Events, Throughout Poland, on the Book "Dalej jest noc” ("Beyond is the Night")
This two-volume work, edited by Prof. Barbara Engelking and Prof. Jan Grabowski, is a summary of a research project, conducted over several years, by the Centre for Holocaust Research IFIS PAN, entitled "Survival Strategies of Jews During the Occupation in the General Government, 1942-1945. A Study of Selected Local Government Districts” - more about the project. The book includess chapters written by Barbara Engelking, Tomasz Frydel, Jan Grabowski, Dariusz Libionka, Dagmara Swałtek-Niewińska, Karolina Panz, Alina Skibińska, Jean Charles Szurek and Anna Zapalec - see a listing of chapters.
According to the authors of the publication, "In all the districts which we examined, Jews sought help not in small towns, but in nearby villages - in the homes of their neighbours. In large measure, the possibility of survival depended upon the willingness of those neighbours to help, Christians, who were able to overcome their fear that hiding Jews would pose a threat to their community. Negative factors were the binding group norms, the presence everywhere of antisemitism and the mechanisms of social conformity. All the more admirable are those who were able go against, not only the German legal regulations, but also the written and unwritten rules of group life. The numbers are inexorable - two out every three Jews who sought help, died. The volumes contain evidence that there was a significant scale of Poles' participation, more than that thought until now, in the demise of their Jewish fellow-citizens”.
The launch of the book took place, on 22nd April, at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. Below is a listing of events on this long-awaited book:
Warsaw, 20th May, 3:00pm: Featuring Prof. Barbarą Engelking, during the Warsaw Book Fair (PGE Narodowy, ul. ks. J. Poniatowskiego 1, Stall 34/D5).
Bielsko-Biała, 21st May, 5:00pm: Featuring Dr. hab. Dariusz Libionka, in conjunction with the "Tygodnik Powszechn” Club, at the Beskidy Library (ul. Słowackiego 17A).
Łódź, 22nd May, 6:30pm: Featuring Prof. Barbara Engelking, Alina Skibińska and Dr hab. Anna Zapalec, in conjunction with Łódż University's Centre for Holocaust Research, at the Marek Edelman Centre for Dialogue (ul. Wojska Polskiego 83). Discussion on the book will be led by Ewa Wiatr and Dr Adam Sitarek.
Kraków, 24th May, 6:00pm: Featuring Dr. hab. Dariusz Libionka, Karolina Panz and Dagmara Swałtek-Niewińska, in conjunction with the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków, at Oskar Schindler's Emalia Factory (ul. Lipowa 4). Discussion about the book will be chaired by "Tygodnik Powszechny” journalist Michał Okoński, with commentary by Dr Martyna Grądzka-Rejak (IPN).
Lublin, 26th May, 5:00pm: Featuring Dr. hab. Dariusz Libionk and Alina Skibińska, in conjunction with Łódż University's Centre for Holocaust Research, at Ośrodek Brama Grodzka - Teatr NN (ul. Grodzka 21). Discussion about the book will be led by Dr hab. Adam Kopciowski.
A fragment of Jan Filipek's testimony:
The Sołtys (village leader) climbed the ladder to the attic and told the workers accompanying him, that they would find Jews in the attic. After climbing down from the attic, he left - or rather he ran towards the village, followed by Rózia, pleading with him to leave them alone. Departing from our house, the Sołtys instructed the workers to guard the farmyard so that the Jews could not leave. He personally went to the police station in Łętownia, having earlier sent carts to our home in order to transport the Jews from our home to his. After some time, the Sołtys returned, together with Polish police from Tokarnia, in order to collect the Jews.
