NPR

Poland's New World War II Museum Just Opened, But Maybe Not For Long

The museum opened March 23 in Gdansk, where the war began. "This is the museum of a war, but not a military museum," says historian Pawel Machcewicz. The government wants something different.
The Museum of the Second World War opened last month amid uncertainty about its future.

There's a saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Apparently, so is history.

In the case of Poland's new Museum of the Second World War, the beholder is the nationalist government. Run by the populist Law and Justice Party, it has declared the museum an expensive mess that waters down Polish history and should be closed — or at a minimum, revamped. The museum opened March 23 in the northern port city of Gdansk, where World War II began when Germany invaded the city in 1939.

"This is the museum of a war, but this is not

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min read
Iran Hails Attack On Israel As A 'Victory'; Photos Of Sudan, 1 Year Into A Brutal War
Iran says its attack against Israel was a success, despite the fact that 99% of the drones were intercepted. A Sudanese photographer documents how war has upended life in his country.
NPR2 min readInternational Relations
Photos: A Year Of War In Sudan
A year of war has torn through Sudan, causing devastation and more than 8 million people to be displaced.
NPR4 min read
Finally! Tough New Safety Rules On Silica Dust Are Out To Protect Miners' Lungs
Addressing a problem first identified 50 years ago, federal regulators say stricter new rules to limit miners' exposure to silica dust are expected to finally go on the books on Tuesday.

Related Books & Audiobooks