The Secret State Series #2
Story of a Secret State stands as one of the most poignant and inspiring memoirs of World War II and the Holocaust. With elements of a spy thriller, documenting his experiences in the Polish Underground, and as one of the first accounts of the systematic slaughter of the Jews by the German Nazis, this volume is a remarkable testimony of one man's courage and a nation's struggle for resistance against overwhelming oppression.
Karski was a brilliant young diplomat when war broke out in 1939 with Hitler's invasion of Poland. Taken prisoner by the Soviet Red Army, which had simultaneously invaded from the East, Karski narrowly escaped the subsequent Katyn Forest Massacre. He became a member of the Polish Underground, the most significant resistance movement in occupied Europe, acting as a liaison and courier between the Underground and the Polish government-in-exile. He was twice smuggled into the Warsaw Ghetto, and entered the Nazi's Izbica transit camp disguised as a guard, witnessing first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust.
Karski's courage and testimony, conveyed in a breathtaking manner in Story of a Secret State, offer the narrative of one of the world's greatest eyewitnesses and an inspiration for all of humanity, emboldening each of us to rise to the challenge of standing up against evil and for human rights. This definitive edition—which includes a foreword by Madeleine Albright, a biographical essay by Yale historian Timothy Snyder, an afterword by Zbigniew Brzezinski, previously unpublished photos, notes, further reading, and a glossary—is an apt legacy for this hero of conscience during the most fraught and fragile moment in modern history.
Karski was a brilliant young diplomat when war broke out in 1939 with Hitler's invasion of Poland. Taken prisoner by the Soviet Red Army, which had simultaneously invaded from the East, Karski narrowly escaped the subsequent Katyn Forest Massacre. He became a member of the Polish Underground, the most significant resistance movement in occupied Europe, acting as a liaison and courier between the Underground and the Polish government-in-exile. He was twice smuggled into the Warsaw Ghetto, and entered the Nazi's Izbica transit camp disguised as a guard, witnessing first-hand the horrors of the Holocaust.
Karski's courage and testimony, conveyed in a breathtaking manner in Story of a Secret State, offer the narrative of one of the world's greatest eyewitnesses and an inspiration for all of humanity, emboldening each of us to rise to the challenge of standing up against evil and for human rights. This definitive edition—which includes a foreword by Madeleine Albright, a biographical essay by Yale historian Timothy Snyder, an afterword by Zbigniew Brzezinski, previously unpublished photos, notes, further reading, and a glossary—is an apt legacy for this hero of conscience during the most fraught and fragile moment in modern history.
Jan Karski was born in ód , Poland, in 1914.
He received a degree in Law and Diplomatic Science in 1935 and served as a liaison officer of the Polish Underground during World War II. He carried the first eyewitness report of the Holocaust to a mostly unbelieving West, meeting with President Roosevelt in 1943 to plead for Allied intervention. Story of a Secret State was originally published in 1944, becoming a bestseller and Book of the Month Club selection. After the war, Karski earned his PhD at Georgetown University, where he served as a distinguished professor in the School of Foreign Service for forty years. He died in Washington, DC, in 2000. Karski has been recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. In 2012, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by our President.
"His wartime saga as officer, as Soviet prisoner, as escapee, in the hands of the Gestapo, and as a Polish Underground activist and courier, is beyond remarkable. In a world today where words such as 'courage' and 'heroism' have been so overused—applied freely from sports to entertainment to politics as to be rendered practically meaningless—Jan Karski was the rare human being who embodied both."
He received a degree in Law and Diplomatic Science in 1935 and served as a liaison officer of the Polish Underground during World War II. He carried the first eyewitness report of the Holocaust to a mostly unbelieving West, meeting with President Roosevelt in 1943 to plead for Allied intervention. Story of a Secret State was originally published in 1944, becoming a bestseller and Book of the Month Club selection. After the war, Karski earned his PhD at Georgetown University, where he served as a distinguished professor in the School of Foreign Service for forty years. He died in Washington, DC, in 2000. Karski has been recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. In 2012, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by our President.
"His wartime saga as officer, as Soviet prisoner, as escapee, in the hands of the Gestapo, and as a Polish Underground activist and courier, is beyond remarkable. In a world today where words such as 'courage' and 'heroism' have been so overused—applied freely from sports to entertainment to politics as to be rendered practically meaningless—Jan Karski was the rare human being who embodied both."
"In the words of James Russell Lowell's rousing hymn:
'Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide, in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side.' Perhaps more than most of us, Jan Karski faced such a choice in the starkest of possible terms, and made his decision as courageously as one could. . . . Jan Karski was a patriot and a truth teller; may his words always be read and his legacy never forgotten.
"Secret State is an indispensable and compelling historical document of World War II and the Holocaust, written by a supremely courageous humanitarian."
"Secret State is an indispensable and compelling historical document of World War II and the Holocaust, written by a supremely courageous humanitarian."
The Secret State Series #2:
The Secret State #2 “No Longer a Poland” by Jan Karski: Highlights and excerpts by PL Sturgis:
The Secret state Series 1: “The Underground” by Jan Karski:
Introduction: During my four and a half months absence while captured by the Russians and the the Germans, Conditions in Poland had changed considerably. The first few conversations made me conscious of the fact that the consolidation of the underground had practically been achieved. The movement had crystallized into the major organization: The coalition of the four largest political parties;
1) The Peasants
2) The Socialist
3) The Christian Labor
4) The Nationalist.
This was the official military organization which had been recognized by the government as a military unit enjoying equal rights with the Polish Army in France. The most important need for that third party was to unite and agree on a chief delegate. The government was not interested in the personality of the candidate, nor his political affiliation, nor was he to become involved in party representation. The government would confirm the appointment of any individual who possessed authority and had the confidence of the population.
(hmmmm? 1940 sounds familiar in 2017)
The Polish underground State to which Karski belonged was under the authority of the Polish government in London. He admitted that besides this organization there were other organizations carrying on their activities under the direct influence of Moscow. Being the first active member of the Polish Underground and in the fortunate position to publish some aspect of its story, he hoped that it would encourage others to relate their experiences and that out of such narratives the free people all over the world would be able to form an objective opinion as to how the Polish people reacted during the years of German conquest.
Daily Bites of The Secret State Series #2:
“No Longer a Poland”
Bites #21-25,My First Underground Mission...
by Jan Karski :
After I had familiarized myself with underground methods, routine and disciplines, I received the order for my first mission. I was to go to Poznan on an errand, the full details of which I was never able to disclose. In general terms I was to meet a certain member of the underground who held an important civil service position before the war, and to consult with him on the availability of many of the men under him for underground work. A perfect pretext was arranged for my trip. The daughter of the man I was to see pretended to be my fiancee. Poznan was in that section of Poland which had been incarcerated into the Reich. The inhabitants of this section had the opportunity of becoming full fledged German citizens. My “fiancee” was one of them and in addition had a German name. I also used a German alias for the occasion. She had applied to the gestapo for my permission to visit her. She assumed responsibility for me and assured them that she was anxious to make me conscious of my German origin and blood. Consent was promptly given and my mission was executed easily under German auspices. I reached Poznan without any difficulties. It was a city I had known rather well in prewar days. Poznan is about 200 miles west of Warsaw. It is one of the oldest cities in Poland and regarded by many as the cradle of the Polish nation, especially since many centuries ago Poland was emerging as one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe. The population of the entire province is as purely Polish as in any other district in Poland. For more than 150 years the city and surrounding country had successfully resisted a series of forceful attempts of Germanization. In 1918 when Poland regained independence every vestige of German influence disappeared completely. The true Polish character of the inhabitants emerged, almost without blemish.
#22) Facing Hitler Banners:
I thought of 1918 when Poland had gained its independence. Every vestige of German influence disappeared. Now, as I walk through the streets of Poznan, just two decades later, I see a typical German community. Every sign on stores, banks, and institutions, was in German. The street names were in German. German newspapers were being distributed on the street corners. All I could hear spoken was German, often with German accent. I do not remember hearing a single word spoken in any other language but German. I learned later that Polish citizens who had refused to become Germanized were expelled from many sections of the city. There were many districts, especially in the center of the city. from which every Polish citizen had been driven out. They were not permitted to even pass through many of the streets. They could move around freely only in the suburbs. German merchants by the thousands had been imported to populate this German city. Hitler banners were seen everywhere and the stores displayed large portraits of Hitler and his party. As I took all this in and watched innumeral German soldiers goose stepping contemptuously on the sidewalks I felt a spasm of anger and frustration. I could hardly believe Poznan was the same city as it was before the war! So thoroughly had it been remodeled in a few short months. (to be continued) Degermanizing Poland:
#23) De Germanizing Poznan:
I arrived at my destination and met my “underground fiancee.” She was a dark pretty girl so gentle and soft spoken. I could hardly believe she was one of the most courageous workers in the underground. As I had some time to wait before meeting the individual I was appointed to see in order to execute my mission, we sat down in a large room that was comfortably furnished. At first we discussed my trip and then I told her about the latest events in Warsaw. She then proceeded to enlighten me about the situation in Poznan. Every Polish citizen who owned property had been expelled from the city. The same operation took place in every part of the district that the Germans had incorporated into the Reich. The only Polish citizens allowed to remain were those who had registered as Germans or those the Germans allowed to survive as outcasts. The humiliation of this group exceeded all limits. A Polish citizen who refused to register as German had to tip his hat at anyone whose uniform indicated that he was a German. If a German would pass be a Polish citizen then the Polish citizen would have to step off the sidewalk. A Polish citizen could not travel by automobile or trolly and was even forbidden to own a bicycle. He had been placed outside protection of the law and all his property, movable or immovable, was at the disposal of the German authorities. Many members of the underground had learned a detachable way of considering problems very close to them. They found the best attack to a problem was to approach it impersonally. I tried to take the same tone but what I had already seen was far from scientific. My underground “fiancee had spoken all these facts as though she were reciting an historical incident from which she remained apart. “There is only one way” she replied. “By force and ruthless extermination we will degermanize Poznan and other parts of Poland without compromise!” (to be continued) The Purge of Polish Population:
#24) Purge of Polish Population:
Calculated and controlled as my underground “fiancee” partner was I could detect a genuine passion for her country and an implacable hatred for the Germans in the way her lips would suddenly curl when she was about to utter some crucial phrase. It was remarkable how such an independent spirit could bring herself to register as a German. I asked her why she could not work for Poland’s cause without registering for German citizenship? “It would have been impossible.” She said this indicating that if there had been any other way she would have taken it. Many Polish patriots did not register with the Germans. By being so patriotic and independent many of those who refused to register are doing our cause a disservice. Any case of loyalty and honor should be suppressed when it is a case of fighting against the Nazi methods. Polish citizens of German descent betrayed Poland in a body. That is why, whatever the future of Poland may be, we must not allow any Germans to live here. they are loyal only to Germany. We have seen that. One or two miserable Polish traitors have joined them, but the mass of patriotic Polish citizens, almost without exception, have stubbornly refused to register. Because of this we shall soon see a total purge of the mass population in this Province. I could see the truth in her remarks though I noticed she had a grudging admiration for the independent spirit, who had at great cost, stubbornly refused to become Germans. Nevertheless, she made me realize that it would have been wiser if those, in particular who were equipped to do our work, had yielded. In two months of occupation the Germans have already transferred more than 400,000 Polish citizens from the incorporated Province of the German Government.
#25) Forced from their own Home:
What is the German deportation procedure? It is not very complicated. Middle class people who have not registered are imprisoned without warning. Peasants and skilled craft men receive a sudden notice to be ready to evacuate their homes within two hours. They are permitted to take ten pounds of food and linen. Their homes must be cleaned and put in good order for the German successors and all their possessions must be abandoned for the new tenants. Police have often ordered children of peasants to make bouquets of flowers and place them on tables and thresholds. These are to serve as symbols of their welcome to the arriving German colonists. After this, our conversation ended as my underground “fiancee’s” father arrived. He was the person I had come to contact. He soon confirmed the general picture of the analysis his daughter had given of the situation. We withdrew from his daughter and discussed alone the questions I had been instructed by my superior to ask him. Roughly, what I learned from him and what I conveyed back to my superior in Warsaw was that the men we inquired about would be available for underground work only if they were transferred out of the province incorporated into the Reich, to the central district controlled by the general government. When I reached Warsaw I conveyed this information to the organization and returned to my former dwelling. Mrs Nowak was pleased to see me. Both she and her son gazed at me in admiration as though I had just come from the battle lines. There had been very little danger. Nevertheless, I felt as though I was now really in the Organization.
#22) Facing Hitler Banners:
I thought of 1918 when Poland had gained its independence. Every vestige of German influence disappeared. Now, as I walk through the streets of Poznan, just two decades later, I see a typical German community. Every sign on stores, banks, and institutions, was in German. The street names were in German. German newspapers were being distributed on the street corners. All I could hear spoken was German, often with German accent. I do not remember hearing a single word spoken in any other language but German. I learned later that Polish citizens who had refused to become Germanized were expelled from many sections of the city. There were many districts, especially in the center of the city. from which every Polish citizen had been driven out. They were not permitted to even pass through many of the streets. They could move around freely only in the suburbs. German merchants by the thousands had been imported to populate this German city. Hitler banners were seen everywhere and the stores displayed large portraits of Hitler and his party. As I took all this in and watched innumeral German soldiers goose stepping contemptuously on the sidewalks I felt a spasm of anger and frustration. I could hardly believe Poznan was the same city as it was before the war! So thoroughly had it been remodeled in a few short months. (to be continued) Degermanizing Poland:
#23) De Germanizing Poznan:
I arrived at my destination and met my “underground fiancee.” She was a dark pretty girl so gentle and soft spoken. I could hardly believe she was one of the most courageous workers in the underground. As I had some time to wait before meeting the individual I was appointed to see in order to execute my mission, we sat down in a large room that was comfortably furnished. At first we discussed my trip and then I told her about the latest events in Warsaw. She then proceeded to enlighten me about the situation in Poznan. Every Polish citizen who owned property had been expelled from the city. The same operation took place in every part of the district that the Germans had incorporated into the Reich. The only Polish citizens allowed to remain were those who had registered as Germans or those the Germans allowed to survive as outcasts. The humiliation of this group exceeded all limits. A Polish citizen who refused to register as German had to tip his hat at anyone whose uniform indicated that he was a German. If a German would pass be a Polish citizen then the Polish citizen would have to step off the sidewalk. A Polish citizen could not travel by automobile or trolly and was even forbidden to own a bicycle. He had been placed outside protection of the law and all his property, movable or immovable, was at the disposal of the German authorities. Many members of the underground had learned a detachable way of considering problems very close to them. They found the best attack to a problem was to approach it impersonally. I tried to take the same tone but what I had already seen was far from scientific. My underground “fiancee had spoken all these facts as though she were reciting an historical incident from which she remained apart. “There is only one way” she replied. “By force and ruthless extermination we will degermanize Poznan and other parts of Poland without compromise!” (to be continued) The Purge of Polish Population:
#24) Purge of Polish Population:
Calculated and controlled as my underground “fiancee” partner was I could detect a genuine passion for her country and an implacable hatred for the Germans in the way her lips would suddenly curl when she was about to utter some crucial phrase. It was remarkable how such an independent spirit could bring herself to register as a German. I asked her why she could not work for Poland’s cause without registering for German citizenship? “It would have been impossible.” She said this indicating that if there had been any other way she would have taken it. Many Polish patriots did not register with the Germans. By being so patriotic and independent many of those who refused to register are doing our cause a disservice. Any case of loyalty and honor should be suppressed when it is a case of fighting against the Nazi methods. Polish citizens of German descent betrayed Poland in a body. That is why, whatever the future of Poland may be, we must not allow any Germans to live here. they are loyal only to Germany. We have seen that. One or two miserable Polish traitors have joined them, but the mass of patriotic Polish citizens, almost without exception, have stubbornly refused to register. Because of this we shall soon see a total purge of the mass population in this Province. I could see the truth in her remarks though I noticed she had a grudging admiration for the independent spirit, who had at great cost, stubbornly refused to become Germans. Nevertheless, she made me realize that it would have been wiser if those, in particular who were equipped to do our work, had yielded. In two months of occupation the Germans have already transferred more than 400,000 Polish citizens from the incorporated Province of the German Government.
#25) Forced from their own Home:
What is the German deportation procedure? It is not very complicated. Middle class people who have not registered are imprisoned without warning. Peasants and skilled craft men receive a sudden notice to be ready to evacuate their homes within two hours. They are permitted to take ten pounds of food and linen. Their homes must be cleaned and put in good order for the German successors and all their possessions must be abandoned for the new tenants. Police have often ordered children of peasants to make bouquets of flowers and place them on tables and thresholds. These are to serve as symbols of their welcome to the arriving German colonists. After this, our conversation ended as my underground “fiancee’s” father arrived. He was the person I had come to contact. He soon confirmed the general picture of the analysis his daughter had given of the situation. We withdrew from his daughter and discussed alone the questions I had been instructed by my superior to ask him. Roughly, what I learned from him and what I conveyed back to my superior in Warsaw was that the men we inquired about would be available for underground work only if they were transferred out of the province incorporated into the Reich, to the central district controlled by the general government. When I reached Warsaw I conveyed this information to the organization and returned to my former dwelling. Mrs Nowak was pleased to see me. Both she and her son gazed at me in admiration as though I had just come from the battle lines. There had been very little danger. Nevertheless, I felt as though I was now really in the Organization.
(to be continued) ....
(To be continued )
Daily Bites of The Secret State Series #2 “No Longer a Poland”
Bite #26-30,Uniting the Scattered Remnants...
by Jan Karski 1944 :
“From The Secret State”
Series 2
#26 Uniting the Scattered Remnants:
#27 My Second Mission:
#28 An Official Coalition:
#29 The Hunters and the Hunted:
#30 Rescuing Jews from Germany:
LibertygroupFreedom
https://redd.it/6y400k
To be Continued in the Next Daily Bites of “The Secret State Series #2”
"FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AND LIBERTY"
Stand Up To Government Corruption and Hypocrisy
NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICES
BY OUR VETERANS Note: We at Friends of Liberty cannot make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information.
Don't forget to follow the Friends Of Liberty on Facebook and our Page also Pinterest , Twitter , Tumblr and Google Plus PLEASE help spread the word by sharing our articles on your favorite social networks.
LibertygroupFreedom 
Friends of Liberty is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with the mission to Educate, protect and defend individual freedoms and individual rights.
Support the Trump Presidency and help us fight Liberal Media Bias. Please LIKE and SHARE this story on Facebook or Twitter.
WE THE PEOPLE
TOGETHER WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Join The Resistance and Share This Article Now!
Help us spread the word about the Friends Of Liberty Blog we're reaching millions help us reach millions more.
‼️️ ♻️ PLEASE SHARE ♻️ ‼️️
Please SHARE this now! The Crooked Liberal Media will hide and distort the TRUTH. It’s up to us, Trump social media warriors, to get the truth out. If we don’t, no one will!
Share this story on Facebook and let us know because we want to hear YOUR voice!
Please SHARE this now! The Crooked Liberal Media will hide and distort the TRUTH. It’s up to us, Trump social media warriors, to get the truth out. If we don’t, no one will!
Share this story on Facebook and let us know because we want to hear YOUR voice!
No comments:
Post a Comment