Genocide studies a zagłada Polaków. Refleksje o kierunku i istocie historycznoprawnych badań nad zbrodniami przeciwko narodowi polskiemu (1939–1945)
Genocide Studies and the Gnocide of Poles. Reflections on the Direction and Nature of Historical and Legal Research on Crimes Against the Polish Nation (1939–1945)

Summary/Abstract: The crimes committed against Poles during World War II have attracted the interest of many Polish historians who have published case studies of individual atrocities. One relatively under-researched aspect of this issue, however, is the deliberate and premeditated nature of those atrocities and the systematic implementation of the criminal policies against the Polish nation. As a result, such research fails to provide a full picture of those crimes. The work of historians to establish the actual state of events can serve as a starting point for legal historians, who can then deal with the theoretical task of legally classifying the crime under international law. This can serve the argument that certain actions can be recognised as acts of genocide or crimes against humanity. The history of law thus applied an added perspective that can complement the work being done by historians in other fields to ensure a better understanding of past crimes and atrocities. As a starting point for this kind of coordination between the work of researchers in different areas, there is a need to assess the current state of research involving the courtrulings, the requisite expert tests and studies, to develop a shared methodology and a shared vocabulary. When coupled with the rejection of non-academic assumptions (such as the one that no crimes can legitimately be compared to the Holocaust), such efforts should facilitate the research into crimes against the Polish nation from the perspective of Genocide Studies.

• Details
• Contents