The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-04-30
! COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

lHoIllleS nave IclclllleSSly pul SuCu ="
policy aiming to destroy the Polish
brain workers, both as individuals and
as a class. The physical and moral
prosecutions have been carried on with
systematic ruthlessness.
Thousands of people have been eX-
ecuted, thousands sent to prisons and
concentration camps. The closing of
universities, colleges, and high schools
doomed the Polish teachers and Scien-
lists to starvation. IntellectualS of the
incorporated areas have been driven
from their homes.
At the same time, the NaziS con-
stantly speak of the inferiority and
uselessness of the Polish intelligentsia.
ferior race and have no need of in
telectuals The blame for Poland'S
anti-German attitude is also placed on
the Polish intelligentsia which, accord
ing to them has been polluted by the
infiltration of Jewish influences.
The motives of the German policy
are obvious. The NaZis fully realize
that in Poland the intellectuals as a
class are more important and influen-
tial than the intellectrals of Western
European countries which are ecOnOm-
ically and socially more advanced. AS
in many countries where class divi-
sionS are less rigid and the entire So
cial structure is more fluid, the in
tellectuals in Poland form distinct
class, intensely conscious of it's social
and political significance, of its his
toric and cultural mission.
TO destroy the intelligentsia there
fore means to destroy historically
vital class, a class which embodies the
political consciousness of the nation
which supplies it with leadership in
many fields.
The position of Polish writer's is
especially tragic The German authori-
ties have made numerous advances to
them through the official publications.
Some time ago the 'Kurier CZesto-
chowski," a paper published in Polish
by the Nazis, invited the Polish writ
erS to cooperate with the German New
Order in Poland. The paper expressed
| astonishment that Polish writer's re.
fused to contribute to the building of
Il new cultural life. Why are they
silent, asked the ''Kurier," do they pre-
rather than fulfill their duty as writ
ers and educators?
X X X
These questions have significant i'm
plications. Even such ii regime as that
of the NaZiS in Poland cannot exist
| in Il social vacuum. 1t must have some
| support among the population. TO in
duce the Polish writers to become
| tools of German propaganda, to humble
| them, to break their ties with the
| people-all that would serve the Nazi
| aims.
The reply, however, remains mega
tive. The Polish writer's refuse to have
any part in the creation of a New
Order which cruSheS and destroys
their nation. They prefer to remain
silent.
But the silence of Polish writer's i:
the best witness of the strength of the
nations spiritual resistance Although
the intellectualS have been made the
object of especially violent attack, o1
| constant persecution, although the
| NaZiS have tried to break them doWl
have not surrendered. They firmly
stand with the great army of coura
geous fighters for freedom. Many o
them actively participate in the under
ground movement, organizing Secre
schools, publishing papers, spreading
the ideas of resistance and Struggl
throughout the country.