Jan Tomasz Gross's Statement Raises Controversy

Mateusz Szczepaniak, 16 November 2016
Statements by Jana Tomasz Gross have often triggered strong responses. This time, controversy has been sparked by a feature article in the German daily  "Die Welt", in which the Polish-American historian and sociologist expressed the opinion that, during World War II, Poles "killed more Jews than Germans". The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already issued a response to that statement, as has the Polish Embassy in Washington. Polish parliamentarian Jacek Żalek, grandson of Righteous Among the Nations  Czesław Żalek, has raised a complaint with the public prosecutor's office.

Jan Tomasz Gross's article was published on 15th September 2015 in the Internet edition of "Die Welt", in relation to the Europe's immigrant crisis. Gross compared the refugees' travels to Germany with that of the Jews leaving Eastern Europe.

He wrote, "Not so long ago, in the first years after the War, Jews who had survived the Holocaust had to flee the murderous anti-Semitism of their Polish, Hungarian, Slovak and Rumanian neighbours. They fled to Germany where they sought shelter in refugee camps".

Gross criticised Poland and other eastern European countries for a lack of solidarity with countries which had responded to the challenge of accepting the influx of refugees. Writing about Poland's reluctance to help those in need, he stated that "the atrocious nature of Poles dates back to Nazi times". 

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already reacted to Gross's comments. A Ministry spokesman claimed the text was historically wrong, harmful and offensive to Poles.

Polish parliamentarian Jacek Żalek has raised a complaint with the public prosecutor's office. He wrote, "As a member of the Polish Sejm, and grandson of Czesław Żalek who was honoured with the medal of Righteous Among the Nations, I feel indignant at the words of J. T. Gross, who states that, during World War II, Poles murdered more Jews than Germans. I have raised a complaint with the Prosecutor General's office alleging that an offence has been committed under Article 133 of the Penal Code (insulting the Polish nation)".

The Polish Embassy in Washington has also reacted to Gross's words. In a statement issued by Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf, he writes, "Documented cases of Polish collaboration with the Nazis are but a drop in the ocean compared with the sympathy and help Poles extended to those who were persecuted". The Ambassador stressed that Poles comprise a majority of the Righteous Among the Nations. According to the diplomat, comparing the issue of the refugees to the attitude of Poles to Jews during the Holocaust was, at least, inappropriate. The Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) has also issued a statement.

Jan Tomasz Gross is a professor in the Department of History at Princeton University. He was born in Warsaw in 1947 and studied at Warsaw University. In 1968, he took part in the student protests and was held under arrest for several months. One year later, he left for the USA with his parents. He obtained his doctorate in sociology in 1975 from Yale University where, for many years, he remained as a lecturer. "Sąsiedzi" (Neighbours) and "Złote żniwa" (Golden Harvests), books regarding the issue of Polish anti-Semitism, are among his more well-known works.