and colleges were closed. The Polish press was liquidated. Libraries and bookshops were burned. Polish art and culture were destroyed. Polish churches and snyagogues were burned. Most of the priests were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Street signs were either destroyed or changed to new German names. Polish cities and towns were renamed in German. Ruthless obliteration of all traces of Polish history and culture.
Hitler's Goal: Terrorize Polish People Into Subservience.
Hundreds of Polish community leaders, mayors, local officials, priests, teachers, lawyers, judges, senators, doctors were executed in public.
Much of the rest of the so-called Intelligentsia, the Polish leading class, was sent to concentration camps where they later died.
The first mass execution of World War II took place in Wawer, a town near Warsaw, Poland on December 27, 1939 when 107 Polish non-Jewish men were taken from their homes in the middle of the night and shot.
This was just the beginning of the street roundups and mass executions that continued throughout the war.
At the same time, on the eastern border of Poland, the Soviet Union invaded and quickly conquered. Germany and the Soviet Union divided Poland in half. The western half, occupied by the Nazis, became a new German territory: "General Gouvernment". The eastern half was incorporated within the adjoining Russian border by Soviet "elections". This new border "realignment" conferred Soviet citizenship on its new Polish inhabitants. And all young Polish men were subject to being drafted into the Soviet army.
Just like the Nazis the Soviets also reigned terror in Poland. The Soviets took over Polish businesses, Polish factories and destroyed churches and religious buildings. The Polish currency (zloty) was removed from circulation. All Polish banks were closed and savings accounts were blocked.
During the period of the Holocaust of World War II, Poland lost:
45% of her doctors, 57% of her attorneys 40% of her professors, 30% of her technicians, more than 18% of her clergy most of her journalists. Poland's educated class was purposely targeted because the Nazis knew that this would make it easier to control the country.
Non-Jews of Polish descent suffered over 100,000 deaths at Auschwitz. The Germans forcibly deported approximately 2,000,000 Polish Gentiles into slave labor for the Third Reich. The Russians deported almost 1,700,000 Polish non-Jews to Siberia. Men, women and children were forced from their homes with no warning. Transferred in cattle cars in freezing weather, many died on the way. Polish children who possessed Aryan-looking characteristics were wrenched from their mother's arms and placed in German homes to be raised as Germans.
The Polish people were classified by the Nazis according to their racial characteristics. The ones who appeared Aryan were deported to Lodz for further racial examination. Most of the others were sent to the Reich to work in slave labor camps. The rest were sent to Auschwitz to die. Polish Christians and Catholics were actually the first victims of the notorious German death camp. For the first 21 months after it began in 1940, Auschwitz was inhabited almost exclusively by Polish non-Jews. The first ethnic Pole died in June 1940 and the first Jew died in October 1942.
Because of the obliteration of the Polish press by the Nazis, most of the world was not aware, including many parts of Nazi-occupied Poland, of the atrocities going on. Even to this day, much documentation of the Holocaust is not available. The entire records of Auschwitz were stolen by the Soviets and not returned. It was Hitler's goal to rewrite history.
The Nazis destroyed books, monuments, historical inscriptions. They began a forceful campaign of propaganda to convince the world of the inferiority and weakness of the Polish people and likewise, their invincible superiority and power. Copyright 2007 - Terese Pencak Schwartz
Alex Lech Bajan CEO RAQport Inc. 2004 North Monroe Street Arlington Virginia 22207 Washington DC Area USA TEL: 703-528-0114 TEL2: 703-652-0993 FAX: 703-940-8300 sms: 703-485-6619 EMAIL: office@raqport.com WEB SITE: http://raqport.com
