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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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