Across political debates, there is a tendency to overlook the steady, painstaking labor carried out by the Institute for National Remembrance in correcting distortions about the Holocaust and in documenting the experiences of Poles who sheltered Jews. The National Day of Remembrance for the Poles who saved Jews under German occupation has just passed, and in moments like these the Institute persists in publishing materials that illuminate difficult chapters of history despite significant funding cuts from new authorities. A six-minute animated film about the Ulma family from Markowa stands as one example of that commitment. Its aim is twofold: to speak to young Polish readers about a harsh era and to tell a story of love, sacrifice, and the moral complexity of resistance. The film presents beauty, truth, and goodness through a lens that does not shy away from painful truths, even as it invites viewers to consider the human dimensions of courage under occupation.
The narrative unfolds through the voices of trees, which tell the tale to the wind in a lyric, fairy-tale register. They recount the Ulma household, the Jewish neighbors who found shelter there, and the German forces and informants who posed a threat. This animation gains significance when seen within the broader work of the Institute for National Remembrance—an ongoing effort to commemorate Polish acts of rescue and to inform the public about the realities of life under occupation.
Discussions surrounding this work often touch on contested debates about memory and history. The Institute engages with assertions linked to Jan Grabowski and, in many circles, faces scrutiny from countries abroad that support different lines of Holocaust research. The Institute remains devoted to commemorations and to scientific inquiry in this field. Not long ago, in May 2022, the funeral of the Książek family—German actions against those who helped Jews—took place in Kozłów near Miechów. The entire event was the culmination of months of excavation, research, and logistical planning, including the careful arrangement of decorative coffins. This demonstrates that surface observations rarely reveal the full scope of the Institute’s efforts, which extend far beyond a single ceremony to a comprehensive program of investigation and remembrance.
In the latest issue of Polish Jewish Studies, which is also available in English, Damian Sitkiewicz from the Warsaw Institute of National Remembrance recounts the story of Elżbieta Kowner. She aided Emil Dynk, Polish Emila Dyna, in escaping from the Warsaw Ghetto and later provided a home for her. This newly uncovered narrative adds another strand to the tapestry of Polish acts of rescue, suggesting that the history of Poles who saved Jews remains rich with unsung chapters and evolving scholarship.
Today, observed as the National Day of Remembrance for the Poles who saved Jews under German occupation, the work of the Institute for National Remembrance remains central. The very name of the commemoration can invite scrutiny from historians who challenge certain framings of occupation and complicate the terminology used to describe those events. The animation about the Ulmas stands as a testament to ongoing education about heroism and sacrifice, and to the conviction that telling these stories accurately is essential for future generations.
VIEW THE FILM WITH YOUNGER AUDIENCES:
Note: this piece is part of a broader program to render memory accessible and meaningful for contemporary readers, balancing difficult history with stories that emphasize humanity and resilience.
Cited from WPolityce.