REMEMBER THE TRUTH
In The Gazette of April 11 I found the big article "Remember the ghetto" by Mark Clarfield. In this article,
Marc Clarfield writes about the horribly tragic Jewish situation during World War II, the atrocities against them
and the heroic struggle of jewish people to survive. Writing about this dark period of our history and its heros
is important and necessary for all generations and especially the new one. However in doing so it is imperative
to bring forward true historical facts. Unfortunately, Mr. Clarfield article fails to do it. When he writes "
The Germans did not act alone. They had ample help from many of the surrounding gentile Pols. With the few notable
exceptions, Warsaw`s non Jewish populations was at best indifferent to the fate of the ghetto inhabitants. At worst,
they actively and enthusiastically collaborated with the Nazis"
He is not presenting and is misleading readers by implying that entire population except few was collaborating
with the Nazis. If I agree that, Yes, it is important to denounce those criminals among the Polish population and
Jewish as well. It`s why the Polish underground authorities established death penalty for those who denounced the
Jews.
I would like to remind also that in 1942, Jan Karski officer of polish underground army was sent from occupied
Poland with a desperate message to allied leaders about the Hitlers policy to exterminate the Jews of Europe. He
met top Allied officials, including min. Anthony Eden and president Roosevelt. Some reacted viscerally, others
as american Jewish Congress, responded with disbelief or indifference.
The Polish Government in exile immediately established the aid for jewish population in occupied POLAND. On the
other hand the Poles did to try and save the Jews in the face of the automatic sentences of death to entire families.
On December 4, 1942 the clandestine organization named ZEGOTA has been established. The slate of officers of ZEGOTA
included Polish and Jewish people. The new organization ZEGOTA was approved by the delegates of Polish.
Government in exile. This unique clandestine organization in occupied Europe saved about 200000 Jews. Marek Edelman,
still living, a hero of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, estimated the number of Jews in hiding in Warsaw at 18000 and
that of the Poles sheltering them at 100000, assuming that about five persons were required to protect one Jew
over a period of time.
On April 19.1943 started uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto. Officers of the Polish Home Army and the representatives
of the Jewish Fighting Organization planed joint action. Three Polish units were to brake through the ghetto walls.Unfortunately,
detected prematurely by Germans they were killed while the snappers triad to blow up the wall, and attempt ended
in failure.On the other hand, Home Army delivered to the Jewish Organization 3 machine guns, 50 guns, 10 rifles,
400 detonators 150 kg explosives, 600 hand grenades.
Unfortunately, this time, Polish Home Army needed themselves the arming. The evacuation of wounded jewish fighters
was by a special tunnel. Here are only some facts that seem to be omitted or ignored in this, as in so many similar
articles.
Further in the article when mr. Clarfield writes,"...how easy our medical profession was perverted in both
its German and Polish branches..." it is hard to even understand what exactly Mr. Clarfield is saying or implying
so I will leave as a question mark.
Except I will ask Mr. Clarfield to contact Polish doctors who survived the war in Poland. Again I would like to
emphasize writing about this period denouncing all the wrong doing and honouring heroes is important but solely
if based on facts. Doing that without taking the time to fully research the facts and ignoring historical knowledge
, is not only wrong but most of all harmful to all those who survived, those who helped them and those we want
to educate.
Unfortunately I was in Poland during the World War II, and I remember very well this horrible period. And I find
unacceptable articles which for a reason I just can not explain. especially from the people who did not live the
war, distort the history. What is more disturbing is that professionals such as Dr Clarefield sign such articles
(without appropriate research) it proving them undue credibility.
ANDRE WOLSKI
TMR
This letter was published May 17,1999,page B2