In connection with the Gdańsk exhibition p.t. "Our Boys". Residents of Gdansk Pomerania in the 3rd Reich Army“ The Museum of Gdańsk made a message as follows: We argue unjust and superficial assessments in public space in connection with the exhibition “Our Boys. Residents of Gdańsk Pomerania in the 3rd Reich Army" - exclusively from people who did not get to know the exhibition itself, nor its historical and educational context. We regret that communicative around the exhibition can be utilized instrumentally for ad hoc political purposes.
It is actual that erstwhile I was almost 94 years old, I did not get to know the exhibition visually, but if possible I know its content and message. I read it elsewhere.: The intent of the exhibition is to show the tragic destiny of people who after 1939 were subjected to violent coercion - entered into Volkslista, called to the Wehrmacht under the threat of repression against themselves and their families.
Ryszard Kaczmarek, Recruitment to Waffen-SS in Polish lands occupied by SS commanders (1939–1941. ("Old and fresh Ages" 2022, No. 17) writes: The reserve in this respect appeared to be empty areas occupied in this respect, including Polish incarnate lands, where for DVL people there was already a common collection to the Wehrmacht.
Well, the passages of texts quoted here clearly demented the main thesis of the Exhibition, that Poles were forced to service in the Wehrmacht. True, the 3rd Reich in the areas occupied in various ways tried to make military units of collaboration. As we know, specified a Polish unit could not be created. However, only those with German citizenship were recruited to the Wehrmacht. These were received by Poles who signed the alleged German National List (Deutsche Volksliste) after 1942. Albert Foster gauleiter Gau Danzig-Westpreußen called for specified applications in Pomerania. There was no compulsion. Moreover, almost half of the applications in the village where I was staying were refused. I read many appeals from specified decisions in the Provincial Archives in Bydgoszcz. Believe me, it's embarrassing reading. My family, mother, 2 sisters and aunt – my father was shot in December 1939 in Death Valley close Chojnice – did not apply for DVL, although my father's parent was German. Thus, the claim that Poles were subjected to brutal coercion - entered into Volkslista is simply a simple, misconception, from the post-war years erstwhile they were eingedeutschte tried to regain Polish citizenship and created a legend of terror.
Another lie spread by the Exhibition is that Poles were called to Wehrmacht under the threat of repression against themselves and their families. It only agrees that repression was applied to those who feared that the sons would go to war did not receive the German “ausweiz”. I know a household that went to Potulice for a fewer weeks. But their boy didn't go to the Wehrmacht.
I personally knew many Polish vermachtists on vacations mostly for any heroic actions, especially on the east front. n. p. wearing the "Panzerstörer" badge. They were arrogant of it.
This was the reality at Reichsgau Danzig-Wstpreußen. I can't bring anyone to the stand, due to the fact that I think I'm the only 1 alive from this village, but as long as I have the strength to correct a "rape story", due to the fact that based on a lie or stupidity it doesn't teach, it doesn't educate, as the organizers want, but it creates myths for individual else's use. surely not our Poles.
