We all know the Titanic – The Unsinkable Ship – and its tragic history. We were reminded of its history very recently, with the latest tragedy connected to it. But did you know that Poland had its own version of the Titanic? Stay tuned to read its history 🙂
MS Piłsudski origins
MS Piłsudski was built in Italy by the CRDA yard at Monfalcone, yard number 1126, for Polskie Transatlantyckie Towarzystwo Okrętowe (“Polish Transatlantic Shipping Company Limited” or PTTO). PTTO became later on, in 1934, the Gdynia – Ameryka Linie Zeglugowe (Gdynia – America Line).
Constructed in the Italian shipyard Cantieri Riuiniti dell’Adriatico, the MS Piłsudski spanned over 160 meters long and 21.5 meters wide. At 7 decks, the ship could accommodate 773 passengers and 350 crew members. The inside of the ocean liner was just as impressive, fitted with the newest state-of-the-art technology and interiors designed by the best Polish architects, painters, and craftsmen. In addition to lounges, covered promenades, salons, and a garage for 18 passenger cars, the ship also featured the 1st swimming pool to be installed on a Polish ship.
Trading at its finest
Construction of the MS Piłsudski took 290 days in Monfalcone, Italy, along with its sister ship MS Batory. It was ready for launch on December 19, 1934.
Part of the payment for the ship was coal from Poland. In exchange for a 5-year supply of coal, the Polish government received two 14 gross tonnage ships from the Italian government – one of them was the MS Piłsudski. MS Piłsudski was launched in December 1934. Her tonnage was 14,294 tons gross, with a length of 162 metres (531 ft) and beam of 22 metres (71 ft). She was propelled by 2 diesel engines driving a pair of propellers giving a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h).
There she goes!
MS Piłsudski entered the regular service as a liner on the transatlantic route in September 1935, setting sail for a maiden voyage from Gdynia to New York. There are also contradicting reports that actually say that the Piłsudski made its first voyage on August 27th, 1935, from the port of Trieste, via Venice and Lisbon to Gdynia, though the ship’s main route was to become Gdynia-Copenhagen-Halifax-New York. You get to pick who you think was right 🙂 Bottom line: by the summer of 1939, the ship had made 38 voyages to New York.
Poland’s “Floating Embassy”
It served for a long while as Poland’s “Floating Embassy”. It made regular voyages from Gdynia to New York during the interwar period . That is also when immigration to America reached its peaks. Most of the other transatlantic liners (like SS Polonia or SS Kościuszko and SS Pułaski) were outdated and not as comfy, hip, sparkly and shiny as MS Piłsudski. Thus MS Piłsudski was in high demand – both for foreigners and for Polish people alike. Depending on the weather that it encountered, each voyage lasted 8 to 9 days. Each year it made full booked trips to its destination!
The reasons for building the 2 twin ships (Batory and Piłsudski) were driven by economics. More than two million people left Poland permanently between 1918 and 1938 and the Polish population in the United States had soared to several million.
War is here!
On the outbreak of the Second World War, many of the ships were transferred over to the Brits to be refitted as warships. In 1939, she was taken over for war service and scheduled to be converted into an armed merchant cruiser. The plans of that conversion were dropped, the ship being instead converted into a troop transport ship. In 2 months the M.S. Piłsudski was blown up by German mines on November 25th, 1939. The entire crew was successfully rescued, except for one mechanic and Captain Mamert Stankiewicz, who died during the ship’s four hour sinking.
MS Piłsudski’s demise
On November 25, 1939, at 11 p.m., the liner set sail for the first time as a military vessel. Under the command of Captain Mamert Stankiewicz, who had been the captain of the ship during the interwar years, the vessel intended to join route with a convoy to sail together to Australia. Unfortunately, the ship never made it past the North Sea.
Just a day later on November 26, 1939, the MS Piłsudski sunk near Flamborough Head. At 5:36 a.m. it was rocked by 2 explosions. Taking on water, it sank after a few hours at around 10:30 a.m.
A Captain always goes down with its ship…
Mamert Stankiewicz (22 January 1889 – 26 November 1939) was a Polish naval officer of the merchant marine, the commander of Lwów, Polonia and finally captain of the Polish ocean liner Piłsudski. On 26 November 1939 during World War II, while the captain of Pilsudski incorporated into the UK Royal Navy and converted into the ship transporting British and Polish soldiers was torpedoed by German U-boat, he, after inspecting the entire sinking ship that there were no sailors and soldiers left behind, and after rescuing sailors and soldiers from the ice-cold Northern Atlantic, he died of exhaustion. Stankiewicz’s life was immortalized by Karol Olgierd Borchardt, whose series of books on Stankiewicz became a best-seller among Polish maritime books.
In accordance with the mariner’s code, the captain remained on board until the very end, making sure that all the crew left the sinking ship. Captain Stankiewicz finally abandoned the ship with two other crew members in the last lifeboat.
Captain Mamert Stankiewicz was the last to leave the ship as he wanted to ensure that all of Piłsudski’s crew and were safe and no sailors and soldiers were left behind on the sinking ship. He rescued several sailors and soldiers and protected their safety on the lifeboats, while himself immersed in ice-cold Northern Atlantic. The sailors, soldiers, and Captain Stankiewicz were finally rescued by a British ship. He died of exhaustion and hypothermia.
By the time he died, he was completely unrecognisable as all his hair had turned completely grey.
“A Knight of the Order of Virtuti Militari, the captain of MS Piłsudski died a sailor’s death at his post,” reads the inscription on his tombstone in Hartlepool.
The Theories why it sank
While there have been numerous theories, the real cause of the sinking remains unanswered. Some theorize that the MS Piłsudski sank by a U-boat attack, though there have been no German naval records in support of this. The British authorities prefer another narrative, that the ship sunk after collision with underground mines laid by Germans. A Ukrainian nationalist, Lapuk, also claims that he sabotaged the vessel, though there is little to substantiate his claim.
The resting place of the Pilsudski is some eighteen miles off the Yorkshire coast (out from Withernsea) in thirty three metres of water at 53.45.75N & 00.45.67E. The bow and midships remains intact, though collapsing of the decks is occurring. The stern is broken off.
The real cause of the sinking of the Polish Titanic remains a mystery to this day.
The International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is celebrated every year on the 22nd of August. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has these freedoms enshrined in articles 18, 19 and 20. Upholding these rights, however, is still hard nowadays. That is why the General Assembly decided (back in 2019) that each year, on the 22nd of August, we commemorate this day. It is noted that this day comes right after the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism – 21st August.
Even now, as you read this, people are labelled as security threats based on their religion/belief system. Some people live daily in fear because of that. Religious stigmatization is real, even now, after years where we have seen what it can do – eg. World War 2 (Death Camps).
We still believe that one religion should/set of beliefs should have supremacy over another. We still fight because one person is catholic or another is orthodox – even though we believe in the same God, same Trinity and we read the same texts in the Bible…
What YOU can do to make the world better?
Talk about this day > make your family, friends, and teammates know about it. Share the resources you find over social media. Share the knowledge!
Don’t be afraid to stand up > not taking action or not speaking about it only makes things worse. If you see injustice, report it. Help the person in need!
Educate yourself continuously > fact checks, reading information from different resources gives you a broader view.
#DidYouKnow
A Group of Friends of Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief was constituted at the UN General Assembly forum. The Group of Friends is composed of 30 member states and the European Union as an observer. Poland as an initiator chairs the works of the Group.
#DidYouKnow that the Australian Booksellers Association founded the “Love your Bookshop Day”? It is celebrated each year on the 14th of August. I am a huuuuuuge lover of books, so I could not miss out on the occasion to tell you more about this as well. Bookshops are a very important means of knowledge that people, nowadays, look less at – due to the increase in technology usage. Let’s be frank: Who uses a dictionary nowadays or a book to find the right info? You just Google it!
A bit of history
#DidYouKnow that in 1600 AD the very first book in America is printed – “The Bay Psalm”
#DidYouKnow that in 1900 the Hardbacks became popular and the publishers started considering paperbacks as “low quality“
#DidYouKnow that the city with the biggest number of libraries per capita is Warsaw? With about 11,5 libraries per 100000 citizens!
#DidYoukKnow that UNESCO honored, in the year 2000, Krakow with the title of the City of Literature?
Bookshops you should visit in Krakow
Today we celebrate the Bookshops, and I have to let you that they are one of my favorite places in the world. I could get lost in any bookshop (or library) for hours! And there are plenty of bookshops in Krakow where you can get to pick and choose a good novel. So, without any further ado, here are my 5 picks of the day:
Massolit – which holds also a cafe and the bookstore is built in such a way that you can grab a book, find a nook, and dream away 🙂 They have a large English book selection. They are located on ul. Felicjanek 4. Perfect for a rainy day!
Centrum Taniej Ksiazki – you can find them on Florianska street (Old Town) and they have mainly books in Polish but also a small selection of foreign ones. Plenty of books for kids, though 😉 unfortunaley no place to sit and savour a book before buying it. They do have “old client” cards and you have bonuses.
American Bookstore – If you are searching for a library with books only in English (from kids to Young Adult to grown ups…) this is your place! They even have an Instagram account. The people there are very friendly and helpful and eager to get you with the best option for you. They are located in teh Old Town on Slawkowska.
Bonito.PL – you can see Bonito shopws everywhere in Krakow. It is easy to order online via their mobile app or even via webpage. They have amazing prices and the delivery is fast! They also have games and books and sometimes toys for kids. I definitely have too many books bought from them :)) also good prices on the books in English language 😉
Last but not least: Glowna Ksiegarnia Naukowa – located very close to Teatr Bagatela (Old Town) – provides a full range of books and paper products. It even offers (for free!) to wrap the books as a present! Split in 2 locations (a few metres away), the 2 spots are a place you shoudl go. To get lost for a few hours 😉 Also, one of them allows even to buy tea/coffee only for a few zloty and savour it in an area with chairs and tables. Very cozy! With their own application (GKN) you get a 20% discount!
What about you? I am off to my local bookstore to share some love!
Don’t buy books online, go visit the local stores and support them!
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug that LOVES Books & Bookstores
A birthday cake in a reconstructed medieval town, music, dancing and fun, all with the occasion of the birthday for the Wawel Dragon. The one-of-a-kind festival will take place on Sunday, August 14, in Błonia Park in Krakow. The celebration will start at noon and will last until 18.00.
50 years old sculpture!
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the sculpture of the Wawel Dragon by Bolesław Chromy. The 6-meter-high, fire-breathing dragon – the symbol of Krakow – can be seen every day at the foot of the Wawel Castle, it is one of the city’s greatest tourist attractions.
Did you know that he was supposed to be underwater?
According to the original concept, the dragon was to be partially submerged in the waters of the Vistula. However, it was found that the rubbish carried by the river current would settle on the sculpture. That is why, in 1972, it was placed in a block on the Vistula River, near Wawel Hill, next to the current exit from the Dragon’s Den. In the spring of 1973, a fire-breathing gas installation was installed inside the sculpture (by Feliks Prochownik).
New Expo! “Dragon Garden. Bronisław Chromy at Wawel”
On the occasion of the anniversary, the exhibition “Dragon Garden. Bronisław Chromy at Wawel” was opened in Wawel Castle in spring. Sculptures by the artist from Krakow can be seen at Wawel until the end of September this year.
Birthday Picnic 🙂
The highlight of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wawel Dragon will be a birthday picnic in the reconstructed early medieval settlement, which will be erected on Sunday in Krakow’s Błonia Park. The settlement will be built by the Team of Wisła Wojów “Krak”, the oldest in Krakow and one of the first groups of early medieval reconstruction in Poland.
“Composed of nearly 20 tents, sewn and erected according to the indications of iconographic sources, the town will be populated by teams of warriors, white-headed, craftsmen and musicians – in period costumes, equipped with weapons, tools, instruments and other attributes based on historical ones. There will also be a place for the prince. Krak – on that day he will accept applications, complaints and grievances from his subjects”– announces the magistrate.
What can you find in this settlement?
In the settlement, you will be able to stop at a blacksmith, potter, jeweller, mint maker, weaver and leatherman, and learn about the workshop and secrets of medieval craftsmen. There will also be an opportunity to try your hand at medieval plebeian games, such as spinning, twisted marches, sack races, Slavic wrestling or shoemaker and dragon games, and to compete for prizes. There will also be a skirmish between the dragon armies in the entertainment area.
There is also music!
There will also be music, the folk band “Daj Ognia” will be playing, and before the evening the final concert will be played on the main stage by Percival – a band that was created with a fascination with the history and culture of ancient Slavs and which successfully introduces the modern audience to the musical traditions of the former Slavic region.
For the competitive souls…
There will also be competitions, dance workshops, theatrical performances “The True Story of the Wawel Dragon”, and a dragon procession will pass through the main square of the settlement. And, as befits a birthday, there will be cake and dragon baked goods.
Timing
The dragon’s birthday will last from 12.00 to 18.00.
The fire of Krakow in 1850 was one of the most tragic events that happened to the city in the 19th century. This is how the event was reported at that time.
Krakow, July 18 (Thursday)
“10:00 pm. We have experienced a terrible day, and we do not foresee the end of our suffering. A terrible fire bursts around us, a terrible glow shines over the entire city, heavy smoke collapses. A sea of fire flooded the streets and the market square. Roofs fall, beams break, collapse. The dead hour struck for the city The fire is spreading more and more, it occupies the streets along the streets, life, estates, and even the existence of the city itself hangs from the wind. if he returns, the rest of the houses will go to dust.
Miserable town! The last defeat has finished you, in your streets and squares there will be only rubble, around which whole families will sit, and with a begging stick, you should search for some unburned rag, undamaged equipment. We have neither the time nor the head at this moment to appreciate all the misfortunes; we wait for the next days with fear, we tremble for the present moment, for the rest of the streets. What to do with a thousand victims, where to hug them? what to feed? We have no loft for our sisters, brothers, and mothers; bare pavement strewn with bare wood and the sky black with fire, this is our only refuge.
At 1 o’clock in the afternoon, the blows from the tower and the alarm in the marketplace announced the fire, although it was said that it had been going on for some time. Soon we saw a terrible fire in the lower mills on Krupnicza Street. The wind was blowing strong, the neighboring houses caught fire immediately, ….. four houses were burned down before the water spray ran up! There was no help. Everything that lay in the direction of the wind burned off; the fire did not know where to extend any further …. people started to come back when it was announced at 1 1/4 that the house of Mrs. Bartynowska on Goiłębia Street and the plantations had started to burn. The fire came out of the attic and soon spread over the entire roof. But a new scream: Wiślana Street is on fire! we run and we see a fire on the roof of the tenement house near the Hare. No water jets! nor a ladder! The academic buildings, the library, the dormitory, and offices were in terrible danger. The academic youth sprang up, ran to the roof, formed a chain of 150 people, and in a superhuman attempt to stop the fire, which had already begun to show up in the library building, was finally stopped.
A new scream: the Wielopolski Palace is on fire, I rush there and from Grodzka Street we can see a fire taking place from the roof. Fire in four places at once …. not a single spray! no help! not even the ladders! Nothing, nothing at all, all put at the mercy of the destructive element. Inhabitants start to get out of their homes, everyone saves what they can … meanwhile, the entire area from the tenement house is lit up by the Hare, and the fire is thrown into Gołębia block, into Bracka Street, into the bishop’s palace.
The plantation fire is progressing, the technician, the university printing house and the Unicki Church are in charge. No way to stop the dreadful clouds of fire …. no one is stopping them! Fire terrible on this side. The Wielopolski Palace is on fire, the entire Bracka Street is on fire, and the Starosty House is taken care of. The fire moves to the Franciscans. Streets filled with fires, choked with heavy waves of smoke, it is impossible to enter the apartments, nor cross the street.
A new shrill cry: Rapp’s tenement house on Carpenter’s Street is on fire, it is throwing fire into the Dominican Republic. The sea of fiery spilled over the rooftops and rages with the wind.
A fire enters the market square; the entire south side takes care of; the wind pushes him into the streets of Grodzka!
At that moment, the fire joined the plantations at Gołębia, Wiślana, and Franciszkańska Streets; for plantations at a small market, Szeroka Street, Ś. Józefa …. everything is on fire.
Four churches are burning at once …… and at the moment there are only naked, black walls, among the flames, which are still emerging here and there, there are cornices and gothic vaults. Suddenly, in the Dominican church, the roof falls on the vault, which still persists. The unburned beams still glow on the walls, and from there, and from there, the sheet metal is dripping from there. All the buildings and the library are burning next to the church. monastery, there are butcher’s shops. At the moment, butchers’ houses behind the plantations are on fire, the wind is blowing him more and more from the entire square between the Dominican plantations until a pillar of fire has tied almost under the old Vistula.
The Franciscan Church is on fire; dry altar trees, pews, cloisters are busy, hissing, crackling! The vault collapses, and the fire rushes into the monastery. from the monastery to the surrounding houses; in the courtyard, there are several dozen families, a few poor monks, and around them, a fiery river spread out with a wreath; the gate inaccessible, the only escape through the wall from the garden.
In Grodzka Street, the raging element spills out from the roof onto the roof, all the way to Śgo Józefa Street. But on the other hand, the inhabitants had already ripped off the roofs, and for a moment halted the terrible progress of destruction.
It was five o’clock, everyone lowered their hands because there was no more help. It was only counted that some buildings covered with tiles would be erected abroad! …. in Grodzka Street, the fire leaned against the passage in front of the court building, the part between Grodzka and Poselska on one side burned down. The house on the corner of Wiślana and Gołębia and the building of the Academy covered with tiles defended Śtej Anny Street and the eastern part of the Market Square. Everything is on fire until now! Unless the scaffolding has already collapsed and the red tongues of fire hiss the windows
Around 7 a.m., a few citizens stopped at the Hotel Dresden, thinking about the remedial measures. It was said that the commanding general himself, who had been on horseback from the very first moment, caught a man with sulfur dioxide in his hand, a wax candle, and a cotton-wrapped packet of gunpowder. At his home, attorney Boguński caught a 10-year-old boy dressed in rags, who was running to the attic. On request, where are you going? I’m going to save, he replied. There is no smoking here, replied the owner of the house, and surprised by the boy’s answer, he took him and found the materials needed to set fire to him. At that moment he took him to the barracks in Walter’s tenement house and handed him over to the military authority with the corpus delicti. Four other seriously suspected arson attacks were also apprehended and taken to the main guardhouse.
This story was scary! and we know that under our feet there is some hellish plot that has sworn the doom of the city. We could not comprehend, we did not want to believe, and yet the fact was told clearly, clearly. At that time, Mr. Maciszewski, whose entire apartment had burned down to the top, made a request to go to JESzef Komisya Gub. and HE Commander and ask them to bring a summary judgment, the Chamber of any caught in the act of arson, was immediately shot. This sentence was heeded and soon citizens: Boguński, Lipiński, Skarzyński, Kremer Karol, Kalinka and others went to HE Head of the Commission and Guber. declaring his wish to him. J. Excellencya replied that he could not announce the summary court, but because they were guilty, he would summon the President of the Tribunal.
An inquisition began with the accused who was apprehended by attorney Boguński … and after At 9 a.m. with the sound of drums, the military headquarters announced from the Central Committee, a decree that ordered candles in the windows to be burned, citizens were called to guard their homes, patrols were sent and it was ordered that whoever dares to resist them or is caught in the act of suspicion, will be immediately judged martial. North. We walked around the fire point again, the wind is stronger, choking smoke is spreading all over the square. The fire in the house of Mrs. Wąsowiczowa and Skotnickie falls deeper. Sikawka worked in the same house for some time, then it stopped.
Where are the other water jets?
Part of Wiślana Street is on fire in the background. The bishop’s palace burned down completely. The naked walls of the Franciscan Church are sticking out! the buildings next to the plantations seem to have survived, at least we have not seen any fire on them at the moment. From Bracka Street, or rather from Gołębia Street to Św. Joseph one sea of fire; we haven’t seen a single hive here again. But from this side the fire was stopped; only the interiors of houses are on fire. Stolarska Street is burning down; also the southern part of a small square; weak rescue! no people to help, no water. – Behind the plantations, the butcher’s houses glisten with still unburned coal.
Wentzl’s house in the market square was twice in terrible danger and twice almost miraculously survived. On one, the other and the third side it was boiling, we only saw a few chimneys sweeps on the roofs, diligently flooding water and tearing off shingles.
The Czech bookshop burned down; we saw books being thrown away, but it was too late. The files of two notaries, Ekielski and Korytowski, were burnt to the ground.
Everything depends on the wind right now – we cannot tell with certainty its direction, but it seems to be blowing in the same direction, only slightly stronger. It is only lucky that the roofs are no longer burning anywhere, the terrible fire glows deep inside the houses. All the walls seem to be cracked.Strong patrols walk the streets; the entire army is under arms; on the streets of the guard. In the plantations, the furniture of the unfortunate victims is folded and rested with the remnants of their property. On the market square, from Baranów to Grodzka Street, sofas, chairs, paintings and other movables are allowed together. Warta guards everywhere.
We hear about a few unhappy ones. who were burned. Among others, the venerable old man Filipowski, unable to get up from his bed, burned himself to coal, as they say. Several children found death. Poor victims, you died in terrible torments! but you did not survive your misfortune.
4 o’clock in the morning. Thank God we think the danger is over. The fire goes out. We are just coming back from the technique and house of Bartynowska. We come back filled with adoration for this noble university youth, because we have witnessed her sacrifice (…)
At 1 1/2 we walked out again for a city overview. The northern part of the market square is burning inside, the fire is renewing in technology, Franciszkany or rather the surrounding building is quiet, but in Grodzka Street between Szeroka and Ś. Joseph, the fire bursts violently from the windows. A water-pipe attached to one of the houses works poorly, the danger was in danger, the neighboring houses. who had miraculously survived so far, could for a moment alleviate the general misfortune. Weak rescue.
On Ś. Józef, among the furniture and scattered cloths, we can see a water spray standing in vain, it cannot be pulled into Grodzka Street, and there is no one to introduce it. In the street, wide Dominican buildings throw out a terrible fire, we did not see a living soul. The night and clouds of smoke, from among which the moon sometimes flickered red, made it impossible to see what was going on inside.
Behind the plantations the lights of the butchers’ fires glistened; no one again! We come back Sienna Street beats two o’clock, followed by the alarm, beating drums, announcing a new fire in the city from the Maryacka Tower. We ask where the water jets run to the Sukiennice. There it is easy; they call a fire in S. Anna Street and it’s quiet there; scream, there is fire in Szpitalna Street. the alarm turned out to be false. We return to the house of Mrs. Wąsowicz. The youth created a line and brought water to the water-pipe, which extinguishes the fire. We saw no danger here, but all the greater with technology. There was a fire in this place again, it is threatening the academy. The danger was terrible. University youth are thrown in this direction, pp Majer, Kuczyński and Pol are in charge of the defense. Two water jets were brought in, a double row was created. Then, with extraordinary effort, the ladder was brought down, professor Krupiński climbed on it and threw a huge beam onto the ground, which might burn for a long time. Seeing that with technology the danger decreases, especially since Mr. Majer has manned the roof of the university with people, they run at the end of the Gołembia block from Rudawa, bring water, pull a water-pipe and flood the fire in Mrs. Bartynowska’s house, which he recovered.
The day begins to dawn, the people from the market square, calmness returns to the minds.
6 o’clock in the morning. We walked around the horrible theater of misfortune once more. Heavy smoke is rising from several houses, here and there a beam, a balcony, or a window frame is burning. The walls and chimneys are naked, black, and tanned as crosses over the graves of the former exystentia. Owners of burnt houses come out to the streets, wanting to find out that they still have a lot of bricks from their former estates. (…) In one part of the city, where the shop stood near the shop, the warehouse near the warehouse, only the skeletons of houses and streets remained. It is a terrible sight.
Stolarska Street is burning down; from the Dominican building opposite the church, puffs of fire are piling up against the eye. Sikawka at the end of his mission wants to save a few unburned rain and ceilings. The city is covered with a mourning smoke with heavy smoke.
Only two houses remained from the northern part of the square; from Wiślana street, a stretch from Ś. Anna and Rynek, from Gołębia Street the academic building (all the more Technics) and a corner house, from Bracka Street, part of the house of Fr. Jabłonowskiego, from Grodzka Street up to Śgo Józefa, three or four houses from Poselska Street; nothing from Stolarska Street. This is the most general picture of desolation. And who can count the unsettled losses, who can adequately assess this blow, from which Krakow may never recover?
The house and the Soviet trade of Szukiewicz completely burned down; Fiedlein’s bookstore, as we hear, survived, although it is located in a house (serving as barracks) where a fire broke out very early. The fire was nowhere as fierce as on Stolarska Street. There, among others, the house of Mr. Morsztyn burnt down, along with an expensive library and a rare collection of numismatic items.
At 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when the worst fire was occupying the northern part of the Market Square on the west side and in connection with Stolarska Street it was threatening the nearest houses at the Church of the Virgin Mary standing, priest Złowodzki left the church with Sanctissimum in his hand and immediately surrounded by a mass of people. he stood on the corner of Sienna street and, falling on his knees, began to sing: We take refuge in Your protection, Lord! It was an indescribable sight. There the inhabitants breaking out from among the flames. what else could be saved; then the army is fully armed; here the people are beseeching the God of substitutes and begging mercy over the rest of the poor city!
The inhabitants of the city are accompanied by a resignation that is difficult to explain, perhaps with the immeasurable enormity of misfortune. It is necessary to confess that rescue is not organized anymore, but also infirm, or rather none. No water jets (as far as we know, there were only four), no carts, barrels, watering cans, no everything that belongs to the fire brigade)
We do not go into the reasons, we describe the fact. In a word, the fate of our city hangs from the direction of the town hall flag. Quietness and indescribable consternation.
In tomorrow’s issue we will try to complete this inaccurate picture written under the impression and at the moment of the drama taking place. For now, only a few remarks that we need to press against the pen.
We have heard that the local authorities are already devising measures to alleviate the fate of the unfortunate victims, if possible. For this purpose, many citizens were summoned to the deliberations. The government in this matter will have to the aid of every honest man, every inhabitant who came out of this terrible flood happily.
Here we want to give you one piece of advice. When, after the Hamburg fire, a large part of the inhabitants found themselves without an attic, wooden huts were built immediately where they could accommodate those who had not found shelter elsewhere (…)
PS. 9 o’clock in the morning. The wind is stronger and the market is blowing strongly. As long as the fire is not completely put out, there is a danger that the smoldering embers may ignite the fire. (…)11 a.m. At the moment, all efforts are aimed at the house of Mączyńska, opposite the guardhouse, in order to prevent the fire from spreading further along the eastern part of the market square. There is more energy and bounce in defense. A water-pipe in constant motion and several lines of people giving water. We saw soldiers on the neighboring roof, and now the entire company has been commanded to rescue.
The gendarmes were sent around the peasants to help us, we have already seen a dozen arriving. There is already free circulation on Stolarska, Szeroka and Franciszkańska Streets. It is still smoldering everywhere but the flame is nowhere.
We saw 5 people burned in the gruel shop next to the Church of St. Mary; the corpses of these unfortunate ones bear traces of the most horrible sufferings.
We now learn that the Sand Rock Castle was burnt down by yesterday’s fire. “
Source: dziennik “CZAS” Nr 163 Kraków 19 Lipca – Piątek. Rok 1850
“A guest in the house is a God in the house” – this Polish saying pretty much sums up what Polish hospitality is all about. I don’t know about you, but in my 10+ years in Poland, I have never been to any local dinner party that would disagree with that quote up there… If you have, I surely would love to hear your story! Of course, as we all know, the Polish people are not as warm (at first sight) as the Romanian people are, but if you become friends you will remain forever one. They don’t give up their hearts so easily, but they have open homes for friends & family alike.
Meet & Greet
If you have been invited to a dinner party by a Polish person, make sure you arrive there on time! Call if you are going to be late (even when you are stuck in traffic). It is the polite and right way to inform the family of your delay, in advance (not last minute!).
When you do arrive, make sure you don’t come there empty handed. Both in Poland, and in Romania, it is customary to bring something for the hosts. The most common gifts are chocolate/flowers for the missus and alcohol for the man of the house (vodka, or if a light summer party: beer).
As a welcoming sign, you can often encounter men shaking hands. For ladies, the right way to go is to kiss their cheek (3 times: left – right – left) or hand (more old fashioned, saw this less and less in the latest years). But make sure you don’t do that in the doorway! Wait at least until you are inside the house and the door is closed behind you.
Some people may be accustomed, especially when inside a new home, to expect a “tour of the house“. Well, let me make that clear: No showing the house unless there is a housewarming party.
Gifts (Alcohol)
They are not a must, but it is always cheap of you to come empty-handed to a party/gathering. As mentioned above, the common gifts are alcohol and sweets (or chips if there is a drinking party). Alcohol is always welcomed and it usually comes in the form of vodka or beer. Vodka is great every season and you can never go wrong with it – beer is mostly for the summertime.
If you come from abroad it is also nice if you bring a symbolic gift from your homeland – perhaps a local specialty of alcohol 😉
The meal/food/eating habits
To honor the host, it would be good to learn a bit of Polish: “Smacznego” = Bon appetit / Enjoy your meal; “Dziękuję” = thank you. Polish people love it when you try and speak their language as they all know how hard it is. They will greatly appreciate that and a few small words, carefully placed, will do wonders 😉
Usually, in traditional families, Sundays are customary family time. People go together to church, in the mornings, and then have lunch (or dinner) in the family. The dish of the day is usually “Rosol” – chicken soup with noodles, homemade + “Schabowy” – pork chop breaded with potatoes and “mizeria” – salad with onion, cucumber, tomatoes, and sour cream.
The proper way to have dinner with the family is to take a bite from each dish – at least to try – and compliment the host on her/his cooking skills.
Conversation topics
Conversation during the meal is a given, so be very careful about the topics: no religion/law/politics/communism / anti-semitism + Polish-Jewish relationship – keep things light and… talk about the weather :)))
You can always discuss books, movies, the life in Poland… but try to stay clear of any touchy subjects that may upset the host. Especially if they are older, they may be still rooted in certain patterns of thinking, so it is better not to start a fight in their own home. A safe topic is the late Pope John Paul the 2nd – as I have never (yet) met a Pole that did not like/love him.
So long, Farewell… Good Bye!
Remember to say “Thank you” or “Dziękuję” when leaving the table. It is good manners to thank the host for the lovely meal provided. But don’t immediately run away! There are cakes and drinks after the meal – usually – so do expect that and make room for a bite 😉
The Polish people do make great hosts and it is customary as well to extend your hospitality and ask for them to return the visit. So… better prepare yourself 😉
Yours sincerly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug, that went to plenty of Polish Dinners 😉
Today I just wanted to share with you a piece of history about Krakow.
Did You Know that on this very day, 764 years ago, on the 5th of June 1257, Krakow was established officially as a city and acquired the Magdeburg Laws? Did You Know that Krakow still holds the record for the longest time of serving as the capital city of Poland – it would perform the function 3 times in its history, loosely between 1040 and 1609.
However, Krakow was marked in history as an important town, and frequently visited trading center, as early as the 9th century! Archeologists date the oldest material evidence of human settlements excavated in the city to circa 200,000 BC. In the year 1038 Krakow became the capital of Poland.
Duke Bolesław V the Chaste proclaimed the establishment on the 5th of June 1257
The establishment of a new town under Magdeburg law, proclaimed on 5 June 1257 by Duke Bolesław V the Chaste (whose reign spanned 1243–1279), was a foundational event for Kraków/Cracow in the true sense of the word. Notwithstanding the primarily legal and planning-based character of the endeavor, the city’s foundation generated significant momentum for societal change. Within a relatively short space of time, Kraków, originally consisting of a ducal castle and a settlement at its foot, grew into a European metropolis, one of the contemporary continent‘s premier mercantile centers and the seat of a noteworthy political self-administration.
Krakow was not built in a day!
Like Rome, Kraków was not built in a day; preparations for the city’s establishment had begun many years before it became a reality. The plan for the city came into being at the court of Bolesław V’s father, Duke Leszek the White (d. 1227), and it continued under the auspices of Henry the Bearded (d. 1238) and of his son. These dukes, whose reign occurred in the turbulent period of the struggle for ducal ascendancy at Wawel Castle, perceived Kraków as possessing the capacity to secure their position throughout Poland. Isolated, yet unambiguous sources bear witness to the emergence between 1220 and 1241 of Kraków’s first, short-lived civic community, whose demise is associated with the political catastrophe that befell the Silesian Piast dynasty with the Mongol invasion of Poland in 1241.
Wawel Cathedral records from 1257
The annals kept by the Kraków chapter of what was known as the Wawel cathedral record that in 1257, ‘Cracoviensis civitas iuri Theutonico traditur et situs fori per advocatos et domorum et curiarum immutatur’ (The city of Kraków was placed under German law and the reeves altered the positions of squares, houses, and lordly residences). The chronicler, installed upon the Wawel Hill as the symbol representing the Kraków chapter’s seat, had clearly deemed these events worthy of recording for posterity. What he could not have known, and we know from our temporal vantage point of several centuries, is the extent of the changes, in terms of urban planning, demography, the economic and political sphere, and indeed of society, which were emerging in Kraków.
Check what words are characteristic of our beloved city of Krakow.
If you are not from Krakow or have not lived here for at least a few years, your chances are slim that you will understand them. Read/see for yourself!
Szaflik = «a round vessel, usually wooden, with one or two handles, formerly used on a farm»
Szpeje = «lumber, stuff, trinkets»
Cwibak = «double-baked sponge cake, layered with dried fruit »
Sagan = «kettle or large iron or copper pot»
Jarzyna = either an «edible part of a vegetable plant» or «dish made from these plants»
Borówka = blueberries… «a plant with winter-hardy leaves and berry red fruits; also: the fruit of this plant »
Na pole = outside… just like the people of Warsaw say “na dwór“
Strugaczka =sharpner… «colloquially: a tool for sharpening pencils and crayons; sharpener, sharpener, sharpener, fingerboard, zastrugaczka, sharpener, planer »
Flizy = «tiles for wall and floor covering»
Obwarzanek = «a round product made of dough which is parboiled before baking. NOT A PRETZEL! »
A while back I was writing an article on my former blog page about the fact that we should not use the wording “Polish Death Camps”. I still stand by this idea and I firmly believe that the people referring to concentration camps run by Nazis should refer to them as “German Death Camps in Poland”.
Warsaw VS Krakow – Whom to spare?
When the German Occupation hit Poland and the Nazis were searching for places to build their Death Camps they choose Poland, as Poland is the heart of Europe – DEAD CENTER on the map. Back when the occupation started in 1939, the borders of Poland were very different than they are now and the closest city to the border with Germany was actually Krakow, a couple of hours away.
When the Polish Government looked upon what could be spared and whatnot, they agreed that they should first allow the Nazi to take over Krakow, so the city and its inhabitants would be safe – not as much can be said about Warsaw, that put up a great fight and was torn to the ground approximately 90%, no stone being unturned.
Polish Army barracks turned into slaughtering houses…
Krakow manages to maintain its old-time beauty, though it also faced horrible horrors in its wake. When the Nazis build Auschwitz – the most well known Death Camp of the Holocaust – they chose Oswiecim. Oswiecim was a remote village, so they would do their horrible deeds without being watched. It was previously a Polish Army barracks but nowadays nobody mentions that anymore…
Nazi Germany wanted to destroy Poland
The purpose of the Nazis was to destroy Poland, enslave it’s people and take the land – make Germany bigger and stronger in the process. They did not plan the same as they did in France or Norway where they created governments that would collaborate with the German one.
By the end of World War II, 6 million Polish people have been murdered, including 3 million Jews (almost half of the Jews killed during the Holocaust). In February 2018, the president of Poland signed legislation making it a crime to suggest that Poland bore any responsibility for the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany. This has infuriated certain historians and the Israeli government.
The law has 2 parts:
1) outlaws the phrase “Polish Death Camps” – even scholars agree the term is very misleading, considering the fact that the camps were built and controlled by Nazi Germany;
2) it is a crime – punishable by a fine of up to 3 years in prison – to accuse “the Polish nation” of complicity in the Holocaust and other Nazi atrocities.
What do Israeli people think of the law?
Naftali Bennett, Israel’s education minister, criticized the law: “The blood of Polish Jews cries from the ground, and no law will silence it”.
On another hand, Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, formally recognized more than 6700 gentiles in Poland as “righteous among the nations” because they risked their lives to save the Jews – more so than ANY other country in Europe! The estimates suggest that up to 35000 Polish Jews may have been saved through their efforts. The Center made an official statement saying that the term “Polish Death Camps” was without a doubt a historical misinterpretation, but they cannot agree with the second part of the law, erasing all blame from Poland.
What do I believe?
I believe that the Polish state was not complicit to the horrors of the Holocaust, yet that many Polish people are to blame for the acts that they carried out. Each story has its light and dark side, it’s heroes and it’s foes. We do have righteous people who have saved many Jews, yet we also have Polish people that blew covers, picked on Jewish people out of the darkness of their heart, or simply by trying to protect their lives, family, or their assets. They chose themselves over others, but whom are we to judge – would we have done the same, given the situation? You can’t know for a fact, can’t you?!
#DidYouKnow that Poland was the only country where if you would have hidden a Jews and you would be found out, both the Jews, yourself, and your family would be immediately executed? Also, Poland has sustained the heaviest losses during the Second World War with up to 17% of its entire population vs. Russia – 14% and Germany – 10%. Not to mention Poland bring the only occupied country that had it’s government immediately liquidated, it’s army disbanded and schools and universities closed (their professors and “grey minds” being the first ones taken away and locked up/executed).
If you will blame the individuals, the Polish people that acted against the Jews, than why would you not blame the Jews that acted against the Jews? You would then be implicitly blaming the Jewish community for the Holocaust. I know that sounds horrible and absurd, but is it not what people are doing when they say Poland is to blame?
*** This article is the redone of the original article that can be found here, on my previous blog page***
Yours very much truly, The Twisted Red Ladybug That Loves Poland
On the 2nd of September, the news about the 13-year-old hit by a train in Libiąż (Małopolskie Voivodeship) hit the news. Not only did the girl cross the tracks in a forbidden place, but she was also deeply engaged on her smartphone.
Accidents will happen…
According to Sebastian Gleń, spokesman of the Małopolska police force, the accident took place on Monday. According to the findings of the police, the 13-year-old was walking along the path leading to the railroad tracks, and then – staring at her mobile phone – she wanted to cross the track in the forbidden place.
At that time, the train came. The engine driver – seeing the dangerous situation – tried to warn the girl with sound signals. The girl was hit by the side of the locomotive and then fell onto the railway embankment.
She was taken by the ambulance crew to the hospital. Fortunately, she was not seriously injured. The driver was sober, of course, and in my opinion he should not have any of the blame!
Worlds first mobile phone walking lane!
The unreasonable usage of smartphones leads to more tragedies. Not only in the Małopolska region, but rather in the whole world. Cities all over the globe are trying to fight the phenomenon of “Smartphone Zombies“ in diverse ways.
#DidYouKnow that in Chongqing, China, the government constructed a dedicated smartphone-sidewalk, separating the phone users and the non-phone users. In Hong Kong, they are called dai tau juk (the head-down tribe). The lane built in Chongqing was the world’s first mobile phone walking lane.
Also, Antwerp introduced (even in as early as Summer of 2015) “text walking lanes” for the pedestrians that use their mobile phones – texting while walking!
Smartphones – a growing threat!
The “Smartphone Zombies” pay attention first of all to what they see in front of them on the phone and it often happens that they go out into the street without being sure if they can do it. The drivers in such a situation, apart from trying to brake, can do little more… The young lady (13-year-old) states that the engine driver from the locomotive shouted her and used sound signals. However, the collision was not avoided.
“Put away your smartphone and live” – such an inscription appeared in front of the pedestrian crossing in Mińsk Mazowiecki. The same appeal has been written on many Warsaw streets for several years now.
For Bartosz Grzegolec, a tram driver from Szczecin and the author of the blog “Be careful tram” (PL: “Uwaga tramwaj”), the sight of pedestrians staring at the telephone is an everyday reality. The “zombie smartphone” is an intergenerational and international threat.“Every 3rd teenager often uses the phone on the way to school, and every 4th driver in Poland uses a mobile phone while driving to write SMS or check e-mail” – points out Maciej Dębski, president of the foundation “Dbam o Mój Z@asięg”.
Cities all over the world are fighting the Zombies!
“This plague is not only in Szczecin, but in other cities” – emphasizes Hanna Pieczyńska from the Szczecin Road and Public Transport Authority. And more and more cities around the world are trying to fight this phenomenon in various ways.
In Honolulu, for example, texting at a pedestrian crossing can be fined – up to $ 35. Japanese Yamato completely prohibits the use of smartphones during walks – not only on the road but also on the sidewalk. In South Korea, the traffic lights are placed there not on poles, but on the road.
Szczecin used a similar idea. The LED strip turns from green to red before the passage. “We already know that it works. The strips have saved someone’s life more than once”, convinces Pieczyńska. But as practice says, these are only ad hoc measures. They won’t help everyone.
“We adults very often forget that our children learn from us by imitation. It would be a pity for us to wake up only when we get a call from the hospital, that our child had an accident because he used a mobile phone” – points out Maciej Dębski.
How about you? Are you a “Smartphone Zombie”? Do you know one? Is the city you live in adapted to the walking corpses deeply into their social media items on their phones? Would love to hear your take on this topic!
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug
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