Rafał Wnuk discusses regional divisions in Polish historical memory

Rafał Wnuk, director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, has addressed the complexities and regional divisions regarding Polish historical memory of World War II. He noted that memory of the war is not uniform across Poland, highlighting that residents of Silesia and Pomerania maintain a particularly strong connection to the history of ethnic Poles who were forcibly conscripted into the Wehrmacht.

Wnuk explained that while some right-wing politicians view a universal historical narrative as a threat to Polish identity, maintaining credibility requires telling history in a broader dimension. He emphasized that Poland’s unique experience of facing two totalitarianisms allows the nation to offer a global perspective on the 20th century.

The historian also touched upon recent controversies surrounding museum exhibitions, such as the 'Nasi Chłopcy' (Our Boys) exhibit. He observed that the issue of forced conscription eventually united various political factions—including PiS, Confederates, liberals, and PSL members—in defense of the exhibition because it represented a deeply personal history for those specific regions.