On 6 March at 6 pm Dr Łukasz Kamiński, the President of the Institute of National Remembrance openeded the exhibition "Spit-flecked reactionary dwarves. Polish post-war anti-communist resistance 1944-1956" in the European Parliament in Brussels. The exhibition was on display in the Parliament (Third Floor, Zone G, balcony space) until 8 March.

The exhibition presents the most important phenomena that determined the nature of the Polish independence underground in the years 1944-1956. The authors are aware, however, that it does not show all aspects of the history of the resistance. The photographs present the essence of the Polish underground in a symbolic manner. They are complemented with superscriptions on chronologically arranged panels. The title phrase “spit-flecked reactionary dwarves” is a derogatory propaganda term, which had been used by the communist regime to describe people of the resistance. The authorities sought not only to annihilate the conspirators, but also to make their memory odious. The clash of the commonly known propaganda term with the presented material emphasizes the drama of people who have decided to continue the fight in the underground. The photographs and materials used in the exhibition come mainly from the collection assembled for the book “The atlas of the independence underground in Poland 1944-1956”. Loose cards with historical commentary placed on racks play an integral part in the exhibition. Thus, the visitors can walk out with a package of information about the presented topic.

The exhibition has been prepared by the IPN’s Branch Public Education Office in Lublin.

Photos: Dawid Nahajowski