The insular character of Great Britain has always played a role in its relations with other European countries. The political idea of ‘splendid isolation’ could have only originated in that country. The British mentality, which is specific in many respects, means that the perception of events taking place on the other side of the English Channel is inevitably distinct from the perception of other European nations. A particular way of viewing and reacting to political developments in Europe from a distance was given expression in many periods of history. One example is at the beginning of the Second World War. It did not affect Great Britain directly, but the country was obliged due to the Anglo-Polish military alliance to assist the Polish in defending their country. The result was a situation, which is known today as Phoney War. Britain declared war on Germany but did not fulfil the terms of the agreement. This attitude was a manifestation of the appeasement policy pursued by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. The result was that Britain (as well as France) only started major military actions in May 1940, when German troops had marched into the Benelux countries, and as it had become clear that there might be a serious threat to the British in a short period of time.
The neutral approach towards a catastrophe taking place far away on the continent is particularly disturbing in the case of what is known today as the Holocaust: the mass extermination of European Jews in the years 1941-1945. One must say that the British approach to this event was and is inexorably different than the German or Polish one. The genocide took place in Poland, in a country which suffered severely under Nazi occupation; it is at this important to bear in mind that three out of six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust were Polish citizens. Germany, as the country of the perpetrators, must have its own characteristic view on the event; it is for instance understandable why this country feels obliged to remember and remind of the Holocaust today so much. The British on the other side were neither perpetrators nor victims. They did, of course, take active part in military actions during the war, but since the Holocaust is regarded as a systematic murder on its own and as something distinct from what happened on the battlefields, one cannot really say that Britain was directly affected by it.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction: The Holocaust as a Continental Event...
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- Eye-witness Accounts on the Holocaust in Great Britain..
- Report by Jerzy Tabeau..
- The Polish Government-in-Exile......
- Karski's Mission to the West..
- Activities of Polish Ambassador to Great Britain...
- Controversies about the Polish Role………………………...
- British Response to the News...
- Destruction of the Auschwitz Camp….…………………………...
- Conclusion: The Collective Memory of the Holocaust Today..
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to examine the Polish role in revealing the news of the Holocaust to Great Britain during World War II. It focuses on the dissemination of eyewitness accounts by Polish escapees and the actions of the Polish Government-in-Exile in informing British authorities about the ongoing tragedy. The essay also explores the British response to the information received, considering both the extent to which they were aware of the genocide and the impact of this knowledge on their actions. Finally, it contemplates the place of the Holocaust in the collective memory of the British people.
- The insular nature of Great Britain and its perception of continental events.
- The role of eyewitness accounts and escapees in bringing news of the Holocaust to Great Britain.
- The Polish Government-in-Exile's efforts to inform British authorities about the genocide.
- The British response to the Holocaust and the extent of their knowledge about the genocide.
- The enduring impact of the Holocaust on British collective memory.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage by discussing the historical context of Great Britain's relationship with Europe and its traditional tendency towards 'splendid isolation.' It highlights the distinct British perspective on events unfolding on the continent, particularly during World War II. The text also emphasizes the unique nature of the Holocaust, both as a continental event and a systematic murder distinct from the war's battlefields.
Chapter II focuses on the role of eyewitness accounts in bringing news of the Holocaust to Great Britain. It examines various reports by escapees from concentration camps, including the account by Kazimierz Hałoń who fled Auschwitz in 1942. The chapter also discusses the impact of escapees' testimonies on the international response to the genocide, particularly the case of Hungarian Jews being transported to Auschwitz.
Chapter III delves into the activities of the Polish Government-in-Exile based in London. It highlights the significance of this government, representing a nation where the genocide was taking place, in informing the British authorities. The chapter emphasizes the need to understand both the extent of British knowledge about the Holocaust and their reactions to the information provided.
Chapter IV explores the British response to the news of the Holocaust. It focuses on the destruction of the Auschwitz camp and its implications for British awareness and actions. This chapter examines the complex issues surrounding the extent to which the allies knew about the 'Final Solution' and the potential for greater intervention to prevent the genocide.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords of this text are the Holocaust, Great Britain, Poland, eyewitness accounts, escapees, Polish Government-in-Exile, British response, collective memory, and Nazi concentration camps. This essay focuses on the historical and cultural aspects of the Holocaust, exploring the dissemination of information, the role of different governments and individuals, and the lasting impact of this tragic event on memory and understanding.
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- Adam Galamaga (Author), 2010, Great Britain and the Holocaust: Poland’s Role in Revealing the News, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/172216
