"Stalin's Hell on Earth" by Ludwik Kowalski

The idea of writing about Stalinism sprang from an accidental encounter. In July of 2000, while vacationing in Alaska, I noticed a plaque with the name of the Russian town Magadan in an Anchorage souvenir store. That name had been engraved in my memory since 1939, when I was eight years old, living in Russia. The address: "Kolyma, Magadan, Buchta Nagayevo" was where my father, arrested one year earlier, had died in a concentration camp at the age of 36.

At the time I did not know about Auschwitz and the smoke above Birkenau, but if I had known and somebody asked me I would have answered without hesitation - Kolyma. In exchange of view we would have asked one another:
What could be worse than death in crowded gas chambers and the dehumanizing disposal of bodies in fiery crematorium? What could be worse than prolonged suffering from cold, hunger and disease before the body gives in to the white icy crematorium?

As if Poland's books and education system isn't biased!?

Energydrink, stimulants, msuic, shamrock

Too bad such books are appearing in America, Poland, etc. but not where they would do the most good -- in Russia.

What is strange about that? They are published where readers already have preconceptions (negative) about issue. They will read it to fortify their attitudes towards that period.

Why would Russians then read it? it's probably painting them in black. Or not?

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have condemned proposed legislation in Russia that "would effectively reintroduce Soviet-style censorship", and have called on President Dmitry Medvedev to reject it.

In a letter to President Medvedev, WAN-IFRA and WEF, the global associations of the world’s press, warned that the proposed law would allow journalists to be jailed simply for carrying out legitimate professional activities.

“The proposed legislation is the latest in a series of measures restricting independent journalism and follow amendments made to the law on extremism in 2006 and 2007 which broadened the definition of extremism to include criticism of officials," the letter said.

With millions of Russians murdered by the Stalinist regime do you not think they would be interested in reading about it? Why not?

What is strange about that? They are published where readers already have preconceptions (negative) about issue. They will read it to fortify their attitudes towards that period.

Why would Russians then read it? it's probably painting them in black. Or not?

I wouldn't. Like everything that' written and has to do something with contemporary history, it doesn't have solid time distance, so not even pseudo objectivity.
Not to question motives of the writer.

Doesn't title speak for itself about the author's intentions?

Polish historians simply cannot be neutral in my view.

I certainly wish Jola didn't base his view on us on the de Cuistine's book but that's already a different story... it's his choice whether to be limited by Astolphe or learn more himself.

OK, so I'm unqualified to judge, but is it any accident that Norman Davies' Boże igrzysko is the first name on any required reading list (still a set text for matura, no?) and not Jąsienica or Zamoyski?

I base my view of Russians from my travels throughout Russia, Russian literature, which I like very much, much reading of war-related history books, news reports, etc. I am aware that all that could not substitute living among Russians for many years as required to more fully understand the people. DeCustine's 1830 book is a must in understanding the power structure throughout the society then and how it related to what emerged as the communist system. It is standard reading, just as Toquelvile is on understanding American democracy, written about the same time.

but I'm working on being nice, notice my response to Harry on this thread. :)

One of the Russian posters, I think Velund, said something here that made sense to me. In Russia, one would start a major battle in each family as some were persecuted and some did the persecuting.

Norman Davies who is not capable to write anything objective

Can you tell me how many history books have you read in Polish? Any?

None, only in English, but they are all liars according to you anyway.

Yet I know many families whose forefathers either died at WW2 or were executed/exiled at the order of Stalin (nor my family is an exception).
I the problem in that government simply doesn't want to hurt veteran's feelings, feeling of the older generation

Polish historians simply cannot be neutral in my view.

Wikipedia in English is your only source that I've seen.

From your profile I see your interests are:


Energydrink, stimulants, msuic, shamrock
Please post in sections more appropriate to your interests.

I prefer books in English about Polish history. (Except for Norman Davies who is not capable to write anything objective). Polish historians simply cannot be neutral in my view.

Znasz j. polski?: Medium

True. Norman Davies has been critisized many times for not being objective.

True. Norman Davies has been critisized many times for not being objective.

Have you ever read anything by Martin Gilbert, AJP Taylor, Hew Strachan, Fernand Braudel, Simon Schama, Modris Eckstein, Fritz Stern? If not, I'd be very careful with statements like wiki would be my only source.

True. Norman Davies has been critisized many times for not being objective.

I see so all Poles are incapable of impartiality, is that what you are saying?