Most Respectable Ladies and Gentlemen
Participants of Stockholm International Forum on Holocaust

Unable to participate in the Conference, due to health problems, I dare hereby address the following words to you, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am additionally motivated by the fact that I am not only a historian, but also one of those for whom the relations with the Jewish people, are of extreme importance, and who is proud to claim a number of friends amongst the participants.

The problem of the Holocaust is an essential one for Poland and our culture. Nazis carried out that heinous crime mainly on our territory. Between the two world wars, my country was home to the world’s third largest aggregation of Jews. They constituted as much as a tenth part of my country’s population. Invading Nazi criminals submitted our co-citizens to a meticulously planned atrocity. Out of 3 million Polish Jews, only around 50 to 80 thousand were fortunate to escape death. Most survivors had to live in fear, constantly hiding from their oppressors.

The tragedy of the Holocaust was a part of everyday life in occupied Poland. But that reality also included the only existing underground state, an organised system of struggle and aid to others. Apart from the silence of some, there was bravery of those who brought help, shelter and relief to Jews. It was thanks to Professor Jan Karski, Polish officer and a messenger between the Polish underground and based in London government exile, that the world learned about the Shoah. Sneaking through borders on his dangerous mission, he brought evidence of the truth to the Western leaders as early as 1942.

We cannot establish how many millions of Poles, fearing their lives, did not get involved in helping Jews. According to historians, though, it took at least 15 to 20 people to help one Jew survive those barbaric times. It is easy to calculate that around one million Poles must have brought aid and provided shelter to our Jewish brothers. And it must be remembered that this happened on the territory of the only Nazi occupied country, where helping Jews was punishable by death to the entire family of the helper.

Unfortunately, nothing stopped the history in its swing, and a tragedy did occur. Tragedy to the world. Tragedy to the Jews, but also to the Poles. After all, ever since the 10th century, Poland provided a safe haven to Jews, who at various points of history were persecuted in Europe. We never refused them the right to live, work, and practice their religion. For one thousand years, the Jews – thanks to the autonomy they had officially been granted – kept their own culture, traditions and customs. They shaped Poland. For centuries they have been our co-citizens and patriots, who well deserve their place in our hall of fame. One such example can be Berek Joselewiez, a fierce defender of Polish independence at the end of 17th century. For hundreds of years we made up one society. In spite of constantly maintained autonomy and despite differences, Poland developed close bonds with Jews, who in turn grew firmly attached to Poland. Let me quote the words of Halina Birnbaum, a Jewish writer, who spent Nazi occupation in Warsaw ghetto, and has lived in Israel for several decades now: “All that was great to me was in Poland and neither the years that pass nor the distance will help it. (…) Despite angry screaming waves of hostility, scorn, and hatred, that will stay mine. (…) To the rhythm of Polish words, my Jewish heart beats.”

Such emotions are unchangeable and very characteristic. I once spoke to a Polish Jew, who told me off for the fact, that tens of thousands of people voted in presidential election for a candidate who proclaimed anti-Semitism in his slogans. I pointed out to him, that in some Western European countries, deputies, who call for ethnic confrontation are being repeatedly elected by a much broader majority. I heard in return: “Other countries… who cares… but why in my Poland?”

Poland is to remain as important for the history of the Jews as the Jews are for the history of Poland. How poorer our culture would be without the contribution of the Polish Jews. How lower our self-conscience without the centuries of close relations to the Chosen People.

We, the Polish people, find it so important to preserve the truth about the Holocaust. Hence, our involvement in creating standards of teaching about the Shoah. The truth of that tragedy is the truth of our national history. We have been building a new, independent Poland, for ten years now, and we want it to be built on the base of truth. We need not only to take care of the material evidence of our history, but use it to create our own future.

I am sincerely grateful to the Government of Sweden, and Prime Minister Göran Persson, for launching the Conference. It is my deepest conviction that it will serve well to promote the truth.

With best respect and friendly support,

Andrzej Zakrzewski