In the country of 23.7 million people in 1946, there were only 40,000 university graduates who survived the war; less than 0.2 percent of the general population. Between 1944 and 1956 some 350,000–400,000 Poles were held in Stalinist prisons. Sporadic anti-Jewish disturbances or riots were enticed by the spread of false blood libel accusations against some Jews in Polish towns – Kraków, Kielce, Bytom, Białystok, Bielawa, Częstochowa, Legnica, Otwock, Rzeszów, Sosnowiec, Szczecin, Tarnów.

One such pogromwas the Krakow pogrom in which rumors were spread that Jews in the city had killed up to 80 children over the course of weeks, which led to violence against them in the Kazimierz quarter of the city and the burning of the Kupa Synagogue. At least one person was killed and an unknown number were injured.

~ Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

These situations, conflicts and fights continued until May 28th, 1946 in which four Jewish men were assaulted while working on rebuilding a synagogue in Warsaw as part of the late-night crews. The men were attacked as they were on their way to deliver supplies for the detail and were assaulted based on a suspicion that they had kidnapped one unidentified suspect's brother during the Occupation.

The four men were brutally beaten with one being hospitalized who later succumbed to his wounds by a group of at least 18 people, most were reported to have thrown rocks and stones at these four men.

Protests continued throughout the day as groups gathered to protest the construction of the synagogue, most calling the same allegations of "blood libel", a medieval-based myth that Jews kidnapped Christian children to use their blood in ritualistic fashions.

Local police later dispersed the crowds as the Jewish and Yiddish residents demanded answers - and security.

The Political Side

This was one of many situations across Poland that simply echoed the continuing antisemitism apparent in the country. It was taken to the highest offices until it reached the desk of the Minister of Industry, Hilary Minc.

The man himself was Jewish and was working very closely with the Minister of Reconstruction as well as the Warsaw Reconstruction Offices. It was here that he found the allegations and forwarded it personally to the Ministry of National Defence, the Directors of the Milicja and to the Prime Minister.

"Frankly, if we do not gain answers and our own people protected, then I'll be forced to resign." He wrote to the Prime Minister who urged patience but promised action.

It was here that the Prime Minister as Vice Chairman brought before the State National Council of the Provisional Government a new legislation a second recognized language to the courts; Yiddish.

The Military Side

Immediately, following the promise of Prime Minister Edward Osóbka-Morawski, he followed through with resounding results. The Military, backed with the Milicja, arrived at the towns to deliver papers detailing the propaganda against Jews that had been perpetrated by Nazis, Imperialists, Capitalists and others to keep the issues off of the economy, off of the wages, off of the Church and off of the main issues at hand.

"To be Anti-Jewish is to only create more divides within our community!" read one line.

The police were given strict orders to charge antisemitic crimes at the fullest and highest. The first few cases were to be the most publicized, alerting the peoples of the nation that the Provisional Government will not tolerate any further harassment.

The military have been cracking down hard on the antisemitic behavior of its citizens, hoping to give the Jewish and Yiddish Peoples more breathing room without fear or regret of further retaliation. This Government is keen on keeping everybody safe.

The Propaganda Side

Not only just in music but also interviews on Polish radio and stage, Jews are taking the forefront to restore the ailing hearts of a wounded nation. Composers such as Władysław Szpilman are brought into a new light, as is Yiddish newspapers now once again brought into standard circulation in some parts of the country.

The idea is to begin Poland's own version of "denazification," simply put; it is better to blame the antisemitism on the Nazis than it is to blame it on ourselves and our own cultures. Nevertheless, Jewish arcticians and craftsmen are being heralded, as are the Freedom Fighters responsible for the Warsaw Uprisings.

National Honours are being delivered to those whose stories are confirmed to have helped in saving Jewish citizens from the ghettos or the Holocaust with some of the first being Andrzej Bogucki who helped Director Władysław Szpilman and his family.

Anything that a non-Jewish person did to help Jews during the Nazi persecution was treated in an award, subject to print in the papers. Continuing, as a favor for Director Spzilman, we hope to grant amnesty to even the Germans who directly contributed in the saving of Jews.

We repeat one advertisement -

Within Warsaw, Mr. Władysław Szpilman returns to work as Director of the Popular Music Department. Both a survivor of the Warsaw Uprisings and of the Nazi Occupation of Warsaw Ghettos, this man helped smuggle in weapons that were integral to prove the defiance of the peoples of Poland throughout the harshest of times. It was during an interview of his struggles he speaks of a German Officer who helped him survive, fed and even clothed him. If anyone has information concerning this German Officer, a Catholic man who spoke Polish, attended communion at Polish Churches and served in Warsaw approximately at the late months of 1944. He served in the Wehrmacht as a Hauptmann, which is German for Captain under the 660 Guard Battalion.

If anyone has any information on this man whose personal efforts enabled the life of not only Władysław Szpilman but also countless others, please come forward. We wish not only to grant him amnesty but to allow for Mr. Szpilman to thank him personally. If his superiors knew what he was doing, he would have been executed for his crimes.