During the conference, the IPN presented the most important undertakings and plans of the Institute related to the anniversary of the outbreak of World War II - including the new IPN website 1september39.com- in English and 1wrzesnia39.pl- in Polish, the exhibition "Crimes on the Poles 1939–1945" and the audiobook „Dziennik. Wrześniowa obrona Warszawy” by Lt. Col. Wacław Lipiński, head of propaganda in the city's defense command. To view the conference, please go to : https://www.facebook.com/ipngovpl/videos/2349990121783396/
The Institute began celebrating the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II with the opening of the exhibition. “Between the Walls. Poland under totalitarian regimes 1939–1945” on 22 August 22 on Piłsudski Square in Warsaw. The IPN exhibition, which was visited by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, is presented in two spatial configurations. In visual, artistic and substantive terms, it touches upon the subject of the history of two totalitarianisms: the German Reich and Soviet Russia. The underlying theme of the narrative is the outbreak of World War II, its tragic consequences and the fight of Poles for freedom against the two occupiers.Texts and photographs placed on the outer walls of the installation introduce the viewers to the dramatic reality of war.
The IPN exhibition "Crimes on the Poles 1939–1945" constitutes a reminder of the enormity of crimes committed against the Polish Nation during World War II by the totalitarian regimes of the German Third Reich and the Soviet Union, as well as by Ukrainian nationalists from the OUN-UPA. The viewers will find out about mass genocide, forced resettlements and slave labor, theft of national property (including cultural goods) and forced recruitment to the occupation armies. The exhibition presents testimonies of victims of repression, memorabilia of the murdered, as well as profiles of some of the perpetrators, who in only a few cases were held liable for the crimes they had committed.
The "Stolen Childhood" exhibition, prepared by the Warsaw Branch of the Institute of National Remembrance, shows the lives of children from the interwar period to the end of World War II. It shows what their life was like and how it changed during the war. The period of childhood, which was brutally interrupted by the terrorist policy pursued by the occupiers, left a huge trauma in their lives. The exhibition refers to the fate of children from various national minorities, including: Jews, Roma, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poleshuks, Karaites, Armenians, Hutsuls, as well as traumatic experiences related to the ghetto, the camp, forced labour, deportations, executions, etc. The exhibition depicts the lives of children from the interwar period to the end of World War II. Brutally interrupted by war and occupation, their childhood left a huge trauma in their lives. The exhibition talks about the choices between being a victim, a passive observer and a defender.
An outdoor exhibition of Antoni Snawadzki’s photographs documenting the destruction of Warsaw in 1939 - In connection with the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, the Archive of the IPN has prepared an outdoor exhibition of Antoni Snawadzki’s unique photos illustrating the destruction of Warsaw after the siege of 1939.
What happened in September 1939? Was it possible to avoid the outbreak of war? Could it have ended sooner? It might not be possible to find the answers to all of your questions but knowledge of the events taking place 80 years ago will most certainly allow us to avoid war in the future. A new website dedicated to the September 1939 campaign is available in both Polish and English at:
1september39.com and 1wrzesnia39.pl
The IPN has launched the new English Facebook profile of the Institute of National Remembrance. We have chosen this particular moment in order to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II - an important turning point in the history of Poland and the world. Our mission is to preserve the memory of historical events and people, to investigate and defend historical truth and to popularize it through education. We hope that the newly-opened fanpage will create opportunities for communication and interaction with English-speaking users.