TV IPN team has prepared a special twenty-minute educational video that shows the struggle of Poland and Polish people for independence. The film covers the period from the origins of World War II, the two totalitarian regimes aggression, occupation terror, heroic fight against the occupiers, to the apparent liberation and takeover of power by the communists.

The film features eyewitness accounts from resource of the Oral History Archive of the Institute, as well as archival photographs and press releases. It is narrated by Tomasz Sudoł from the IPN Public Education Office who explains twists and turns of history. For the needs of foreign audience the film is subtitled in English.

The title „When they come to burn the house down…" is taken from Władysław Broniewski's peom "Bayonet for weapon". The release date, September 27, was not chosen by accident. It is the Day of the Polish Underground State, commemorating establishment of the underground organization the Service of Poland's Victory in 1939.

The film is available to watch at the TV IPN channel on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHb-qIJTZ-M