I first saw the sky high grey concrete communist blocks in the district of Wola to the west of Warszawa’s centre as a child. My second aunt and uncle lived...
May 16, 2019
The battle of Monte Cassino is known as one of the decisive battles of WWII and for Poles, as the sacrifice of so many to break the German defence with...
April 12, 2019
The massacre of 22,000 men in the Katyń atrocity is difficult to comprehend without relating it to the personal. The story of Bogusław Piesiewicz, who suffered a double tragedy in April 1940 as a...
November 7, 2018
On Saturday 3 November I travelled to Edinburgh for a weekend of 100 year celebrations since Poland regained its independence, yet Saturday itself was all about this forgotten war hero. The...
October 26, 2018
The story of Wojtek the bear conjures up fond childhood memories of reading Lasocki's book about him at Polish Saturday School. It is a unique and remarkable tale, one I...
October 23, 2018
Separated by 6000 km, what do Poles and Indians most have in common? Pierogi and samosas perhaps? More than anything, it’s definitely an overwhelming sense of hospitality. The Polish saying ‘Gość...
September 21, 2018
The internet and genetic testing have truly revolutionised family history and it is astounding what you can find. Books that have rarely seen the light of day are published page...
August 24, 2018
It’s a bit like emigrating yourself, as this new museum is placed right on the water’s edge in the renovated Dworzec Morski (Maritime Station), one of the most imposing buildings...
April 10, 2018
Do you remember where you were, when you heard the news? This week we commemorate two incredibly sad days for the Poles: 10 April, the 8th anniversary of the Smolensk...
February 10, 2018
For years few spoke about it. Many shared the feeling “You didn’t want to tell them because they wouldn’t understand or would laugh so you just closed yourself up.” The...
