Global Buzz: A U.S. Scholar’s Book Shakes Up Poland
“Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz” was first published in the U.S. in mid-2006 by Polish-American historian Jan T. Gross, a Princeton professor who charges Poles with a desire to eliminate their remaining Jewish population after the end of World War II. Now a translation of “Fear” is finally on sale in Poland–and it has become the talk of the nation, prompting not only an outcry in Poland but an investigation by prosecutors into whether the book slanders the Polish nation.
In the book, Mr. Gross argues that widespread anti-Semitism and a desire to hold onto confiscated Jewish property led to violent pogroms against Jews, such as in Kielce in 1946. He also accuses the Catholic Church, the Communist authorities and Polish intellectual elites of collaboration.
Since the translation went on sale in January, prominent Polish politicians, historians, media commentators and even Polish-Jewish leaders have criticized the author, saying Mr. Gross has overstated and misrepresented the situation. The Archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Dziwisz, complained to the author’s Krakow-based publishers, Znak, that the book promotes anti-Polish and anti-Semitic sentiment and is divisive. On a promotional tour in Poland earlier this year, Mr. Gross faced cries of “lies” and “slander” at packed public appearances. “There have been so many outraged and worried voices,” says Mr. Gross. “But I also see that those who took time to read the book are more thoughtful, reflective.”
Other prominent Poles, such as Marek Beylin, columnist for daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, have praised the book for forcing “a debate on the dark secrets of the Polish past.” Supporters say this public discussion is necessary in a society that has generally viewed itself as a victim of the Nazis and has refused to take full account of its past. Poland lost six million of its citizens in World War II, half of them Jewish, according to most estimates. Mr. Gross estimates that 200,000 out of 300,000 surviving Jews were forced to emigrate after the war due to Polish anti-Semitism, including himself ? he moved to the US in 1969.
Until the middle of February, the book had prosecutors in Krakow considering whether to file charges against the author under a 2006 statute that makes it illegal to “publicly accuse the Polish nation of participating in Nazi or Communist crimes.” The uproar over the book appears to have boosted sales. “We thought we would sell 20,000 copies in the first three months,” said Tomasz Miedzik of Znak, the publisher. “Instead, we sold 25,000 in the first five days.” Link
In the book, Mr. Gross argues that widespread anti-Semitism and a desire to hold onto confiscated Jewish property led to violent pogroms against Jews, such as in Kielce in 1946. He also accuses the Catholic Church, the Communist authorities and Polish intellectual elites of collaboration.
Since the translation went on sale in January, prominent Polish politicians, historians, media commentators and even Polish-Jewish leaders have criticized the author, saying Mr. Gross has overstated and misrepresented the situation. The Archbishop of Krakow, Stanislaw Dziwisz, complained to the author’s Krakow-based publishers, Znak, that the book promotes anti-Polish and anti-Semitic sentiment and is divisive. On a promotional tour in Poland earlier this year, Mr. Gross faced cries of “lies” and “slander” at packed public appearances. “There have been so many outraged and worried voices,” says Mr. Gross. “But I also see that those who took time to read the book are more thoughtful, reflective.”
Other prominent Poles, such as Marek Beylin, columnist for daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, have praised the book for forcing “a debate on the dark secrets of the Polish past.” Supporters say this public discussion is necessary in a society that has generally viewed itself as a victim of the Nazis and has refused to take full account of its past. Poland lost six million of its citizens in World War II, half of them Jewish, according to most estimates. Mr. Gross estimates that 200,000 out of 300,000 surviving Jews were forced to emigrate after the war due to Polish anti-Semitism, including himself ? he moved to the US in 1969.
Until the middle of February, the book had prosecutors in Krakow considering whether to file charges against the author under a 2006 statute that makes it illegal to “publicly accuse the Polish nation of participating in Nazi or Communist crimes.” The uproar over the book appears to have boosted sales. “We thought we would sell 20,000 copies in the first three months,” said Tomasz Miedzik of Znak, the publisher. “Instead, we sold 25,000 in the first five days.” Link
posted by BEING HAD at 2:52 PM
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