As my first #bookclub post, I am pleased to recommend Adam Zamoyski's Poland: A History. This was the first book I read about Polish history, sparking an interest that has lasted almost 10 years. A very engaging book, it covers more than 1000 years of history. One of my favourite parts is a medieval folklore about the creation of Germany, involving Pontious Pilate and a certain orifice. A great introduction to the topic, and how 'Poland' changed over centuries
#history #poland #books #reading

#otd 1903 Aleksander "Hubert" Kaminski was born. A scoutmaster during the war, he edited the clandestine newspaper Biuletynu Informacyjnego as well as organising and leading various parts of the propaganda comission of the Grey Ranks, including small sabotage, and art section. Perhaps best known today for his writing, his most famous book was the non-fiction novel Stones for the Rampart, published 1943, about scouts Zoska, Rudy, and Alek. He survived the war
#history #poland #ww2 #szareszeregi

#otd 1945, the Red Army reached Auschwitz, freeing the remaining prisoners. Nazi-German troops and employees had fled, some the day before, having destroyed all evidence they could, leaving only those too sick or too weak for the Death Marches; the evacuation West. 15,000 prisoners died in the marches. Locals went to the camp to help, taking care of prisoners, others did what they could with food and sheltering escapees along the Marches
#history #ww2 #holocaustmemorialday #holocaust #auschwitz

#otd the 1934 declaration of non-violence (broken 1939) was signed between Germany and Poland. The intention was to stabilize relations between Poland and her western neighbour, and secure the status of the border as agreed at Versailles. By this time Hitler was Chancellor, Germany had left the League of Nations, and re-armament had begun. For years, German leaders had threatened the border. A similar agreement with USSR was in place since 1932.
#history #poland #germany #ww2 #military

#Skye is such a beautiful island. Lovely place for a weekend retreat to get some writing and planning done. The whisky certainly helps to lubricate the mind as well. Thank goodness for digitised archives
#scotland #views #relaxation #digitisation #history #archives