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| '''''Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz: An Essay in Historical Interpretation''''', is a book by ], published by ] and ] in 2006. An edited Polish version was published in 2008 by ] in ] as ''Strach: antysemityzm w Polsce tuż po wojnie: historia moralnej zapaści'' ("Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland shortly after the war: the history of a moral fall"). In the book, Gross explores the issues concerning incidents of ], with particular focus on the 1946 ]. ''Fear'' has received international attention and reviews in major newspapers; it has also been the subject of criticism. | '''''Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz: An Essay in Historical Interpretation''''', is a book by ], published by ] and ] in 2006. An edited Polish version was published in 2008 by ] in ] as ''Strach: antysemityzm w Polsce tuż po wojnie: historia moralnej zapaści'' ("Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland shortly after the war: the history of a moral fall"). In the book, Gross explores the issues concerning incidents of ], with particular focus on the 1946 ]. ''Fear'' has received international attention and reviews in major newspapers; it has also been the subject of criticism. | ||
| ==Content== | |||
| Gross begins the English version of ''Fear'' with a chapter summarizing ] of ] during ], including the physical ]; ] between ] and ]; the subsequent ]; the ] of Polish army officers by the ]; the ] of 1944; the Soviet decision to postpone their advance until the German army had defeated the Polish ], which resulted in the total destruction of ] and ] by Britain and America at the ], knowingly consigning it to Soviet ] domination. | |||
| Gross estimates that approximately 250,000 ] returned home at the end of the war. In his chapter "The Unwelcoming of Jewish Survivors," Gross describes how returning Polish Jews were subjected to a wave of violence and hostility, with up to 1500 murdered either individually or in pogroms.<ref name=Margolick>David Margolick. '']'', July 23, 2006</ref> Often they would find their property occupied by non-Jewish Poles or taken over by the ] government, which ] much of the Polish economy. According to Gross, the expropriation of Jewish property continued a trend that occurred throughout the war years, with non-Jewish Poles acquiring the property of ] who were sent off to ], and in some instances, carrying out the killings themselves. Gross describes how the looting of property extended to digging through the ashes of ] for gold fillings.<ref name=Margolick/> He discusses the alienation, hostile atmosphere, and violence experienced by some Jews and the inability of Polish elites to prevent it.<ref name="esummary">{{cite web|url=http://fear.piastinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=32&Itemid=55 |title=Symposium: Analysis of Fear - Summary of the Essay |publisher=Fear.piastinstitute.org |date= |accessdate=2013-06-27}}</ref> Gross makes additional claims about the ], arguing that the crime was initiated not by a mob, but by the police, and that it involved people from every walk of life except the highest level of government officials in the city.<ref>''Fear'', pp. 83-166</ref> | |||
| According to a ]'s online summary,<ref name="esummary"/> Gross concludes by writing that some Poles, especially in rural areas, participated in the Nazi wartime effort to annihilate and despoil the Jews, and this was the cause of postwar ] in Poland. The fear of punishment for their own crimes, according to Gross, was what drove them to continue attacking Jews after the war.<ref name="Gont"/><ref>David M. Crowe. Westview Press, 2008.</ref> Historian ] describes the following quote as a "summation of basic thesis:" | |||
| <blockquote>We must seek the reasons for the novel, virulent quality of postwar anti-Semitism in Poland not in collective hallucinations nor in prewar attitudes, but in actual experiences acquired during the war years.... Living Jews embodied the massive failure of character and reason on the part of their Polish neighbors and constituted by mere presence both a reminder and a threat that they might need to account for themselves.<ref name="Engel">{{cite journal |first=David |last=Engel |title=On Continuity and Discontinuity in Polish-Jewish Relations: Observations on ''Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz—An Essay in Historical Interpretation'' by Jan T. Gross. New York: Random House, 2006 |journal=] |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=534–548 |year=2007 |doi=10.1177/0888325407303795 }}</ref></blockquote> | |||
| The ] version of ''Fear'' differed from its English language original because Gross assumed that his Polish readers were familiar with the tragic history of wartime Poland. The first chapter of the English version was replaced by a chapter documenting Polish awareness of the ] genocide of the Jews. ''Fear'' includes several photographs taken by ]. | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| ===United States=== | |||
| ''Fear'' received praise in reviews in a number of popular American magazines and newspapers including '']'', '']'', the '']'', and the ''].''<ref>Susan Rubin Suleiman. . The Boston Globe, July 02, 2006</ref> | |||
| ] writing in '']'', took issue with Gross' thesis that the murders of Jews in post-war Poland was inspired by feelings of guilt on the part of Poles, positing instead that perhaps "through their own state-of-the-art anti-Semitism, the Germans emboldened many Poles to act upon what they had always felt," taking as credible "Nazi accounts of Judenjagd, or 'Jew hunts,' detailed how Poles pitched in to find any stray Jews the Germans somehow managed to miss."<ref name=Margolick/> | |||
| ], reviewing the book in '']'', rejected the notion of collective guilt for all of Poland but noted that Gross' book impels Poland to confront its past.<ref name=Wiesel>Elie Wiesel. . ''The Washington Post'', June 25, 2006.</ref> In response to Wiesel's review, Polish-Jewish journalist ] wrote in a leading Polish daily, '']'' (of which he is editor-in-chief), that "Wiesel's review conveys the image of a country unable to confront the plague of anti-Semitism... Anyone who writes about anti-Semitism in Poland and ignores those facts, falsifies — even if unintentionally — the truth about Poland."<ref name=Reiter/> The ''Washington Post'' printed a letter to the editor by ], the Polish ambassador to the United States, who cited Michnik.<ref name=Reiter>Janusz Reiter, , '']'' July 9, 2006.</ref> | |||
| ], reviewing ''Fear'' for the ''],'' wrote that the book "should inspire a national reflection on why there are scarcely any Jews left in Poland.<ref name="LAT">Thane Rosenbaum, (pdf), book review of ''Fear'', '']'', June 25, 2006.</ref> | |||
| ] wrote in '']'' that Gross "builds a meticulous case."<ref>, '']'', 29 May 2006</ref> | |||
| ] wrote that, unlike Gross' earlier work '']'', in which Gross posited a continuity in the actions of a community of people over generations, in ''Fear'' "Gross himself appears to have bracketed off the Nazi era from the longer course of Polish history and by doing so to have altered the terms for reflecting on transgenerational Polish responsibility for past deeds that he set forth in his earlier work." Engel wrote that Gross now sees World War II as a radical break in the history of Polish behavior towards Jews.<ref name="Engel" /> | |||
| The ], a ] ], published a broader analysis of ''Fear'' and its reception. While the institute was critical of the book itself,<ref name="purpose">{{cite web|url=http://fear.piastinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=15&Itemid=65 |title=Symposium: Analysis of Fear - Symposium's Purpose |publisher=Fear.piastinstitute.org |date= |accessdate=2013-06-27}}</ref> it also criticized some of the reviews in popular press: "reviewers in major newspapers such as '']'', '']'' and the '']'', none of whom has any expertise in Polish or East Central European history, have reacted to the book with uncritical acclaim and considerable ] rhetoric. As such, it is clear already that ''Fear'' will have a serious and negative effect on ]."<ref name="intro">{{cite web|url=http://fear.piastinstitute.org/ |title=Symposium: Analysis of Fear - Introduction |publisher=Fear.piastinstitute.org |date= |accessdate=2013-06-27}}</ref> | |||
| ===Poland=== | |||
| In Poland ''Fear'' caused controversy and what the German magazine '']'' described as a "right wing backlash;" with the book coming under strong criticism by Polish historians, nationalists, and the country's conservative establishment. Polish rabbi ], quoted in ''Der Spiegel'', said he welcomed the debate ''Fear'' had begun, but described the book as unfairly depicting the country as anti-Semitic thus "harming our goal of reconciliation."<ref name="economist"> ''The Economist'', January 31, 2008.</ref><ref name=Dowling>Siobhán Dowling. ''Spiegel International''. January 18, 2008.</ref><ref name=Whitlock>Craig Whitlock, , Washington Post Foreign Service, Friday, January 18, 2008; Page A14</ref> | |||
| ], a Jewish leader of the ] against the Nazis, responded to the book by stating that postwar violence against Jews was "not about anti-Semitism... Murdering Jews was pure banditry, and I wouldn't explain it as anti-Semitism... It was contempt for man, for human life, plain meanness. A bandit doesn't attack someone who is stronger, like military troops, but where he sees weakness." <ref>{{cite web|last=Lucas |first=Ryan |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-01-24-3040464218_x.htm |title=Book on Polish anti-Semitism sparks fury |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date=2008-01-24 |accessdate=2013-06-27}}</ref> | |||
| ], Professor in International History at the London School for Economics, has described the debate over Gross' book in Poland as "driven by historians with a nationalist agenda that they have pursued since the end of Communism," an agenda in which Jews are portrayed as antagonistic to the existence and interests of the Polish nation and in which their claims to a Polish identity are negated in order to portray communism as an alien creed.<ref>A. J. Prazmowska. The Institute of Historical Research, 2007. Date accessed: 11 August 2008.</ref> | |||
| In a letter to the Polish publishers of ''Fear'', Znak, Cardinal ], secretary to Pope ], said Gross' book "awakened the demon" of antisemitism. A Znak spokesperson responded to the complaint by asserting that the issues should be talked about. Znak spokesman Tomasz Miedzik told ''Der Spiegel'' "We have the freedom to ask difficult questions about our history and we should do that."<ref name="economist"/><ref name=Dowling/> | |||
| In a televised discussion with Gross, historian ] expressed his discomfort about the speed with which Gross makes generalizations. "Memory and history are two different things," Paczkowski said. "Memory is black and white while history is about shades of gray."<ref>TVN24 2008, , 2008-19-1, TVN24, PAP</ref> | |||
| ''Fear'' has been criticized by historians such as ],<ref name=Whitlock/> ],<ref name="Gont"/> ],<ref name="TRad">{{cite web|url=http://fear.piastinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=89&Itemid=54 |title=Thaddeus Radzilowski, Review Of Fear |publisher=Fear.piastinstitute.org |date= |accessdate=2013-06-27}}</ref> ],<ref name="Kurtyka"/> ],<ref name="Stola">Dariusz Stolam Review of Fear, in ''The English Historical Review'' 2007 CXXII(499):1460-1463; {{doi|10.1093/ehr/cem344}} </ref> and ].<ref name=Whitlock/><ref name="Choda"/> Gross has been accused of using imperfect ],<ref name="Gont"/><ref name="Choda"/> making generalizations,<ref name="Stola"/><ref name="Choda"/> stereotyping,<ref name="Choda"/> ignoring works which did not confirm his views,<ref name="Gont"/> neglecting the wider context of the events in that Jews were not a unique subject of persecution and banditry which occurred throughout postwar Europe,<ref name=Whitlock/> misinterpreting or distorting data,<ref name="Gont"/><ref name="Stola"/> relying mostly on Jewish sources,<ref name="Gont"/> using inflammatory and emotional language,<ref name="Gont"/><ref name=Whitlock/><ref name="TRad"/> and drawing unsubstantiated conclusions.<ref name="Gont">Piotr Gontarczyk, , ], January 12, 2008 {{en icon}}</ref><ref name=Whitlock/><ref name="TRad"/><ref name="Stola"/><ref name="Choda">]: , ], January 11, 2008 {{en icon}}</ref> The book quotes alleged ]' diary, fabricated by Communist activist and journalist Władysław Machejek.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tygodnik.onet.pl/1,6945,druk.html |title=Maciej Korkuć about Józef Kuraś |publisher=Tygodnik.onet.pl |date=2008-02-27 |accessdate=2013-06-27}}</ref> | |||
| ], the president of the ], in an interview with journalist {{Interlanguage link multi|Konrad Piasecki|pl}}, stated that ''Fear'' has serious ] errors and omissions and that it makes emotive use of political ], and therefore will not be accepted — even conditionally — in the historical community.<ref name="Kurtyka">{{cite web |language=Polish |first= Konrad |last=Piasecki |url=http://www.rmf.fm/fakty/?id=129925&temat=75 |title=Gross to wampir historiografii - interview with historian Janusz Kurtyka |publisher= RMF FM|date= 10 January 2008}}</ref> | |||
| {{Interlanguage link multi|Marcin Zaremba|pl|3=Marcin Zaremba (historyk)}}, a historian at ], described ''Fear'' as an important publication. Zaremba told '']'' radio that he "agree with argument that Poles had their share in the Holocaust," and that "anti-Semitism was a kind of cultural code which Poles used at that time, and that Jews were not responsible for the introduction of communist rule in Poland",<ref>Michael Kubicki. Network Europe, January 18, 2008.</ref> however, he also said that Gross often "can't see the forest for the trees", i.e. the hunger, Soviet brutality, and the wartime fear in the hearts of all Polish nationals regardless of faith. In 2012 Zaremba published a book about the years 1944-1947 in Poland (''Wielka trwoga''), in which he opposed some opinions of Gross.<ref>{{cite web |first=Marcin |last=Zaremba |date=September 18, 2012 |url=http://tygodnik.onet.pl/1,78033,druk.html |title=Polak wszystko przetrzyma |trans-title=A Pole can take on anything (In conversation with Marcin Ł. Makowski) |publisher=] |accessdate= November 9, 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In response to the coverage of ''Fear'' in the Polish daily '']'', {{Interlanguage link multi|Marek Beylin|pl}}, a columnist for the competing daily '']'', called for a "sincere debate about the dark secrets of the Polish past."<ref name="Dowling"/><ref name="Beylin">{{cite web |first=Marek |last=Beylin |url=http://wyborcza.pl/1,86871,4833288.html |title=Jews, Poles, Fear |publisher= Gazeta Wyborcza |date= January 13, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| ], head of Warsaw's ], criticized Gross for being more of a judge than an analyst, neglecting the impact of the post-war collapse of state institutions, and selectively using facts to support his thesis. Tych also said that "after book, it is no longer possible to escape from the question why there were killings of Jews after the war, and that is his undeniable achievement."<ref>{{cite news |author=Beats Pasek |url= http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1706315,00.html |title=Confronting Poland's Anti-Semitic Demons |publisher= Time.com |date=January 23, 2008}}</ref> | |||
| Polish ] reviewed accusations that ''Fear'' is slanderous against the Polish nation, but rejected the claims and refused to launch an investigation. The fact that such requests were made became the subject of additional media controversy. The article of the ] that allowed the case to be made in the first place has been criticized by some as infringing upon the right to ] and will be reviewed by the ].<ref>{{pl icon}} Wprost 24</ref> | |||
| Gross' book was denounced at an impromptu political debate held in February 2008 at the ] in ] without the full awareness of priests.<ref name="Wiśniewska"/> The gathering, set to take place elsewhere,<ref name="Grzebień"/> was moved by its organizer ] to the Basilica at the last minute in anticipation of a mass attendance by 1,000 people. Among the invited guests were the Catholic station ] and ]. The debate was preceded by a short mass by a 91-year-old Bishop ] who had no idea what it was all about.<ref name="Wiśniewska"/> The speeches were described by Israeli press as having strong overtones of antisemitism.<ref>Aviva Lori, ''Haaretz'', February 12, 2008.</ref> The Polish Church officials strongly criticized the Jesuits for making the Basilica available to the event organizers. Likewise, the ] issued a statement from Vatican confirming that the ageing priest made a mistake by allowing a Roman Catholic church to be used as a stage for this sort of agitation.<ref name="Wiśniewska">{{pl icon}} Katarzyna Wiśniewska, , ''Gazeta Wyborcza'', February 12, 2008.</ref><ref name="Grzebień">Ludwik Grzebień, , ''Gazeta Wyborcza'', February 16, 2008. {{pl icon}}</ref><ref name="Niemczyńska">Małgorzata I. Niemczyńska, , ''Gazeta Wyborcza'', February 11, 2008. {{pl icon}}</ref><ref>Anti-Semitism watchdog urges Polish church to denounce lecture. ''Agence France Presse.'' February 14, 2008.</ref> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| ==Citations== | |||
| {{reflist|30em}} | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *{{cite journal |first=David |last=Engel |title=On Continuity and Discontinuity in Polish-Jewish Relations: Observations on ''Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz—An Essay in Historical Interpretation'' by Jan T. Gross. New York: Random House, 2006 |journal=] |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=534–548 |year=2007 |doi=10.1177/0888325407303795 }} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * ''USA Today'', January 24, 2008. | |||
| * ''H-Net'' review of ''Fear'' | |||
| * ''European Jewish Press'' | |||
| * Siobhán Dowling, ''Spiegel International'', January 18, 2008. | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Fear: Anti-Semitism In Poland After Auschwitz}} | |||
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Revision as of 21:24, 26 August 2017
Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz: An Essay in Historical Interpretation, is a book by Jan T. Gross, published by Random House and Princeton University Press in 2006. An edited Polish version was published in 2008 by Znak Publishers in Krakow as Strach: antysemityzm w Polsce tuż po wojnie: historia moralnej zapaści ("Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland shortly after the war: the history of a moral fall"). In the book, Gross explores the issues concerning incidents of post-war anti-Jewish violence in Poland, with particular focus on the 1946 Kielce pogrom. Fear has received international attention and reviews in major newspapers; it has also been the subject of criticism.