Posts by Gene Sokolowski
Ernest Malinowski: The 19th-Century Engineer Who Defended Peru
Ernest Malinowski’s dream was to build a railroad that “will reach the cloudsâ€. Born in Poland in 1818, Malinowski came to Peru when Spain was trying to hold on to its last colonies. Considered a hero in the Battle of Callao, Malinowski helped Peru maintain its sovereignty in a time of need. Malinowski would go…
Read MoreLTC Matt Urban: America’s Most Decorated Combat Veteran of World War II
Lieutenant Colonel Matt Urban, born Matthew Louis Urbanowicz, (1919 – 1995) shares with Audie Murphy the distinction of being the most decorated American combat veteran of World War 2. Earning more medals for valor than the legendary Murphy, he was awarded 29 U.S., French, and Belgian medals including the Medal of Honor. When Army officials…
Read MoreNew pioneering work examines the largely unknown role of the Polish church in saving Jews during the Holocaust
Wartime Rescue of Jews by the Polish Catholic Clergy: The Testimony of Survivors and Rescuers, Volumes 1 and 2, is a pioneering study by Ryszard Tyndorf and Zygmunt ZieliÅ„ski of the mostly unknown rescue activities carried out by the Polish Catholic Church and its clergy in German-occupied Poland during the Second World War. It is…
Read MoreJews feel more secure in Poland than in Western Europe – German media
Many Jews are now moving to Poland, where they feel safer than in Western Europe, German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) wrote in a report from Kraków. In a website article published on Thursday, FAZ claims that this move is strongly influenced by the war in Ukraine and the Hamas October 7 attack on Israel.…
Read MorePASI EDU Letter to Senator Durbin of Illinois explains why the comic book MAUS is unsuitable and unacceptable for classroom use
PASI EDU’s reply to Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois who calls critics of the so-called graphic novel MAUS “extremists†PASI EDU’s letter to the Senator points out why Art Spiegelman’s comic book MAUS is clearly unsuitable and unacceptable as instructional material in American public-school curricula. Our letter to the Senator is provided below. To date,…
Read MoreMidwife of Auschwitz
Poignant novel based on an extraordinary Polish heroine who delivered 3,000 babies in the horror of the Germans’ largest death camp. (For high school students, teachers, and adults). The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart is a poignant historical novel based on the true-life experiences of StanisÅ‚awa (Stah-nee-swahva) LeszczyÅ„ska, who trained as a midwife and…
Read MorePoland is a country with diverse attractions that will surprise, delight, and inspire you
(For high school students, teachers, and adults) Poland is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. From the Baltic coast to the Carpathian mountains, Poland offers a variety of landscapes and attractions for travelers and adventurers. This Youtube Video highlights some of the many places and cities you’ll find very interesting. They include WrocÅ‚aw (pronounced…
Read MoreIn My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer
(For high school students, teachers, and adults). In My Hands: Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer by Irene Gut Opdyke is a compelling memoir of a young Polish woman’s experience as a resistance fighter, rescuer of Jews, and survivor of both the German and Soviet occupations of Poland from 1939 to 1945. When Germany invaded Poland…
Read MoreA positive event in Polish-Jewish relations – US rabbis support Poland’s WWII reparations claim
Representatives of the North American Board of Rabbis (NABOR) told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that, from a moral point of view, Poland’s claim for war reparations from Germany needs to be resolved. On September 1, 2022, the Polish government presented a comprehensive report detailing the material losses suffered by Poland during the Second World…
Read MorePolish Folk Dance Performances by Mazowsze are a Spectator Sport
Mazowsze Performance – Finale Mazowsze (pronounced “mah-zove-shehâ€), named after Poland’s heartland where the capital Warsaw is located, is one of two of the country’s National Folk Song and Dance ensembles. The other is ÅšlÄ…sk (pronounced “shlonskâ€), which will be included in our Arts & Culture page. Both groups have made folk dance a spectator sport…
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