The Secret State Series #8
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Albright, a biographical essay by Yale historian Timothy Snyder, an afterword by Zbigniew Brzezinski, previously unpublished photos, notes, further reading, and a glossary—is an apt legacy for this hero of conscience during the most fraught and fragile moment in modern history.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 #8:
The Secret State #8 “Underground Schools”
Top Officer in WW2 to German Slave
by Jan Karski: Highlights and excerpts by PL Sturgis:
Top Officer in WW2 to German Slave
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 #8:
Top Officer in WW2 to German Slave
“Underground Schools”
Bites #6-10,Underground Oath:
#7) Tad’s First Mission:
#8) Reckless Bravery:
#9) Tad’s Witty Jokes:
#10) Tad’s Promotion:
by Jan Karski :
#6) The Underground Oath:
The swearing in was a simple ceremony. Tad held in one hand a little crucifix and raised the other hand to repeat the oath. “I swear before God, holding in my hand, the Cross of His Son, that I shall serve my country. Serve her for honor and freedom. In that honor and freedom I shall sacrifice all that I have. I shall abide by the orders of my organization authorities and shall keep the secrets confined to me, so help me God.” Having sworn him in I told him that I was his chief, that he must obey my orders, and then we embraced. From the very beginning Tad vindicated his mother’s high opinion of him. The knock about kind of life he had been leading on the streets of Warsaw in all kinds of company, had added an element of shrewdness to his native brightness that made him meet all emergencies with quick response.
#7) Tad’s First Mission:
Tad’s first mission, which he accepted with all solemnity, as if the fate of all Poland depended upon it, was to deliver an envelope to a house in the outskirts of town. The envelope contained a cutting from a German newspaper. I warned him that in this town there was a great prison and the Gestapo men stationed there were exceptionally vigilant in their scrutiny of strangers. The suburbs to which he was going were the habitats of the German troops who protected the city from guerrilla warfare. I warned him to be discreet. Discretion was more important in our underground work than bravery. when I told him he would not be able to get a permit to travel by train he grinned as though it pleased him to make the mission more difficult. I sent an advanced notification to our men that a new messenger was arriving and requested an estimate of his ability and intelligence. Tad accomplished the mission with dispatch and promptness and brought back an envelope containing an estimation of his merits. During this period Mrs Lisowski, with whom I met frequently, informed me that Tad’s habits had undergone a marked change. He had become neat, more disciplined and rather quiet. He walked about with an air of mystery and importance that amused her greatly. However, this stage in the development was only short lived.
#8) Reckless Bravery:
Despite Tad’s willingness and eagerness to work hard it wasn’t long before his recklessness became quite a problem. Frequently his impudence enraged me. One day I had an appointment with him at the Kurbedz Bridge which was guarded by German soldiers at all hours. We were to arrive in opposite directions. When I approached him two guards passed the spot where he waited. I found Tad leaning over the railing reading a copy of the underground information bulletin. I leaned over the railing myself a few feet away from Tad. Though my heart was in my throat the guards passed by him as though he were not even there. I shook my fist at him and walked over to deliver a fearful tongue lashing. Tad looked up at me and pressed his fingers to his lips to signal to me the two guards were still in ear shot. A few days later Tad pulled a stunt which so exasperated me that I was ready to kick him out! He had apparently become acquainted with three other liaison boys around his same age and had prodded them into a mad wager. They were to take copies of the four largest underground papers and stand in the trolley car openly and dangerously reading them. The first one who lost his nerve would be the loser with some sort of evil penalty attached. They read the papers fragrantly and successfully all the way to the end of the line and decided that there was no loser. Two of the boys were so elated at their own bravery that they decided to give a detailed report of their event to their superiors. The next day I received two sharply worded notes that Tad was demoralizing the other liaison boys. The minute I saw Tad I exploded violently!
#9) Tad’s Witty Jokes:
After I gave Tad a good tongue lashing for his immoral and reckless behavior he hung his head in repentance. “I’m Sorry” he said humbly. “I would rather die than endanger you. It’s hard for me to stop taking chances but I won’t do it again----” “Alright” but one more time and that’s it!” I scolded. He looked up at me ...so relieved. “Would you like to hear a story” he asked. “If it is something important go ahead!” I grumbled. In reality his stories generally amused me. He picked up every joke and bit of gossip that floated about. He was the gold mine of all news items and rumors. “Well,” Tad began, “It seems that Adolph Hitler went to Heaven to visit St. Peter and told him he will live in Heaven. St. Peter was puzzled so he went to ask God about Hitler’s command. The Lord frowned at St. Peter. “And you kept him waiting? St Peter will you ever learn about diplomacy in politics?” So the Lord said everyone gets a chance but watch him close. So St Peter rushes back and lets Hitler in but quickly rushes back to God for more advice. “Now, what happened and where is Hitler?” God asked St. Peter. St. Peter answers: “Oh Lord, he skinned the big bear, and stole the Big Dipper. Then he skinned the ram and creamed the milky way.” I had to laugh but then I became solemn. “You little Imp! There is no getting through to you! Be here tomorrow at 9 AM sharp.
#10)Tad’s Promotion:
After a while it became apparent that Tad’s position as messenger boy was beginning to lose it’s charm. The trivial and routine assignments worked against his pride and his desire for adventure. Besides, like an artist, he needed scope for his highly developed talents for conniving and nimble thinking. I could see that he was bursting with desire to explain his needs to me, but was afraid to offend me or appear remiss in his allegiance to the movement. I approached the subject myself. “Tad” I said, “You are pretty tired of your job here, aren’t you?” --- “No, I’m not!” he protested. “Wouldn’t you like something a little more exciting?” I asked. He looked at me gratefully and began explaining his dissatisfaction. “You see?” he said... I know everything we do hurts the Germans but I can’t see it with my own eyes. I just run here and there and have no idea of what is happening. I would like to work where I could do damage directly and see the results. Do you understand?” “Of course Tad,” I said smiling at him. I will see what I can do for you. I sent to my superiors and requested that Tad be shifted to what we called “officers school.” I called their attention to his courage and intelligence. I was worried about the fact that the underground authorities might be too well acquainted with Tad’s talent for mischief. He was accepted. When the message came through and I relayed it to Tad he nearly hit the ceiling with excitement.
(to be continued) ....
(To be continued )
Daily Bites of The Secret State Series #8
“Underground Schools”
Top Officer in WW2 to German Slave
#12) The Little Wolves:
#13) Posters of Satire:
#14) Last Day with Tad:
#15) Tad’s Version of Germany's Documents for Poland:
by Jan Karski 1944 :
“From The Secret State”
The Secret State: Series 8:
#1) Demoralizing Polish Youth
#16) Farewell to Tad:
#17) Secret Tutoring:
#18) A Girl Named Zosia:
#19) Final Exams:
#20) First Underground Graduates:
#21) Preparing Legal Documents:
#22) A Favor for a Favor:
#23) Safe and Secure:
#24) Irking Ira:
#25) A Secret Meeting:
#26) The Men who held the Destiny of Poland:
#27) The Delegate’s Speech:
#28) Poland Reborn:
#29) Concluding: A Well Armed Regulated Militia:
#30) Horror Beyond Description:
LibertygroupFreedom
https://redd.it/6y400k
“Underground Schools”
Top Officer in WW2 to German Slave
Top Officer in WW2 to German Slave
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