Between Guilt, Compassion and Pragmatism: Dutch Reactions to March ‘68 in Poland
Between Guilt, Compassion and Pragmatism: Dutch Reactions to March ‘68 in Poland

Summary/Abstract: This article explores diplomatic and social tensions manifested in the late 1960s between Poland and the Netherlands. It tries to discover specific dynamic of European Holocaust memory and antisemitism in the aftermath of the war in the Middle East in 1967. On the one hand it analyses Dutch supportive attitudes towards Israel and on the other hand it looks at various critical - outspoken and subtle - reactions in the Netherlands to Poland's anti-Zionist and antisemitic campaign unleashed in 1967/1968. By looking at Dutch public discussions, media reactions and political decisions which followed March events in Poland, this article gives insights into post-war antisemitism in Europe and demonstrates different levels of social and political (dis)approval of antisemitism in Poland and in the Netherlands.

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