Polish Literature - 1945 To 1956

1945 To 1956

Much of Polish literature written during the Occupation of Poland appeared in print only after the conclussion of World War II including books by Nałkowska, Rudnicki, Borowski and others. The Soviet takeover of the country did not discourage Émigrés and exiles from returning, especially before the advent of Stalinism. Indeed, many writers attempted to recreate the Polish literary scene often with a touch of nostalgia for the prewar reality, including Jerzy Andrzejewski, author of Ashes and Diamonds, describing the political and moral dilemmas associated with the Anti-communist resistance in Poland. His novel was adapted into film a decade later by Wajda. The new emerging prose writers such as Stanisław Dygat and Stefan Kisielewski approached the catastropy of war from their own perspective. Kazimierz Wyka coined a term "borderline novel" for documentary fiction.

The situation began to worsen dramatically around 1949–1950 with the introduction of the Stalinist doctrine by minister Sokorski on behalf of the increasingly violent Communist regime engaged in gross violations of human rights. In the years 1944–1956 around 300,000 Polish citizens were arrested, of whom many thousands were sentenced to long-term imprisonment. There were 6,000 death sentences pronounced against political prisoners, the majority of them carried out "in the majesty of the law". Fearing for their proper jobs, many writers associated with the Borejsza's publishing empire embraced the Sovietization of Polish culture. In 1953 the ZLP Union run by Kruczkowski with a slew of prominent signatories declared full support to persecution of religious leaders by the Ministry of Public Security. Death sentences were not enforced although Father Fudali died in unexplained circumstances, like 37 other priest and 54 friars before 1953 already. Likewise, writer Kazimierz Moczarski from AK, tortured in jail by Romkowski's subordinates for several years and sentenced to death, was pardoned and released only at the end of this period.