JOSEPH CONRAD ON THE WALL IN WARSAW

On the walls of the houses in Warsaw you find many interesting historical plaques. My problem was that the texts were written in Polish. But I noticed one memorial plaque on my way to my hotel because the name was known to me: Joseph Conrad. The street of Warsaw was Nowy Swiat 47. The famous Polish/ British writer had lived in the house in 1861. Joseph Conrad was born December 3, 1857 in what is now Ukraine. The region had belonged to the Kingdom of Poland. He was christened Jozef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski. Joseph Conrad is regarded as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language. He died in 1924, aged 66.

WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING

Poland. Warsawa 19 April 2017. It was impossible not seeing the many girls and boys wearing the yellow star. The tourists were informed about  the reason for wearing the yellow star: To remember the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943. A small pamphlet was given you contenting facts about the tragic event that took place in Warsawa during the Second World War.

WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING

Three millions Jews living in Poland were deported to ghettos located in Polish cities by the German occupational authorites in 1939. The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of the many ghettos. About 400 000 people were living in the Warsawa Ghetto. The Jews were dying of hunger, diseases and perished in mass executions. On 19 April 1943 two thousand Germans entered the ghetto to carry out its final liquidation. The Jewish Combat Organization and the Jewish Military Union decided to fight the German soldiers . The Jews were poorly armed. Most of them knew that they did not stand a chance to survive. To die in combat was preferred in order to retain their dignity. The fight went for abour four weeks. The ghetto was destroyed. Fire was set to all the buidings by the Germans.

The story of the rebellion against th Nazi German soldiers is described in the movie, Uprising. The film was realised in 2001.Polish Jews were imprisoned in the Warsawa Ghetto. In 1943 a revolt against the German soldiers took place. The film is directed by Jon Avnet. Archival footage has been used in the movie.The French title for the film is, 1943, L'ultime revolte. The German title is, Uprising: Der Aufstand.

THE YELLOW FLOWER

Marek Edelman was one of the survivours of the battle of the ghetto. On 19 April he used to lay a bouquet of yellow flowers at the Monument to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes in Muranow.

By wearing the yellow star on your jacked you take part in remembring those who fought, died or perished in fighting the Germans in 1943. To die in combat to retain the dignity was the aim of the impossible fight against the well armed German soldiers.

About 13000 Jews were killed in the uprising.

I got the yellow star which I put on my jacket to commemorate the uprising and to honour those who  fought again all odds.