Polish culture during World War II was brutally suppressed by the occupying powers of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, both of whom were hostile to Poland's people and culture. Policies aimed at cultural genocide resulted in the deaths of thousands of scholars and artists, and the theft or destruction of innumerable cultural artifacts. British historian Niall Ferguson writes that "the maltreatment of the Poles was one of many ways in which the Nazi and Soviet regimes had grown to resemble one another". The occupiers looted or destroyed much of Poland's cultural heritage, while persecuting and killing members of the Polish cultural elite. Most Polish schools were closed, and those that remained open saw their curricula altered significantly. Nevertheless, underground organizations and individuals—in particular the Polish Underground State—saved much of Poland's most valuable cultural heritage, and worked to salvage as many cultural institutions and artifacts as possible. The Catholic Church and wealthy individuals contributed to the survival of some artists and their works. Despite severe retribution by the Nazis and Soviets, Polish underground cultural activities, including publications, concerts, live theater, education, and academic research, continued throughout the war.
Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_culture_during_World_War_II
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1763:
Age of Enlightenment: Catherine II of Russia endorsed educator Ivan Betskoy's plans for the Moscow Orphanage , an ambitious, state-run, experimental Russian Enlightenment project to educate orphans into ideal citizens. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Orphanage
1804:
German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding discovered Juno, one of the largest main belt asteroids, naming it after the Roman goddess. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Juno
1939:
Nazi Germany invaded Poland at Wieluń and Westerplatte, starting World War II in Europe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland_%281939%29
1951:
Australia, New Zealand and the United States signed a mutual defence pact known as the ANZUS Treaty in San Francisco, agreeing to cooperate on defence matters in the Pacific Ocean area. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANZUS
1969:
A bloodless coup d'état led by Muammar al-Gaddafi overthrew Idris I of Libya. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_al-Gaddafi
1983:
Soviet jet interceptors shot down the civilian airliner Korean Air Lines Flight 007 near Sakhalin Island in the North Pacific, killing all 246 passengers and 23 crew on board. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Lines_Flight_007
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
co-mother-in-law (n): The mother of one's son- or daughter-in-law; that is, the mother-in-law of one's son or daughter http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/co-mother-in-law
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Deep in the minds of the apes was rooted the conviction that Tarzan was a mighty fighter and a strange creature. Strange because he had had it in his power to kill his enemy, but had allowed him to live — unharmed. --Edgar Rice Burroughs http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edgar_Rice_Burroughs