Podcasts about polish underground

Janina Melberg was a brilliant mathematician posing as a Polish Countess Janina Suchodolska to hide her Jewish identity during the Nazi occupation in WWII Poland. She simultaneously joined the both the Polish Welfare Council (RGO)--and secretly the Polish Underground--and bravely organized food and relief supplies for Poles incarcerated in the infamous Majdanek Concentration Camp. Co-authors Elizabeth B. White and Joanna Sliwa trace the long-hidden history of this remarkable and previously unknown woman, and how they posthumously discovered and researched her story for their book, "Counterfeit Countess." (Publisher) Janina ended up escaping to the U.S. following the war, ultimately finishing her academic career at the University of Chicago.Heroes Behind HeadlinesExecutive Producer Ralph PezzulloProduced & Engineered by Mike DawsonMusic provided by ExtremeMusic.com

Marie Sontag writes youth fiction blending fictional characters with historical people to create a great story. From ancient times to westward expansion to WWII Poland, her books make history come alive. Listen in to what you'll find in her latest series! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. In Difficult Times, People of All Ages Discover Their True Characters The first time I chatted with Marie Sontag (listen HERE), I learned about her Ancient Elements series and her Whitcomb Discoveries series, but in this episode, we heard all about the exciting WWII series (and a companion graphic novel) she has featuring Polish Boy Scouts.  How cool is that? Oh, and we learned about what she's doing with the Cold War, too. EEEP! Underground Scouts by Marie Sontag Warsaw, Poland September 8, 1939 Their scoutmaster's chair squeaked as he shifted his weight. "What I am about to ask from all of you is a personal sacrifice on behalf of Poland. Your final decision is, of course, up to you. You must each make your own decision." A hush filled the room. The Scouts' pale faces betrayed the struggle that plagued them all. Tadzio broke the spell. "I mean no disrespect, Professor. I don't know why my father had to leave, but since he's gone, my family is my priority." Squaring her shoulders, Magdalena inched forward on her chair. "And earlier this week my father's brother and his wife were killed when a bomb hit their apartment building in Warsaw." Her voice quivered. "Now, we're also caring for our orphaned 11-year-old cousin, Józefina." Tadzio nodded. "Since I am the eldest son, my first responsibility is to my family." "Well spoken, son." Professor Handelsman studied Tadzio over the top of his glasses. "What about the rest of you?" Tadzio's patrol leader, Andrzej, spoke first. "This is what we've prepared for all summer. The Scout training we received in the Kampinos Forest these past few months-first aid, food storage, water purification, map reading skills, Morse Code, riflery-it all prepared us for this moment. I will give my all for Poland." Lech smoothed back his thick, black hair. "Andrzej's right. It's time to take a stand." First Lech, then Andrzej, and finally Lech's younger brother, Stefan, rose to their feet with raised chins, they punched their fists into the air and shouted in unison. "Czuwaj! Be vigilant! Stay awake! Be prepared!" Tadzio and Magdalena weren't prepared for their Polish Scoutmaster's challenge. Not until their parents disappeared. A Young Adult historical novel, Underground Scouts brings to light the brave efforts of Polish Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who fought alongside the Polish Underground during World War II. Learn more about Marie on her WEBSITE (and learn about her group of Christian youth authors) and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub. My apologies to Marie for the lateness of her episode. It was supposed to release about the time of my husband's accident, and I just realized it never did!  AAAK! Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple  Castbox  Google Play Libsyn  RSS Spotify Amazon and more!

Between 1940 and 1943, Polish diplomats based in Bern, Switzerland, engaged in a remarkable – and until now, almost completely untold – humanitarian operation. This operation was one of the largest actions to aid Jews of the entire war and far eclipsed the better-known efforts of Oskar Schindler. In concert with two Jewish activists, these diplomats masterminded a systematic program of forging documents for Latin American countries that were smuggled into occupied Europe, in an attempt to save the lives of thousands of Jews facing extermination in the Holocaust.Today's guest is Roger Moorhouse, author of “The Forgers: The Forgotten Story of the Holocaust's Most Audacious Rescue Operation.” We look at the heroism of a group of ordinary men whose actions were part of a wider story of the Polish Underground resistance.

Today, The Fellowship's C.J. Burroughs continues his “Heroes of the Holocaust” story about the Christian couple who helped the Polish underground fight the Nazis and were awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations in 1994

Today's episode features my conversation with bestselling, Christy Award winning author Amanda Barratt. Her latest novel, The Warsaw Sisters, released on Tuesday. Along with the new book, Amanda and I discussed the Polish Underground, the Warsaw Uprising, the Wola Massacre, and the network of women that worked together to rescue Jewish children in Warsaw. There is so much to learn through this book and through my conversation with Amanda. Here's a description of The Warsaw Sisters: On a golden August morning in 1939, twin sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their cherished city and shattering the world of their youth. When her beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina knows she cannot stand by and soon becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Meanwhile, Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart—and the cost of resistance may prove greater than either ever imagined. Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties. Purchase The Warsaw Sisters on Amazon (affiliate). Purchase My Dearest Dietrich on Amazon (affiliate). Check out Amanda's website, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to my mailing list to receive free book recommendations and samples of my writing! Join my community and help support the show on Patreon! Join the Historical Fiction: Unpacked Podcast Group on Facebook! Be sure to visit my Instagram, Facebook, and website. Follow the show on Instagram! Purchase Alison's historical novel, One Traveler (affiliate). Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, you help support my work without paying any more for the product. Thank you for your support!

Józef Piłsudski, Founding Father of Modern Poland, and his Plan for Ukrainian Independence Joshua D. Zimmerman is Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, where he holds the Eli & Diana Zborowski Chair in Holocaust Studies and East European Jewish History. He is the author of Józef Piłsudski: Founding Father of Modern Poland(Harvard, 2022), The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945(Cambridge, 2015), which appeared in Polish translation in 2018, and Poles, Jews and the Politics of Nationality: The Bund and the Polish Socialist Party in Late Tsarist Russia, 1892-1914 (Wisconsin, 2004). He is also editor of two contributed volumes: Jews in Italy under Fascist and Nazi Rule, 1922-1945 (2005), and Contested Memories: Poles and Jews during the Holocaust and its Aftermath (2003). Zimmerman's articles in the popular press have appeared in The Washington Post, Politico, The Daily Beast, The Times of Israel, The Kyiv Post, Engelsberg Ideas, and Rzeczpospolita (Warsaw).

Minnesota trial lawyer, Mark Kosieradski is not only a highly accomplished trial lawyer, but he has written multiple books and is recognized across the country as a leading expert on the use of 30(b)(6) depositions.  Mark joins Ben and Rahul to talk about his roots, practice and expertise using 30(b)(6) depositions to help build and win the case. About Mark KosieradzkiMark R. Kosieradzki is a board-certified civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Minnesota State Bar Association. He is recognized in Best Lawyers in America in addition to recently receiving his twenty-first Super Lawyer award. Mr. Kosieradzki is a past president of the Minnesota Association for Justice (MNAJ, formerly known as the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association) and the Minnesota Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He was on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Kosieradzki is an expert on 30(b)(6) depositions and teaches his techniques at seminars across the country. He is nationally renowned for his knowledge of 30(b)(6) deposition practice and authored 30(b)(6): Deposing Corporations, Organizations & the Government. From Mark: I am the son of Polish immigrants. My mother fought in the Polish Underground in Warsaw during World War II. She was captured by the Nazis and imprisoned in a Nazi camp. My father was captured by the Russians and sent to a Gulag north of the Arctic Circle. They survived the war and ultimately immigrated to the United States. My parents taught me to stand up for what is right and to be scrappy. They also taught me that every day is an opportunity for a new adventure. These lessons have guided me to success professionally and personally. In addition to the passion I have for my work, I am an avid cyclist. At age 50 I took up playing the blues harmonica and on my 60th birthday I took up surfing in Costa Rica. This past year I took salsa lessons in Havana. As my parents taught me, and I share with my own children: look for and pursue the opportunities to do something meaningful and keep life exciting.

The Dictator and His Daughter (c. 1934) On the morning of November 10, 1918, the overnight train from Berlin arrived in Warsaw station. One of its passengers was Josef Pilsudski. For twenty-six years he had been striving for the liberation of Poland from the Russian Empire, and its re-creation as an independent state and culture. Now, at the end of that train journey, he not only found himself at long last in a free Poland but surrounded by ever-growing crowds that saw him as the leader of the new nation.  Pilsudski did become the leader and defender of that nation, and in 1922 ceded dictatorial powers to democratically elected representatives. Yet just four years later this avowed champion of democracy, pluralism, and federalism seized power in a coup, and ruled Poland as a dictator to his death in 1935. He imprisoned his enemies, suppressed the press, ignored the legislature, and turned old friends against him. ”So much did his style of rule change,” writes my guest Joshua Zimmerman, “that he is often portrayed as if he were two entirely different men…Poland's greatest champion for freedom and independence…abandoned the principle of democracy as freedom bound by the rule of law.”  Joshua Zimmerman is is Eli and Diana Zborowski Chair in Holocaust Studies and East European Jewish History and Professor of History at Yeshiva University. Two of his previous books include The Polish Underground and the Jews: 1939-1945, and Poles, Jews and the Politics of Nationality: The Bund and the Polish Socialist Party in Late Tsarist Russia, 1892-1914. Given that, it was as close to inevitable as a historian could allow that his most recent book would be Josef Pilsudski: Founding Father of Modern Poland. For Further Investigation Joshua Zimmerman recommends, for further reading about Pilsudski, Waclaw Jedrzejewicz, Pilsudski. A Life for Poland (New York: Hippocrene Books, 1981) and Antony Polonsky, Politics in Independent Poland (1972) You might also consult Norman Davies, God's Playground: A History of Poland. Volume II relates the story from 1795 to the present. The Jozef Pilsudski Institute of America George Washington had his seasoning; Josef Pilsudski has mustard. Earlier podcasts that recall some of the themes in this conversation are my discussion with David Bell in Episode 176 about his book Men on Horseback: Charisma and Power in the Age of Revolutions. While it ends long before Pilsudski's life, he also was a man on horseback. Also my conversation with Rick Hernandez way back in Episode 65 on the first year of the Russian Revolution.

In Civility in Uncivil Times: Kazimierz Moczarski's Quiet Battle for Truth, from the Polish Underground to Stalinist Prison (Peter Lang, 2020), Anna Machcewicz offers a powerful case study in the ethics and logistics of bearing witness in response to the two forces that brutalized Eastern Europe in the mid-twentieth century: Nazism and Stalinism. Civility in Uncivil Times is a biography of Kazimierz Moczarski (1907-1975), a Polish lawyer, journalist, and political prisoner. A major figure in the Polish Underground State in the final months of World War II, Moczarski is nonetheless best known for sharing a postwar Stalinist prison cell with SS general Jürgen Stroop, liquidator of the Warsaw Ghetto. After serving one of the longest prison terms in the history of communist Poland - eleven years - Moczarski reconstructed his conversations in forensic detail in a book published after his death under the title Conversations with an Executioner. Machcewicz's book makes a major contribution to the scholarship on Stalinist political imprisonment, while also illuminating the possibilities for serious civic engagement in post-Stalinist societies. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In Civility in Uncivil Times: Kazimierz Moczarski's Quiet Battle for Truth, from the Polish Underground to Stalinist Prison (Peter Lang, 2020), Anna Machcewicz offers a powerful case study in the ethics and logistics of bearing witness in response to the two forces that brutalized Eastern Europe in the mid-twentieth century: Nazism and Stalinism. Civility in Uncivil Times is a biography of Kazimierz Moczarski (1907-1975), a Polish lawyer, journalist, and political prisoner. A major figure in the Polish Underground State in the final months of World War II, Moczarski is nonetheless best known for sharing a postwar Stalinist prison cell with SS general Jürgen Stroop, liquidator of the Warsaw Ghetto. After serving one of the longest prison terms in the history of communist Poland - eleven years - Moczarski reconstructed his conversations in forensic detail in a book published after his death under the title Conversations with an Executioner. Machcewicz's book makes a major contribution to the scholarship on Stalinist political imprisonment, while also illuminating the possibilities for serious civic engagement in post-Stalinist societies. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

In Civility in Uncivil Times: Kazimierz Moczarski's Quiet Battle for Truth, from the Polish Underground to Stalinist Prison (Peter Lang, 2020), Anna Machcewicz offers a powerful case study in the ethics and logistics of bearing witness in response to the two forces that brutalized Eastern Europe in the mid-twentieth century: Nazism and Stalinism. Civility in Uncivil Times is a biography of Kazimierz Moczarski (1907-1975), a Polish lawyer, journalist, and political prisoner. A major figure in the Polish Underground State in the final months of World War II, Moczarski is nonetheless best known for sharing a postwar Stalinist prison cell with SS general Jürgen Stroop, liquidator of the Warsaw Ghetto. After serving one of the longest prison terms in the history of communist Poland - eleven years - Moczarski reconstructed his conversations in forensic detail in a book published after his death under the title Conversations with an Executioner. Machcewicz's book makes a major contribution to the scholarship on Stalinist political imprisonment, while also illuminating the possibilities for serious civic engagement in post-Stalinist societies. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In Civility in Uncivil Times: Kazimierz Moczarski's Quiet Battle for Truth, from the Polish Underground to Stalinist Prison (Peter Lang, 2020), Anna Machcewicz offers a powerful case study in the ethics and logistics of bearing witness in response to the two forces that brutalized Eastern Europe in the mid-twentieth century: Nazism and Stalinism. Civility in Uncivil Times is a biography of Kazimierz Moczarski (1907-1975), a Polish lawyer, journalist, and political prisoner. A major figure in the Polish Underground State in the final months of World War II, Moczarski is nonetheless best known for sharing a postwar Stalinist prison cell with SS general Jürgen Stroop, liquidator of the Warsaw Ghetto. After serving one of the longest prison terms in the history of communist Poland - eleven years - Moczarski reconstructed his conversations in forensic detail in a book published after his death under the title Conversations with an Executioner. Machcewicz's book makes a major contribution to the scholarship on Stalinist political imprisonment, while also illuminating the possibilities for serious civic engagement in post-Stalinist societies. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

In Civility in Uncivil Times: Kazimierz Moczarski's Quiet Battle for Truth, from the Polish Underground to Stalinist Prison (Peter Lang, 2020), Anna Machcewicz offers a powerful case study in the ethics and logistics of bearing witness in response to the two forces that brutalized Eastern Europe in the mid-twentieth century: Nazism and Stalinism. Civility in Uncivil Times is a biography of Kazimierz Moczarski (1907-1975), a Polish lawyer, journalist, and political prisoner. A major figure in the Polish Underground State in the final months of World War II, Moczarski is nonetheless best known for sharing a postwar Stalinist prison cell with SS general Jürgen Stroop, liquidator of the Warsaw Ghetto. After serving one of the longest prison terms in the history of communist Poland - eleven years - Moczarski reconstructed his conversations in forensic detail in a book published after his death under the title Conversations with an Executioner. Machcewicz's book makes a major contribution to the scholarship on Stalinist political imprisonment, while also illuminating the possibilities for serious civic engagement in post-Stalinist societies. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Civility in Uncivil Times: Kazimierz Moczarski's Quiet Battle for Truth, from the Polish Underground to Stalinist Prison (Peter Lang, 2020), Anna Machcewicz offers a powerful case study in the ethics and logistics of bearing witness in response to the two forces that brutalized Eastern Europe in the mid-twentieth century: Nazism and Stalinism. Civility in Uncivil Times is a biography of Kazimierz Moczarski (1907-1975), a Polish lawyer, journalist, and political prisoner. A major figure in the Polish Underground State in the final months of World War II, Moczarski is nonetheless best known for sharing a postwar Stalinist prison cell with SS general Jürgen Stroop, liquidator of the Warsaw Ghetto. After serving one of the longest prison terms in the history of communist Poland - eleven years - Moczarski reconstructed his conversations in forensic detail in a book published after his death under the title Conversations with an Executioner. Machcewicz's book makes a major contribution to the scholarship on Stalinist political imprisonment, while also illuminating the possibilities for serious civic engagement in post-Stalinist societies. Piotr H. Kosicki is Associate Professor of History at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is the author of Catholics on the Barricades (Yale, 2018) and editor, among others, of Political Exile in the Global Twentieth Century (with Wolfram Kaiser). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

Moving through the world with a voice that is always impassioned, Suzanne Cohn isn't one to whisper. But she had to as a hidden child, in 8 different Christian homes throughout the Polish countryside. She even hid, breathless, behind a Christmas tree while 3 Nazi soldiers searched one of them.  Listen to Suzanne recount this and other vivid memories from an unfathomable time.  She can still hear the first cries of her baby sister being born in hiding, and thinking she was a gift from above just for her. She can still taste the barley soup she received in a country hospital when she was so ill, her parents had no choice but to risk her coming out of hiding for her to get the medical attention she needed. She can still see the field of poppies her father showed her from the window of their room in the DP camp. Speaking of hidden, find out what was sewn inside the first stuffed animal Suzanne was given, as her family sailed to Australia to begin their new lives. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation with Suzanne which took place towards the end of the pandemic. The way she experienced the quarantine, undoubtedly unique to anyone who survived the Holocaust, will inspire you. This episode is dedicated to every member of Suzanne's extended, adopted Christian family, who did so much to save her own family. The music for this episode is drawn from songs sung by the Keystone State Boychoir, who sang for Suzanne at her 80th birthday party. "O Holy Night," with soloist Bobby Hill, was recorded live with the Prague Symphony Orchestra, not far from Terezin Concentration Camp. Terezin (or Thereienstadt in German) is the setting for the play dedicated to Suzanne, The Last Boy...a new play with music. You can join Suzanne on Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 at 6pm for a one night-only performance of the show, "a benefit on Broadway...a Yom HaShoah to remember."  To learn more about what promises to be an extraordinary evening, join the e-list here.  Pictured is Suzanne (2nd from left) after the war, with her mother and siblings. To Suzanne's right is her younger sister Wendy, to her left is her older sister Rachel holding their baby brother Georgie. 

Today, Morgan shares the sensational story of Irena Sendler. Born into a family that valued (and practiced) taking a stand for what is right regardless of the consequences. Emily is working on re-integrating her art practice in her daily life. If you haven't had the pleasure already, check out her gorgeous work at @xo.creations on Instagram. She posted the “old project” she had been working on for us to see! Sometimes self-care or hobbies that bring us joy can still feel like a chore. Reminding ourselves to embrace the joy and release whatever expectation we are mounting against ourselves is such a needed experience. Flex those creative muscles in your self-love center. Morgan has found joy in the art of folding! Check out a couple of her favorite folding Instagramers: @thefoldinglady @mama_mila_au Check out the sinéad wellness Practice Meditation & Fire Flow Yoga through this wellness practice, founded by our Friend Martha You can also check them out @sineadwellness Irena Sendler Irena is quoted as saying “I was taught that if you see a person drowning you must jump into the water to save them, whether you can swim or not.” Irena rebelled against the oppression of her Jewish peers in University. The Ghetto bench system as mentioned during Irena's time at the University of Warsaw: “The ghetto benches were an official form of discrimination against Jews in pre-war Poland. Jewish students were required to sit on designated benches in specific sections in lecture halls or to stand for some classes. In Warsaw, Christian students who wanted to show solidarity with their Jewish colleagues and sat on the same benches with them were beaten by nationalists.” -Jewish News, Time of Isreal Learn more. After the start of WWII Irena did everything within her power to save Polish Jews from the Ghetto and Nazi liquidation. Working initially on her own as a social worker (and with a fake nurse ID) then joining Zegota, the Council to Aid to Jews, led by the Polish Underground resistance movement. As she was successful in removing a child from this hellscape, she recorded their original names and stored this information in jars. These jars were buried under a friend's apple tree to prevent the Nazi's from locating and identifying the children (even while imprisoning and torturing Irena). In the end, Irena saved almost 3,000 Polish Jews and her legacy lives on through the saved individuals and generations to come. Several books and movies have been lovingly created to share the story of Irena's life. A great place to start is the story behind "Life in a Jar" (the young women who researched and shared the story of Irena Sendler with the world).   Reference: http://Irenasendler.org (Irenasendler.org) http://Snopes.com (Snopes.com) New York Times Article: Irena Sendler, Lifeline to Young Jews, Is Dead at 98 By Dennis Hevesi  https://www.polartcenter.com/articles.asp?id=197 (https://www.polartcenter.com/articles.asp?id=197) (To learn more about Why and how Poles celebrate namedays)   Support this podcast

This is a set we made exclusively for the excellent Dutchie Music. All the tracks are from the label and will be released in December as an unmixed compilation on Dutchie Worldwide. Tracklist: 1 Allan Zax - What About It 2 BiG AL - Scope (Kanedo Remix) 3 Tidy Daps - Something Brewing (BiGZ & Soire Remix) 4 Tidy Daps - Enter The River 5 The Disclosure Project - Nalu (Forteba Remix) 6 Vlad Janela - Flow Elation 7 Stan Kolev - Into The Lotus (Hamza Remix) 8 Tidy Daps - Annihilating Rhythm (Soledrifter Remix) 9 J&M Brothers - Purple Camaro (Soul Minority Remix) 10 The Disclosure Project - Antumbra (Pete Herbert Remix) 11 Rishi K - Mentalism (Vlad Janela Remix) 12 Silver Ivanov - The Cube (Tim Haze Remix) 13 Bescheerer & Gill - Sanctuary

On 21 September 1941, a group of 400 women from Lublin and Warsaw was taken to Ravensbrück, the notorious concentration camp for women near Berlin. As TFN's history notable Stuart Dowell tells this week's The Debrief, the group included four Girl Guides who had been arrested for involvement with the Polish Underground. They would go on to create the secret letter writing group. Read the full story here.

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it’s hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide.  His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past.  Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it’s hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide.  His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past.  Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it's hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide. His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past. Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.  

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it’s hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide.  His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past.  Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it’s hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide.  His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past.  Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it's hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide. His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past. Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it’s hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide.  His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past.  Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some books fly high above the field, making sweeping generalizations about big questions. Other books circle over a specific problem, analyzing it in great detail to say something important about a single subject. Joshua Zimmerman‘s The Polish Underground and the Jews, 1939-1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2015) shows how important and valuable books that adopt the latter approach can be. The book is an exceptionally rich account of the attitudes, politics, policies and actions of the Polish Underground regarding Polish Jews during the Second World War. Zimmerman, Associate Professor of History at Yeshiva University in New York, spent years exploring archives, memoirs and secondary sources in preparing the book. Nearly every page of the book displays this research, with extensive quotes from newspapers, internal communications and leaders within the army. Zimmerman is well-aware of the historical and political stakes involved in his question. His answers are careful, nuanced and balanced. I can imagine people disagreeing with his conclusions (although I personally am convinced), but it’s hard to imagine a more thorough attempt to approach the question. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the interaction of Polish Jews and Polish institutions and individuals during the war. Kelly McFall is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program at Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. His research and teaching concentrates on the history of violence and human rights, focusing especially on the history of genocide.  His writing centers around a pedagogy titled Reacting to the Past.  Here he has written, among others, The Needs of Others: Human Rights, International Organizations and Intervention in Rwanda, 1994. He can be reached at mcfallk@newmanu.edu.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices