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

Jews in Eastern Europe and the USSR, 1939-46, by Norman Davies and Anthony Polonsky (eds.) 1991. Palgrave MacMillan, London

Poland Smeared: The Character Assassination of Poland During World War II

This book has many articles, but one stands out, and that is what I feature. It deals with the formation of Anders Army out of the some of the “amnestied” Polish deportees in the USSR.

DEFAMING POLAND TO PROVIDE COVER FOR JEWS MASSIVELY DESERTING ANDERS ARMY

The fact that Poland had been one of the Allies made no difference: Poland was savaged in the press. Historian Ryszard Terlecki has an excellent grasp of the organized smear campaign, in the West, waged against Poland in general and against Anders Army in particular. He writes, “To justify the number of desertions the Jewish press in Palestine, Great Britain, the United States and other countries published considerable material about anti-semitism among the Polish troops. Also the appeals to the Jewish soldiers to desert not only mentioned their patriotism but also accused the Poles of anti-Jewish persecutions. These claims were repeated and spread by the liberal and progressive press, encouraged by communists, who made good propaganda use of the naivete of many leftist journalists. Consequently, the protests and anger of Polish centers were not directed against the deserting soldiers, who were seen as largely morally justified, but against this organized press campaign, with its slanders and fabrications.” (p. 167).

To read Jewish authors that debunk these accusations against Anders Army, see:

Mystery of Kielce Pogrom | Polish-Jewish Relations (jewsandpolesdatabase.org)

Antsemitism in Anders Army Bogus | Polish-Jewish Relations (jewsandpolesdatabase.org)