The Polish Experience in World War II: The Christian Holocaust Survivors

For Immediate Release

SUBJECT: Educational Program: The Polish Experience in World War II

WHEN:  Wednesday, September 12, 7:00 p.m. – The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Recital Hall in the School of Music; Thursday, September 13, 7:00 p.m. - First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC

CONTACT: Aldona Z. Wos, M.D., (336) 545-5650

COST: Admission is free

A rare opportunity of international interest is being presented in Greensboro, North Carolina, Wednesday, September 12 at 7 p.m. at UNCG at the Recital Hall in the School of Music at the corner of West Market and McIver and Thursday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 617 North Elm Street . Please note that the September 13 session has been rescheduled from September 11 as previously announced. This is expected to be the largest panel in North Carolina of Historians, Polish Christian Holocaust Survivors, authors and a Rescuer ever assembled for such a discussion for public education. Historians will present and answer questions and at least four survivors will discuss their reflections of their first hand experiences as prisoners of Nazi concentration camps and Nazi slave/labor camps. The program will last 90 minutes with a question and answer session following. For those who wish to stay there will be a viewing of the video "Zegota" afterward. Zegota was the Polish Government-in-Exile sponsored Council for Aid to Jews in occupied Poland.

Six million Polish citizens killed – three million Jews and three million Christians – a higher percentage than any other country. Of the three million Christians, more than two million were civilians killed directly or as prisoners of concentration and slave/labor camps.

Featured during the program are:

Keynote Speaker:

  • Historian Richard Lukas, Ph.D., author of the acclaimed books "Forgotten Holocaust" and "Did The Children Cry?", for which he received the Janusz Korczak Literary Award from the Anti-Defamation League; an American who has written seven books and published more than 50 articles and reviews. Copies of Dr. Lukas' books will be available for purchase and signing after the evening program.

Special Guest Speaker:

  • Iwo Cyprian Pogonowski, author of internationally renowned books "Poland An Illustrated History", "Poland A Historical Atlas," "Jews In Poland" and the "Polish American Dictionary; Survivor of 5½ years at Sachsenhausen, prisoner #28865. Copies of Mr. Pogonowski’s books will be available for purchase and signing after the evening program.

Personal Reflections by:

  • Michael Preisler, Survivor of 3½ years at Auschwitz Concentration Camp; Auschwitz prisoner #22213.
  • Bozenna Urbanowicz Gilbride, child survivor of German slave/labor camps; received the prestigious Louis E. Yawner Award for N.Y. State Department of Education, Board of Regents; and member of the Speakers Bureau at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
  • Wanda Lorenc, teenage survivor of Flossenburg Concentration Camp prisoner #22610, Ravensbruck Concentration Camp prisoner #70154 and Sachsenhausen/Spandau Concentration Camp prisoner #9532; awarded seven outstanding War Medals of Honor; member of Polish Underground/Home Army.
  • Paul Wos, Rescuer of 12 Jews and Recipient of the Israel’s Yad Vasham Medal of Honor "Righteous Among The Nations"; Survivor of Flossenburg Concentration Camp prisoner #23504; participant of the Warsaw Uprising and a member of the Polish Underground/Home Army; awarded six outstanding War Medals of Honor.

Special Guest Commentators:

  • Marek Chodakiewicz, Ph.D., University of Virginia
  • John Radzilowski, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
  • Krystyna Kuczynska Dudli, member of the Polish Underground/Home Army

The program on Wednesday, September 12, 2001 at UNCG is presented courtesy of the Jackson Library’s Friends of the UNCG Libraries.

The program on Thursday, September 13, 2001 is presented courtesy of First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro.

Endorsed by the National Conference for Community and Justice.