Leopold Tyrmand: an original writer and master of self-aggrandizement

Leopold Tyrmand was one of the most interesting figures of post-war Poland’s artistic milieu. Despite the oppression of the communist regime, he had his own way of opposing the system. by Piotr Bejrowski Tyrmand’s biographers aptly point out that he opposed communism not only ideologically, but also aesthetically. He wanted to maintain the continuity of…


The Peace Treaty of Riga: A Stop-gap for Russian Expansion

The peace concluded between the Republic of Poland, of the one part, and Soviet Russia and Ukraine, of the other part, brought political order to the territories between the Baltic and Black Seas for 18 and a half years. Eventually, Hitler’s ally Moscow declared it ‘null and void’. by Wojciech Stanisławski   Who knows, maybe…


Manifesto of the Polish Democratic Society

The Polish Democratic Society (Towarzystwo Demokratyczne Polskie, TDP), which announced the Poitiers Manifesto, was one of the most important political organizations of the Polish émigré community. It was made up mostly of November insurgents who left the country to escape repressions after the uprising’s fall in 1831. The TDP was a radically democratic and republican…


My name was Czesława Kwoka

Look at the photo carefully. The face of a Polish girl dressed in the camp’s striped uniform is symbolic of Nazi policy towards children whose lives were considered unnecessary. by Piotr Abryszeński   The German Generalplan Ost was created on the basis of the assumption that  a “living space” (“Lebensraum”) in the territories of Central…


The Zamoyski Academy: the heart of an ideal city

The grand opening of the Zamoyski Academy took place on 15 March 1595. This first Polish private university was located in a city purposefully built to reflect Renaissance ideals. by Piotr Bejrowski   Zamość is a unique city on a global scale, and was planned in accordance with the principles of the Renaissance “ideal city”….


Polish interwar cities – each modern, yet different

After Poland regained independence in 1918, it was of great importance to gain recognition and international visibility as a modern state. In this matter nothing is as convincing as circulating images across the world of new investments and flourishing cities with crowds of happy young people on the streets. That’s one of the many reasons…


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