Polish-Jewish Relations: 1,300 Keyword-Phrase-Indexed Book Reviews (by Jan Peczkis)

Orly i Reszki, by Pisarewski-Parry, Feliks. 1984

A Jewish Member of the “anti-Semitic” NSZ. Rescue of Fugitive Jews Was Very Difficult

EAGLES AND TAILS–a Polish-language book. The NSZ has frequently been accused, in Communist and Jewish writings, of being systematically anti-Semitic, and out to kill fugitive Jews. This work goes a long way to lay these myths to rest.

INITIAL JEWISH AUTONOMY UNDER NAZI GERMAN RULE IN OCCUPIED POLAND

At first, when the Nazi-German occupants established ghettos for Jews, the eventual fate of the Jews was not apparent. To the contrary: “For some time, the Jews lived in peace and could move about the nation. Businesses flourished in the ghettos, as did communal life. Those sought by the German police found refuge among the Jews.” (p. 18). [This tends to confirm Polish scholar Ewa Kurek.]

For a definitive work on the Judenrat a fulfillment of age-old Jewish separatist dreams, see:

https://www.jewsandpolesdatabase.org/2022/08/09/judenrat-autonomy-ewa-kurek-correct-nazi-germany-granted-considerable-jewish-autonomy-via-the-judenrat-definitive-work-jews-decide-which-jews-will-live-and-which-jews-will-die-jewish-ghetto-polic/

THE POLISH BLUE POLICE (POLICJA GRANATOWA): A MIXED BAG

For a time, the author bore the false name of Fiodor Bisarycki. He had contacts with the Polish Blue Police (Policja Granatowa) and found that it contained not only Polish traitors and German-servers, but also members of the Polish Underground and people of good will who helped those in need. (p. 23).

THE GERMAN HELL AT PAWIAK PRISON

Pisarewski-Parry was, for a time, a member of the AK (p. 48) and spent time in the notorious Pawiak prison. (pp. 54-on). Later, he learned that, in 1939-1944, some 100,000 Poles had gone through this prison, of whom 37,000 were killed outright and the remaining 60,000 sent to concentration camps. (p. 59).

POLES DID NOT CHEER AT THE SUFFERINGS OF THE JEWS–NOT EVEN THE POLISH ANTISEMITES

The author refrains from making the usual sweeping generalizations about Polish anti-Semitism, the attempt to link it to German Nazism, and the tendency to accuse Poles of delighting in the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto during and after the Uprising. He comments: “I was powerless as I was forced to observe the agony of the Warsaw Ghetto. The leadership of the AK remained in contact with the ZOB. Massive aid was impossible, but was delivered when it was realistic to do so…The Poles were shocked by the shameless mass murder–even those Poles who were considered anti-Semites. There was certainly a big difference between anti-Semitism and criminal conduct.” (p. 84). [Hear that, Polonophobes?] This contradicts the propaganda of Schindler’s List, a movie seen by 120 million Americans, and in which there are Poles throwing mud at the doomed Jews, while a Polish girl gives the Jews a derisive farewell (Goodbye Jews!)

GERMAN DEATH PENALTY WAS A VERY REAL FACTOR

Pisarewski-Parry elaborates on the situation facing Polish rescuers of Jews: “To hide one Jew and get caught meant being shot on the spot. Instances of entire Polish families thus executed were many. The Germans carried out the sentences with great sadism and perfidy…” (p. 85). Poles aided fugitive Jews. (e. g., p. 106). He did also, as a member of the Polish Underground, by making forged Aryan documents for them. (p. 86, 115).

HIDING FUGITIVE JEWS WAS VERY DIFFICULT EVEN WITHOUT THE GERMAN DEATH PENALTY

As for the Poles as a whole, he comments: “Every nation has its heroes and its hooligans. Mosdorf, the prewar anti-Semite and member of the ONR (O.N.R), died at Auschwitz defending Jews. His sister, Grace, my great friend, hid Jews and aided them throughout the duration of the war. There were thousands of noble Poles, but unfortunately the distinctive appearances and behaviors of many Chassidic Jews were impossible to camouflage. The conscience of the world should remember this!” (p. 85).

In reflecting upon his Jewishness and membership in the NSZ (p. 65), the author pointed out that membership in Polish guerrilla organizations was primarily the outcome of personal contacts, local circumstances, etc. In fact, he estimates that 50% of members did not know about the ideological affinities of their guerrilla organization. He obviously did. Pointedly, Pisarewski-Parry had a Semitic appearance. (p. 19).

POSTWAR KILLINGS OF JEWS

The author was arrested by the Germans, but fought his way out to freedom. He later participated in Operation Burza (Tempest).(pp. 120-on). He commented on the Ukrainian separatists’ (OUN-UPA) enmity against the Poles, and how these Ukrainians denounced many Poles to the Germans. (p. 104). Pisarewski-Parry does not mention the postwar killings of Jews in Poland. However, he recounts the fact that a good deal of forest banditry existed in postwar Poland. (p. 147). How many Jews fell victims, not to antisemites, but to the bandits?

After the war, the author emigrated to Australia. He visited Poland successively in the 1980’s.