Wednesday 24 September 2008

A Postage Stamp Commemorates Isfahan As 'The City Of Polish Children'

WARSAW, September 26, 2008 -- Isfahan is best known for its architecture. It is so beautiful, Iranians say, that to visit the city is to see “half the world.”

And, Isfahan is famous for its carpets in classical Persian court styles.

But in Poland, the city is known for still something else. It is “Isfahan - the city of Polish children.”

This summer the Polish postal service issued a stamp that explains why.

The stamp shows a small boy dressed in a cadet’s uniform. Draped behind him is an Isfahan carpet emblazoned with the Polish eagle. And next to him is the city’s nickname in Polish: “Isfahan - Miasto Dzieci Polskich.”

The stamp commemorates two things: a huge tragedy in Poland’s history, and how Iran helped rescue some of the victims. But to understand the whole story – which today is largely forgotten outside Poland – one must go back to the very start of World War II.

In 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union attacked Poland and divided it between them. Both the Nazis and Soviets sent huge numbers of Poland’s elite to prisons and labor camps. But the Soviets went a step further. They deported some 1.5 million Polish citizens to distant points in Siberia and Central Asia.

The deportations of military families, police, doctors, teachers, and anyone else suspected of patriotic feelings were intended to simplify the Polish territory’s incorporation into the Soviet Union. It also provided more laborers for the Soviet Union's collective farms as Moscow prepared for an inevitable war with Germany.

The horror of this time is vividly told in the accounts of the deportees. Families were packed into boxcars in Poland and confined in them for six weeks as the trains rolled east, for example, to Kazakhstan. Anyone who tried to escape was shot.

Then, after forcibly settling all these families and, in the meantime, executing some 20,000 Polish officers held in prison camps, the Soviet leaders suddenly changed their strategy. As the war began with Germany in the summer of 1941, they decided to raise an army instead from among the thousands of still interned Polish soldiers. And to improve the mood, they granted an “amnesty” to all Polish deportees.

The result was one of the epic journeys of World War II.

The new Polish army, under an agreement between Moscow and the exiled Polish government in London, was to be sent to the North African front to fight alongside the British. So the Army assembled just north of the border with Iran, on the road to the Middle East. And it was there, at bases in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, that tens of thousands of deported Polish families headed in hopes of rejoining the soldiers.

But for the families to succeed, they first had to escape the farms they had been assigned to (and many local bosses refused to release them), have money to buy train tickets, and travel for months from Siberia to the south under appalling conditions.

Maria van der Linden, a survivor who was then a child, describes the trip this way in her book 'An Unforgettable Journey,' published in New Zealand:

"We had to change trains frequently, because of the varying width of rail tracks In the USSR. At every railway station we faced long queues for tickets, where numerous waiting families slept on bare floors. Conditions were filthy. People were infested with hair and body lice. There were no proper washing facilities at the stations and toilets were seldom cleaned. Infections spread like wildfire among the waiting travelers. Some people were too ill and exhausted to continue their journey and many passengers died as they waited to purchase their train tickets for the next stage of their trip."

Another child at the time, Zdzislawa Wasylkowska, recalls her journey south like this:

"We had to beg for bread of steal whenever we could. There were no washing facilities. There were lice everywhere and so many dead children. I saw many people thrown from the train. It took us another month to get to Jalalabad, close to the Afghanistan border, but they did not want to take us. We moved on to Guzar where my mother and sister became sick with typhus."

Parents unable to go farther gave their children to others who could. And as the journey went on, the number of orphans multiplied, to the point that the Polish army reception centers had to set up special orphanages to accommodate them all.

The Polish army, known as Anders’ Army for its commander General W. Anders, crossed into Iran by ship across the Caspian or by road from Turkmenistan at the end of 1942. The exodus numbered 115,000 – that is, 45,000 soldiers, 37,000 civilian adults, and 18,000 children. Just after they crossed, the Soviet government closed the border again, preventing any more of the some 1 million Polish citizens still in the USSR from leaving.

For those Poles who reached Iran, after thousands died along the way, the emotions were overwhelming. Another survivor, Helena Woloch, recalls:

"Exhausted by hard labour, disease and starvation - barely recognizable as human beings - we disembarked at the port of Pahlavi (now Bandar-e Anzali). There, we knelt down together in our thousands along the sandy shoreline to kiss the soil of Persia. We had escaped Siberia, and were free at last. We had reached our longed-for Promised Land."

Ironically, the Poles had reached a country that itself had been occupied in late 1941 by Russia and Britain. They allies did so to secure the oil fields and keep Iran open as a supply route to the Soviet army. Reza Shah Pahlavi, who had earlier brought Iran closer to Germany, was in exile in South Africa and his son was on the throne in his place.

However, if Iranians resented the Russian and the British presence, they were sympathetic to the Polish refugees and welcomed them.

Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi opened his private pool to the orphans. Polish soldiers saluted Persian officers when they passed in the street. And, over time, all the orphans were relocated to Isfahan along with many Polish families because the beauty of the city was thought to be conducive to their physical and mental health.

After the Polish Army left for the Middle East, the families and children stayed on. From 1942 to 1945, there were 2,590 Polish children in Isfahan below the age of seven, living in what became a lively community which was very interested in Iranian culture.

During this time, Polish academicians in Isfahan began an Institute of Iranian Studies. And the carpet in the background of the commemorative postage stamp was woven by Polish girls in the Isfahan school of weaving.

At the end of the war, the refugees went on to Britain or to British colonies, or to the United States and Australia. But, due to a final twist of fate, none returned to Poland. That was because the Allied leaders had agreed at a meeting in Tehran in 1943 to put Poland in the Soviet Union’s orbit. It remained there until 1989.

The Polish postage stamp issued this June recalls all this history. One of the orphans, Przemek Stojakowski, is the boy on the postage stamp. On the First Day Cover that accompanies the stamp, the names of just a few of the hundreds of other orphaned children are also printed.

The stamp helps to explain several other things, too, including why Dariusz remains a popular name today for Polish boys and how the word “kish-mesh” (Persian for raisins) came into the Polish language.

But perhaps most of all, the stamp is a reminder of a universal truth. That is, the world has a long history of tragedies. But it has just as long a memory for acts of kindness.

#

Related Links:

Iran and the Polish Exodus from Russia 1942, by Ryszard Antolak

An Unforgettable Journey, by Maria van der Linden

Wikipedia: Anders’ Army

Polish deportees in the Soviet Union, by Michael Hope

The Polish Deportees of World War II: Recollections of Removal to the Soviet Union and Dispersal, edited by Tadeusz Piotrowski

The Institute of National Remembrance, Warsaw

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I knew The Polish Postal Service has commemorated the role Isfahan played during World War 2 in caring for Polish orphans. The new stamp, "Isfahan - the City of Polish Children", went on sale earlier this month. What i didnt know was this story thank you so much for posting it. Its one of the most interesting things i have ever read.

Cheers,
Osla

Becca@Carpet Cleaning In Perth said...

One of those story in a post world war 2 postal service era... very interesting one.

carpetcleaning said...

The Carpet cleaning service is the professional carpet cleaning service of choice for carpet cleaning in Toronto. Our decade of experience will prove itself when you see the results.

Professional Carpet Cleaning

Unknown said...

cara mengobati kemaluan keluar nanah cara mengobati kemaluan keluar nanah cara mengobati ujung kemaluan keluar nanah ujung kemaluan keluar nanah di sertai perih saat kencing ujung kemaluan keluar nanah di sertai perih saat kencing penyebab penis keluar nanah penyebab penis keluar nanah obat untuk kemaluan yang keluar nanah dan perih saat kencing penis keluar nanah pusat pengobatan herbal obat kemaluan keluar nanah mengapa kemaluan keluar nanah mengapa kemaluan keluar nanah obat penis keluar nanah obat penis keluar nanah cairan nanah keluar dari kemaluan pria cairan nanah keluar dari kemaluan pria obat cairan nanah keluar dari kemaluan obat cairan nanah keluar dari kemaluan obat cairan nanah keluar dari kemaluan cairan nanah keluar dari kemaluan cairan nanah keluar dari kemaluan kemaluan keluar nanah di sertai perih saat kencing kemaluan keluar nanah di sertai perih saat kencing

raybanoutlet001 said...

seahawks jersey
pandora outlet
ugg boots
kobe 9
mbt shoes outlet
air jordan uk
michael kors handbags
new balance shoes
nike air max 90
michael kors handbags

Unknown said...

You have really shared very valuable information. And reading such important information for people is very beneficial. Thank you very much for this information.

Pincodezone

Unknown said...

zzzzz2018.5.25
moncler jackets
coach outlet online
coach factory outlet
oakley sunglasses
nike shoes
saics running shoes
michael kors outlet online
red bottom
49ers jersey
クロムハーツ

SarahChrish2017@gmail.com said...

I like to know these kinds of information. You've shared very informative details. Again, Thanks for sharing with us!

5689 said...

zzzzz2018.9.14
soccer shoes
vibram five fingers
coach outlet
bottega veneta
fitflops clearance
adidas superstar
pandora jewelry
coach outlet
ferragamo belt
valentino shoes

watch ufc 238 fight live said...

Thanks for sharing author The Upcoming match UFC 238 is going to 8th June, 2019.
ufc 238 free
watch ufc 238 fight
ufc 238 fight live online
ufc 238 updates
ufc 238 fight time
ufc 238 fight card
238 ufc
ufc 238 results
ufc 238 watch online
ufc 238 winners
ufc 238 fight card rumors
ufc 238 time
watch ufc 238 live online
ufc 238 fighters
ufc 238 start time
ufc 238 fight

jones said...

thanks for the brilliant article about delat 9 distillate oilDelta 9 distillate cartridge,we also want to take this opprtunity to inform you amd your audience about our good
content regarding delta 9 distillate oil,what is delta 9 distillatefor more details ,Delta 9 oilreachout to us via the following listed details below

call/text/whatsapp.....+1(505)257-5355
email.....support@legal420isolate.com

DAVE said...

Thanks for the information. Must necessary to share this blog . This will help to get full knowledge on how to BUY DELTA 8 THC DISTILLATE ONLINE and help also for our coming future.

For more infor.
EMAIL......support@420labextracts.com

TEXT/CALL/WHATSAPP....
+1(424) 235 3914

Sultan said...

Hi there,
Thank you so much for the post you do and also I like your post, Are you looking for bulk cbc isolate, marijuanna seedbuy bulk cbg, thca powder for sale, cbg bulk,laboratory products online, buy lab extarcts online, buy, bulk Live Resin online, buy quality delta 8 online, buy Bulk Delta 9 THC online, buy delta-9 cartridge legal online, buygoldie.locks.extracts online, buy honey creek labs product online, lab supplies online, buy, bulk resin online, buy pharma grade products online, pharma grade supplements, buy pharma grade supplements online, pharmaceutical grade supplements canada, buy bulk CBN Isolate Powder, buy onlinecbn isolate wholesale, buy bulk CBC Isolate | Powder, cbd isolate wholesale online prices, buy cbd isolate crystal online, buy cbd isolate tincture online, buy cbd distillates online, buy THCD jars online, buy bulk Delta 8 THC online, buy Bulk Delta 9 online, buy bulk delta 9 THC online, buy Bulk CBD Jars online, buy Bulk THCA Powder online, buy THCA crystallineonline, where to buy thca diamonds, thca diamonds near me, buy Bulk CBD Isolate online, buy CBD powder online, best Places CBD Powder online, best cbd isolate, buy best cbd isolate online, where can i buy thca oil, buy cbn isolate dosage online forsale, buy cbn distillate online forsale, isolate crystals, thca isolate wholesale, goldy locks cbg, kannabia wholesale, wholesale cbc isolate, cbc wholesale, wholesale cbc isolate,thca powder for sale with the well price and our services are very fast. Click here for MORE DETAILS......
Buy Pharma Grade Live resin

Buy DELTA 8 THC DISTILLATE

Buy Bulk CBC Isolate | Powder

Buy Bulk Delta 9 THC Distillate Jars

Buy Bulk THCA Isolate | Powder | Online

Pure THCA Diamonds in UK

buy-bulk-cbd-isolate-crystals UK

buy-bulk-cbg-isolate-crystals in UK

buy-bulk-cbn-isolate-powder in UK

CONTACT US
Phone/WHATSAPP: +1(424) 235 3914
Email:support@420labextracts.com

Elgin Bedou said...

Hello thanks for shearing this very important infor we are so pleased with your article Buy Bulk THCA Isolate | buy thca online | buy thca online uk | buy thca diamonds online, regarding thca isolate and we wish to inform you that we have interesting content regarding thca isolate powder and it might interest your audience who which to know more about the potency of the above mentioned productThca isolate powder.interested persons should
order thca isolate powder online, kindly reach our to us via the following listed contact details

Call/text/whatsapp....+1(424) 235 3914
email....support@420labextracts.com

buy delata 9 online said...

Good job! You guys do a great blog and have some great contents ON Buy Bulk Delta 9 THC Distillate Jars | Buy delta 9 online Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing this article. It was helpful .
order delta 9 uk | Buy delta 9 near me | delta 9 europe

For more infor please contact the following.....

CALL/TEXT/WHATSAPP >>>>>>>>>
+1(424) 235 3914

EMAIL >>>>>>>>> support@420labextracts.com

jones said...



thanks for your useful content about thca powderBuy THCA Isolate Powder online,wish to inform you that we have interesting article which can help add meaningful contribution
for more details contact us via the following ..

call/text....+1(505)257-5355
email address...support@legal420isolate.com

jones said...

thanks for the good content about delta 9 distillate Delta 9 oil, we have great content that which can make meaningful contribution ,about delta 9 distillate .
for more details ,contacts us via the following.

Email>>>>>support@legal420isolate.com

call/text>>>>>>1(505)257-5355

waxmann said...

Hello

Have some useful information i will like to shear with you about thca isolate read more.


For more details...

cotact: +1 (424) 235-3914

EMAIL: support@420labextracts.com

website: 420labextracts.com

waxmann said...

Thanks for shearing such a useful content about pure thca diamond myself being a user of thca isolate for decades now, have got some useful articles and contents i will like to update you with
buy thca isolate online...

Samuel Badree said...

Mobile Prices Bangladesh good job and amazing web

Eileen Price said...

Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.

China-midwest.com
Information
Click Here
Visit Web

thane said...

visit 7a replica bags wholesale company website replica designer bags visite site replica gucci bags

robert green said...

Thanks for the wonderful informations regarding ,buy delta 9 uk,we have outstanding article regarding the above subject , which can help provide you and your audience with more insight,contact us


email ..support@legal420isolate.com

call/text ---+1(505)257-5355

visit our webaite>>>>>http://cocainestoreonline.com/