A book about us.

Look closely at the picture of the Polish soldiers on the cover. Focus on the sad and exhausted face of the marching young man peering directly at the camera. He is Henry, and Charlie, and Joe. He is me. He is you. I have seen that face a hundred times. He is us. 

Albin Wozniak, publisher of the Polish Studies Newsletter got it right in the February 2013 edition when he proclaimed, “Polonia should honor her for writing this book.” The woman he refers to is Halik Kochanski and the book is The Eagle Unbowed: Poland and the Poles in the Second World War (Harvard University Press 2012). Buy as many copies as you can afford and give it to your children, grandchildren, to your friends, and then donate a copy to the neighborhood library. It is that good and important.

Here is why. The Polish experience is either non-existent, minimized, or put in a negative or biased light in popular culture such as movies and television and in our formal culture such as in our schools. Kochanski examines all of the major parts of the war and gives the Polish perspective, whether it is good or not so good but she gives a logical and clear picture of the context and circumstance surrounding whatever occurred. That is a refreshing thing and the mark of a stellar historian.

Another reason to read this history is to feel the power of both the sorrow and the incredible pressure the Poles lived under fighting to survive in truly unbelievable conditions in their country and abroad. We have heard so many times about how Poland “suffered” in World War II and this work illustrates that part of it. What is most satisfying to me was the dispelling or clarifying of what I thought was the history of the Polish performance on the battlefield and off the battlefield, in diplomatic circles and in other spheres. In some cases Eagle Unbowed reveals information I was not aware of and what I was familiar with the book often gave at the least one other take on those events, added a twist or two, and without passion.

The range of the historical record Ms. Kochanski presents is new and broad. World War II really began for the Poles as it had for many of the European nations from the end of World War I. Poland was a recovering and emerging entity and this had a tremendous impact materially and psychologically on how she would engage Germany and Russia when they attacked her September 1, 1939. This, throughout the war, and until the “Final Chapter,” the total war experience “left Poland devastated” (page 532).   

There are a number of excellent books written about the Polish experience in World War II. Add this one to that list and please read it. Then consider as a meditation sometime during May, Polish freedom month, first that the Poles lost their freedom for over one hundred years, that their country was trashed and raped by the warring powers in World War I, that they fought five wars following World War I to secure their borders, that they worked very hard to build an emerging nation between the wars only to see it destroyed because they fought Hitler and the Germans in the Second World War. To the critics, yes, the Poles made mistakes, didn’t do as much as they should have, and on and on but they also were engaged in the fight, often alone, with spirit and determination, and on balance, made decisions and acted appropriately from start to finish. All of those battling the evil German empire can claim as much.    

For all of this then, can you easily trade away the honor, dignity, and identity of your ancestral background? Again, see the face of the young soldier on the cover of Eagle Unbowed. I hope you never forget it.

Suggestions from the Pondering Pole

I’m listening to a woman of Mexican descent describe how her uncle gets the family together to make tamales. He has the family secret and he wants the rest of them to learn how to make it like grandma did. I knew an Italian family that did the same thing with raviolis. How about your family getting together to make pierogis or chrustcikis? What a great way to pass down the “art” of your personal ethnic cooking and have fun with the cousins.

Along the same lines, here is an idea for a business. In the case of the tamales and raviolis, someone had to host the group, the cooking, and the drinking (of course!) at their house and it can be a major mess when the party is over. Renting the church hall or another public facility can be quite expensive and is paying for more room than is needed, but why not a storefront “kitchen” where a group can meet, have the fun, and clean up for a slight rental fee? We rent rooms for all kinds of reasons and with some minor upgrades you can turn your property into a rent-a-kitchen. The Pondering Pole and Ralph Cramden never stop thinking. “You’re going to the moon, Wanda!”

Pondering Pole question for May, does your family meet to make the family secret recipe? I would love to hear the story.

A very big Dziekuje Bardzo to my friend Jim “Jak” (for Jakub) Rygelski for the wonderful gift of Eagle Unbowed. I also recommend you make the blueberry cheesecake from the Mala Cukierenka website (http://www.malacukierenka.pl/sernik-na-zimno-z-jagodami.html). Hint: there are amount equivalency websites out there and use only an ounce of gelatin. It makes it fluffier and is absolutely delicious. Thank you Susie for making it for me. If you have a thought about this month’s topic, an answer to the question, a question of your own, or have interesting facts to share, contact me at: Edward Poniewaz, 6432 Marmaduke Avenue, St. Louis , MO 63139 ; eMail alinabrig@yahoo.com.

N.B. If you send eMail, reference the Polish American Journal or the Pondering Pole in the subject line. I will not open an eMail if I do not recognize the subject or the sender.