Another side of war- Poles at WW II
Another side of war
Whenever we mention the Second World War, we picture
suffering, misery and many atrocities that were committed at that time, for it
was a truly dreadful chapter of our history. With millions of casualties and
havoc wreaked all over the globe, many historians focus on battles, sieges or
leaders with their most important decisions, while there is another, more
mundane side to this conflict. Whilst various clashes and skirmishes were
taking place in Poland, many citizens were struggling to lead simple life as
they used to before the war. This everyday life was also a significant part of
wartime.
Maintaining the natural, pre-war daily routine was not easy for Polish
citizens. The occupation and its effects were felt by all people living under
German rule. What came alongside German soldiers, was extreme poverty. Food and
basic supplies were scarce in Warsaw. Work was compulsory, but the salaries
were not enough when there was barely anything in the markets. That's why
Warsaw became famous as the black market flourished there. Barter was a common
way of acquiring food and medicine. Jews were the first to start exchanging
their valuables for consumables. Selling jewellery and tableware was the only
way to get food. Soon the Polish people started to barter whatever they had.
Almost everyone was trading one way or another. Soon it was not unusual to come
across German military rations in Polish restaurants, because invading soldiers
eagerly sold their freely available food for valuables in the black market,
even though it was strictly forbidden.
Trade on the black market was the way to ensure survival during occupation, but certainly not a way to forget about the dangers of living in the warzone. A common means of escaping the dark reality were books and newspapers. During the war the Poles were reading quite a lot, although not all newspapers and books were allowed by the Germans. The Third Reich published a list of banned books and implemented it in the whole General Government. A lot of those books were Polish classics, most of them patriotic. Patriotic literature was what gave the Poles hope and allowed them to live their dreams of freedom, even if for a brief moment. However, some libraries were rebuilt and the repertory was refilled with thousands of German books. Most of available newspapers were just enemy propaganda, so they were not popular among readers. The illegal sources included publications by the underground groupings, like the Home Army, which informed the citizens about the ongoing partisan actions and recent events in the country.
Trade on the black market was the way to ensure survival during occupation, but certainly not a way to forget about the dangers of living in the warzone. A common means of escaping the dark reality were books and newspapers. During the war the Poles were reading quite a lot, although not all newspapers and books were allowed by the Germans. The Third Reich published a list of banned books and implemented it in the whole General Government. A lot of those books were Polish classics, most of them patriotic. Patriotic literature was what gave the Poles hope and allowed them to live their dreams of freedom, even if for a brief moment. However, some libraries were rebuilt and the repertory was refilled with thousands of German books. Most of available newspapers were just enemy propaganda, so they were not popular among readers. The illegal sources included publications by the underground groupings, like the Home Army, which informed the citizens about the ongoing partisan actions and recent events in the country.
Newspapers were not the only way of learning about the current
situation. Radio transmissions were really important, most of all at the
beginning of the invasion. It allowed people to keep track of how the defence
was going. The last Polish radio station was silenced on September 16th.
Listening to some stations was strictly forbidden after the occupation started
and the radio sets were being confiscated by the soldiers. Some people managed
to hide their radios from the Germans and were able to illegally listen to the
transmissions broadcasted by the allies.
This unbowed curiosity cost many people their lives.
This unbowed curiosity cost many people their lives.
Cinemas were still active during the war. There was quite a few of them in the capital, most of which were only for Germans and Volksdeutsche. Those were cheap and attractive in order to make the occupiers feel at home. The Polish cinemas were quite expensive and only the richest and the bravest could afford them. As the money earned from the tickets was used to fund the German military, it was seen as treachery by the resistance to attend the screenings. Partisans would often throw tear gas grenades into the screening rooms to force people out of the cinemas, so that people would leave crying for their indirect support of the Wehrmacht
With
food supplies being extremely scarce, only few could afford to eat in the aforementioned
restaurants. A lot of them closed soon after the invasion started, but were
soon reopened. Their menu looked just like before the war, with delicacies like
turtle stew, pineapples, lobsters, salmons or even champagne. Meals like that
were affordable only for clerks and German officers. Germans and the
Volksdeutsche had their own separate restaurants, canteens and cafeterias with
supplies shipped from the Reich, so they felt quite comfortable and could
socialise freely within their community.
The
horrors of war are always the most interesting part of it for the historians,
but ordinary citizens remember very well the struggles of everyday life during
the conflicts. Second World War was no different, with Polish, Jewish, or even
German people trading, going to cinemas, restaurants, reading books and
newspapers to escape the horrid reality of war. Those mundane events are just
as important to remember as battles and massacres that marked this most
unfortunate chapter of history.
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