Poland in Iceland

On the twenty seventh of January seventy six years ago, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp has been freed. On this day Shoah is commemorated all over the world in all Jewish communities. Poland could not ignore this important anniversary, simply because half of the six millions Polish citizens that were killed in the Second World War, were of Jewish origin. Many of them showed a great deal of heroism in their fight for the freedom of Poland, Europe and the whole world which is visible on various polish war cemeteries in Europe, where the graves of Jewish fighters in Polish uniforms are marked with the star of David.

Today we have to mention Artur Rubinstein an outstanding Polish pianist of Jewish origin. After the war, at the United Nations Founding Conference in San Francisco on 26th of june 1945, there were no representatives of the Polish government in exile. The Soviet Union did not recognize the exiled government and Western politicians were afraid to endanger Stalin. This happened even though Poland – was a member of the anti-Nazi coalition and was recognized as a United Nations member from the beginning. What's more, the Polish flag was also missing from the meeting room.

Seeing this, Artur Rubinstein - ostentatiously played the polish anthem.  Earlier, according to the rules, he started with the host's anthem, that is, the United States. After a few bars he paused, stood up and said: „ Here in this room, you want to arrange a happy future for the world. I miss the Polish flag. I cannot tolerate it. I will play the Polish anthem for you. And please get up.” The audience stood and applauded wildly.

Upon that fact, is it any wonder then, that Poland, the Polish State and the Polish Nation pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust in the premises of the Polish Embassy in Reykjavik.

 

Gerard Pokruszyński

Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Iceland