What happened to the Polish people during World War II?

What happened to the Polish people during World War II?

During World War II, the Germans not only murdered millions of Poles (Jewish and otherwise), but ethnically cleansed millions more through forced deportation to make room for “racially superior” German settlers (see Generalplan Ost and Lebensraum ).

What happened to the Polish intelligentsia during WW2?

Hundreds of Polish community leaders, mayors, local officials, priests, teachers, lawyers, judges, senators, doctors were executed in public. Much of the rest of the so-called intelligentsia, the Polish leading class, was sent to concentration camps where they later died.

Why did the Polish government flee to Romania?

When it soon became apparent that Poland had no chance against the invading German armies, leaders of the Polish government fled to Romania, and later to London, where they plotted against the occupants.

What was the punishment for not speaking Polish in the Reich?

After being abducted and taken to the German Reich, Sus was forbidden to speak her native Polish. At the Reich School for Ethnic Germans in Achern and the Lebensborn home in Steinhöring, severe punishments were dished out for violating this rule. Speaking Polish could mean going hungry or getting locked up in the cellar.

What are some examples of genocide in history?

The Holocaust is the pinnacle example of genocide. While the debate over the final death toll continues, most can agree that it was in the high millions. Even the people who say the Holocaust didn’t happen can agree that the potential death toll puts it at the top of the genocide list.

What was the Circassian Genocide?

Following the long Caucasian War led by the Russians against the Circassian people of the North Caucasus, the Circassian genocide was carried out as an ethnic cleansing. The Circassians are a predominantly Muslim indigenous people, having been heavily influenced by the Turks, and have a lengthy history of being brutally persecuted by the Russians.

What happened to the Polish intelligentsia in WW2?

In the first three months of war, from the fall of 1939 until the spring of 1940, some 60,000 former government officials, military officers in reserve, landowners, clergy, and members of the Polish intelligentsia were executed region by region in the so-called Intelligenzaktion, including over 1,000 POWs.