#discover Łódź

[gryficowa]

I love the argument of idiots "Poland is the safest", yes, only for the privileged, nationalists can beat you up for being gay or not white, so shove this statement up your ass, I don't feel safe in a country where minorities are attacked and people border guards are beaten by border guards

I don't give a damn about European statistics because they think about the safety of the majority, not the minority, I won't feel safe when others are hurt

It's like saying that Israel is a safe country, even though it bombs children and other Jews, it doesn't have any fucking connection

Do you know why according to statistics it is safe? Because they don't fucking take into account the indigenous inhabitants of this country, therefore, nationalists on independence marches are not marked as a danger, and they are as dangerous as hooligans and idiots

These people pose the biggest threat here, and then they say bullshit that they don't want immigrants because they are supposedly a "threat" (Yes, because these immigrants want to see your disgusting face)

This country is full of racism, xenophobia, queerphobia, etc… so where the fuck is it safe?

The only place is Kashubia, but Polish nationalists are slowly coming here, and they pose a threat to Muslims, LGBT+ people, Jews, etc.

Kashubia is one of the few remnants of the real Poland, i.e. diversity (Because larger cities are pathological, apart from Gdańsk, although this city is Tokyo 2.0, to be honest… Yes, it's about pace), because that's what Poland was, diverse, unfortunately, nationalists and nationalists want a shell of this country, without minorities, etc.

Unfortunately, cities like Warsaw or Łódź are not very safe for minorities, because there are most of such crazy people, so if you want to live in Poland (Which I doubt, because it is a place full of not very intelligent people who consider themselves intelligent, and the roads are more full of holes from Spongebob) then I would advise you to avoid larger cities, because they are full of degenerates who will attack you for any piece of shit

So yes, it's a lie that Poland is safe, there are safer areas, but there is still a chance of a guy with a Polish flag coming after you

I'm not afraid of immigrants, I'm afraid of Poles…

Besides, the very fact that Poles don't talk about Palestine, and when you think you find such people, suddenly they turn out to be conservatives, and their main reason for hating Israel is not that it murders Palestinians, but that they are Jews, well and they support Braun's behavior (the guy who used a fire extinguisher to put out the Hanukkah candles)

Leftism is almost dead here too, so if you're a leftist, they treat you like shit, especially when you point out the language they use (Racist terms, etc…) or call you "Julka from Twitter" (It's an insult for context)

How do you support LGBT+ rights and respond to racism? You unglued piece of trash!

And I had a Twitter account for a year, because Twitter suspended it, so I wasn't there for a long time

The plus is that I gradually became a leftist, the minus is that I discovered how many shitty people live in this country

Laughing at people on the Polish-Belarusian border, queerphobia and all that other shit, seriously, Poles are bastards...

And now in Polish shorts on YouTube I see xneophobia directed at Ukrainians, or diarrhea when someone talks about the problems in this country and they shit themselves and start insulting that person

Or the classic "Get the fuck out of this country if you don't like it", yes, that was written to me too, I'm Kashubian…

I live in my own land and they say I should get the fuck out because I criticize their behavior and the way the country treats minorities -_-

If you are a minority in this country, you have no right to talk about what is wrong in Poland, because it is too inconvenient for a right-wing country

So seriously, don't give a damn about the argument that Poland is safe

[blueiscoool]

Massive Trove of Pre-war Jewish Artifacts Discovered in Poland

Construction workers renovating an old tenement house in Lodz, Poland, unearthed a surprising find: an untouched cache of hundreds of Jewish artifacts believed to have been hidden in advance of the Nazi occupation of the city.

The trove — which included menorahs, kiddush and ritual washing cups and items from everyday life, all wrapped carefully in newspaper — was buried next to a building just beyond the ghetto in which Lodz’s Jews were imprisoned during the Holocaust. Only about 10,000 Lodz Jews survived until the end of the war, out of a prewar population of about 230,000.

“A find like this comes along once in a decade,” Adam Pustelnik, the vice mayor of Lodz, said in a tweet.

“The discovery is remarkable, especially the quantity. These are extremely valuable, historic items that testify to the history of the inhabitants of this building,” said Agnieszka Kowalewska-Wójcik, director of the Board of Municipal Investments in Łódź, according to Polish media.  She said the artifacts are being transferred to the city’s archaeological museum, adding, “I hope a special, generally accessible exhibition will be prepared.”

Before World War II, Lodz, one of Poland’s major industrial centers, was one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe, numbering over 230,000 or 31% of the city. Almost all of them were killed by the Nazis during their occupation of the city from 1939 to 1945.

“For us archaeologists, such unusual finds are a challenge, but also a great joy. I don’t remember the last time such treasures were unearthed in Łódź.”  said Bartłomiej Gwóźdź, a local archaeologist. “At the moment, each item is carefully cleaned so that nothing is damaged, broken or destroyed.”

Two of the discovered menorahs were lit during Hanukkah celebrations this year by Lodz’s Jewish community, whose offices happen to be on the other side of the block from the building on Północna street, where the trove was discovered.

The trove is not the first notable Jewish relic to be unearthed in Lodz. In 2018, workers excavating a building that was inside the Jewish ghetto uncovered what researchers concluded was a bloody prayer shawl that had been left behind during a 1940 pogrom, when the Nazis attacked Jews who had gathered to pray on Yom Kippur.

By David I. Klein.

[mariacallous]

Construction workers renovating an old tenement house in Lodz, Poland, unearthed a surprising find: an untouched cache of hundreds of Jewish artifacts believed to have been hidden in advance of the Nazi occupation of the city.

The trove — which included menorahs, kiddush and ritual washing cups and items from everyday life, all wrapped carefully in newspaper — was buried next to a building just beyond the ghetto in which Lodz’s Jews were imprisoned during the Holocaust. Only about 10,000 Lodz Jews survived until the end of the war, out of a prewar population of about 230,000. 

“A find like this comes along once in a decade,” Adam Pustelnik, the vice mayor of Lodz, said in a tweet. 

“The discovery is remarkable, especially the quantity. These are extremely valuable, historic items that testify to the history of the inhabitants of this building,” said Agnieszka Kowalewska-Wójcik, director of the Board of Municipal Investments in Łódź, according to Polish media.  She said the artifacts are being transferred to the city’s archaeological museum, adding, “I hope a special, generally accessible exhibition will be prepared.”

Before World War II, Lodz, one of Poland’s major industrial centers, was one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe, numbering over 230,000 or 31% of the city. Almost all of them were killed by the Nazis during their occupation of the city from 1939 to 1945. 

“For us archaeologists, such unusual finds are a challenge, but also a great joy. I don’t remember the last time such treasures were unearthed in Łódź.”  said Bartłomiej Gwóźdź, a local archaeologist. “At the moment, each item is carefully cleaned so that nothing is damaged, broken or destroyed.”

Two of the discovered menorahs were lit during Hanukkah celebrations this year by Lodz’s Jewish community, whose offices happen to be on the other side of the block from the building on Północna street, where the trove was discovered.

The trove is not the first notable Jewish relic to be unearthed in Lodz. In 2018, workers excavating a building that was inside the Jewish ghetto uncovered what researchers concluded was a bloody prayer shawl that had been left behind during a 1940 pogrom, when the Nazis attacked Jews who had gathered to pray on Yom Kippur.

[entomoblog]

Fungus gnat entombed in a 40-million-year-old piece of amber is a rare gem – University of Copenhagen

See on Scoop.it - EntomoNews

A Danish amber collector’s find upon a wild North Sea shore in the 1960’s has proved to be of great and surprising significance. After having thoroughly examining the roughly 40-million-year-old piece of amber, University of Copenhagen researchers have discovered it to contain the first fossil of a predatory fungus gnat belonging to a rare genus. The research contributes new knowledge about the distribution of the gnat species and about biodiversity across space and time. 

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NDÉ

Traduction

  Ce premier fossile d'une espèce rare et jamais étudiée de moucheron, Robsonomyia henningseni, a été découvert dans un morceau d'ambre de la Baltique le long de la côte danoise de la mer du Nord dans les années 1960.

  Pendant des décennies, le fossile a été rangé dans la collection d'ambre du musée, qui compte 70 000 pièces. Récemment, il a été sorti des tiroirs et soumis à un examen approfondi par une équipe d'entomologistes polonais. Les spécialistes des insectes ont pu identifier le moucheron comme une espèce éteinte d'un genre rare de moucherons prédateurs.

  Aujourd'hui, les espèces vivantes de ce genre ne se trouvent qu'à Hokkaido, au Japon, et en Californie.

« C'est la première fois que l'on trouve un fossile de moucheron de ce genre, dont on pensait qu'il ne vivait qu'au Japon et en Amérique du Nord. Cette découverte démontre que ce type de moucheron était également répandu en Europe lors des climats passés et nous apporte de nouvelles connaissances sur la répartition du moucheron sur Terre », explique Alicja Pełczyńska, doctorante à l'université de Łódź et de Copenhague et première autrice de l'étude, qui a réalisé la description du moucheron.

  La chercheuse pense que l'ancien moucheron est une sorte de « chaînon manquant » qui relie ses deux rares parents encore vivants au Japon et aux États-Unis. La distance terrestre qui sépare les espèces vivantes a intrigué les scientifiques, mais le nouveau fossile démontre que le chemin de l'espèce a pu traverser le continent européen.

  « Jusqu'à présent, la répartition de ce genre de moucheron était étrange, avec des milliers de kilomètres entre les espèces. Il est donc logique de l'avoir trouvé en Europe, qui se trouve à peu près à mi-chemin entre le Japon et l'Amérique du Nord », explique Alicja Pełczyńska.

  Traduit avec DeepL.com (version gratuite)

  Eocene amber provides the first fossil record and bridges distributional gap in the rare genus Robsonomyia (Diptera: Keroplatidae) | Scientific Reports, 22.04.2024 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-59448-y#auth-Alicja-Pe_czy_ska-Aff1

[minervainthedark]

Designed by Dominik Żyża(@dominik_zyza) Category : Fashion designer Location : Łódź, Poland  School : ASP Łódź(@asp_lodz) Model: @alexhayel  Website https://tfhconcept.com/collections/dominik-zyza We are on a mission to discover up-and-coming global creative talent and create a platform to support them. Tag us for a chance to be featured. (at Łódź, Poland) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co-8f0XyyzS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[kopytkowa]

08.01.2022

Willa Szai Światłowskiego, Łódź, Poland

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Gray, cloudy day in Łódź. After some medical tests I wanted to draw something. I park my car next to this building (which is in kind of architecture Museum) so I had great view and occasion to draw in warm place. Unfortunately I discovered that drawing in a car is not my favorite XD it was soo uncomfortable :/. But Hey, it's my first sketch this year, yay! :D

[girlactionfigure]

Today, we hope you will join us in wishing a truly remarkable and inspirational man a very happy 91st birthday. Sir Ben Heflgott was born in Piotrków Trybunalski, Łódź, Poland. He was 10 years old when Germany invaded the country in 1939. After the Nazi invasion, the family were forced into a crowded ghetto.

Ben lost his mother Sara and sister Luisa. They were led away and murdered in the surrounding woods. He also witnessed the deportation of family members to death camps and in 1944 he was sent to Buchenwald.

By the time Ben was liberated in 1945, he and his sister Mala were the family’s sole survivors. He discovered this after returning to his home town, via Prague.

As you might have read yesterday, in 1945 the British government decided to allow 1,000 child survivors to come and settle in the UK. Ben was one of the 732 children who travelled to Britain in 1945 as part of a group of teenage boys and girls who became known as ‘The Boys’.

He arrived in Carlisle on 14 Aug 1945 with 300 other teenagers, many of whom had been liberated together with him. They stayed in Windermere until Dec 1945. When they arrived at the hostel in Windermere, they received fresh clothing and each of them was allocated a tiny room.

In the room was a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a chair and a bed. Ben says: "It was the first time in three years that I slept under clean sheets and had the luxury of cleaning my teeth with a toothbrush. It was sheer bliss!  We soon settled down and learned English, Maths and History. We played football and volleyball, went swimming in Lake Windermere and on outings amidst the magnificent scenery of the Lake District."

Amazingly, after the war Ben became a weightlifter and captain of the British Olympic Weighlifting Team in 1956 and 1960. He is the only Holocaust survivor to have competed in 2 Olympics! Before that he competed in the 1950 Maccabiah Games where he won gold.

Ben is a spokesperson for survivors and in 1963 established the ’45 Aid Society, and has spoken for the Trust, giving his incredible testimony to students and adults.

Sir Ben, may today be full of joy and laughter. From us all, happy birthday.  Ad  120You can read more about Sir Ben in his own words, Here

(H/T and huge thanks to Holocaust Educational Trust (UK))

Sussex Friends Of Israel

[greatworldwar2]

• 1st SS Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler

The 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", short LSSAH, began as Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard, responsible for guarding the Führer's person, offices, and residences. Initially the size of a regiment, the LSSAH eventually grew into an elite division-sized unit during World War II.

In the early days of the Nazi Party (NSDAP), the leadership realized that a bodyguard unit composed of reliable men was needed. Adolf Hitler in early 1923, ordered the formation of a small separate bodyguard dedicated to his service rather than "a suspect mass", such as the the Sturmabteilung (SA) under Ernst Röhm. Originally the unit was composed of only eight men, commanded by Julius Schreck and Joseph Berchtold. It was designated the Stabswache (staff guard). The Stabswache were issued unique badges, but at this point was still under SA control. In May 1923, the unit was renamed Stoßtrupp (Shock Troop)–Hitler. The unit numbered no more than 20 members at that time. On November 9th, 1923, the Stoßtrupp, along with the SA and several other Nazi paramilitary units, took part in the abortive Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. In the aftermath, Hitler was imprisoned and his party and all associated formations, including the Stoßtrupp, were disbanded. Later in 1925, Hitler ordered the formation of a new bodyguard unit, the Schutzkommando (protection command). The unit was renamed the Sturmstaffel (assault squadron) and in November was renamed the Schutzstaffel, abbreviated to SS. By 1933 the SS had grown from a small bodyguard unit to a formation of over 50,000 men. The decision was made to form a new bodyguard unit, again called the Stabswache, which was mostly made up of men from the 1st SS-Standarte. By 1933 this unit was placed under the command of Sepp Dietrich, who selected 117 men to form the SS-Stabswache Berlin on March 17th, 1933. The unit replaced the army guards at the Reich Chancellery.

Out of this initial group, three eventually became divisional commanders, at least eight would become regimental commanders, fifteen became battalion commanders, and over thirty became company commanders in the Waffen-SS. Later in 1933, two further training units were formed: SS-Sonderkommando Zossen on 10 May, and a second unit, designated SS-Sonderkommando Jüterbog in July. These were the only SS units to receive military training at that time. Most of the training staff came from the ranks of the army. On September 3rd, 1933 the two Sonderkommando merged into the SS-Sonderkommando Berlin under Dietrich's command. Most of their duties involved providing outer security for Hitler at his residences, public appearances and guard duty at the Reich Chancellery. In November 1933, on the 10th anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch, the Sonderkommando took part in the rally and memorial service for the NSDAP members who had been killed during the putsch. During the ceremony, the members of the Sonderkommando swore personal allegiance to Hitler. At the conclusion the unit received the new title, "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" (LAH). The term Leibstandarte was derived partly from Leibgarde, a somewhat archaic German translation of "Guard of Corps" or personal bodyguard of a military leader. On April 13th, 1934, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler ordered the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (LAH) to be renamed "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH). Himmler inserted the SS initials into the name to make it clear that the unit was independent from the army. Although nominally under Himmler, Dietrich was the real commander and handled day-to-day administration. Hitler ordered all SA leaders to attend a meeting at the Hanselbauer Hotel in Bad Wiessee, near Munich. Hitler along with Sepp Dietrich and a unit from the LSSAH travelled to Bad Wiessee to personally oversee Röhm's arrest on June 30th. Later at around 17:00 hours, Dietrich received orders from Hitler for the LSSAH to form an "execution squad" and go to Stadelheim prison where certain SA leaders were being held. There in the prison courtyard, the LSSAH firing squad shot five SA generals and an SA colonel. This action succeeded in effectively decapitating the SA and removing Röhm's threat to Hitler's leadership. In recognition of their actions, both the LSSAH and the Landespolizeigruppe General Göring were expanded to regimental size and motorized. In addition, the SS became an independent organization, no longer part of the SA.

The LSSAH provided the honor guard at many of the Nuremberg Rallies, and in 1935 took part in the reoccupation of the Saarland. On June 6th, 1935, the LSSAH officially adopted a field-grey uniform to identify itself more with the army, which wore a similar uniform. The LSSAH was later in the vanguard of the march into Austria as part of the Anschluss, and in 1938 the unit took part in the occupation of the Sudetenland. By 1939, the LSSAH was a full infantry regiment with three infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, and anti-tank, reconnaissance and engineer sub-units. Soon after its involvement in the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia, the LSSAH was redesignated "Infanterie-Regiment Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (mot.)". When Hitler ordered the formation of an SS division in mid-1939, the Leibstandarte was designated to form its own unit. The Polish crisis of August 1939 put these plans on hold, and the LSSAH was ordered to join XIII. Armeekorps, a part of Army Group South, which was preparing for the attack on Poland. The Leibstandarte division's symbol was a skeleton key, in honor of its first commander, Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (Dietrich is German for skeleton key or lock pick); it was retained and modified to later serve as the symbol for I SS Panzer Corps. During the initial stages of the invasion of Poland, the LSSAH was attached to the 17.Infanterie-Division and tasked with providing flank protection for the southern pincer. The regiment was involved in several battles against Polish cavalry brigades attempting to hit the flanks of the German advance. At Pabianice, a town near Łódź, the LSSAH fought elements of the Polish 28th Infantry Division and the Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade in close combat. Throughout the campaign, the unit was notorious for burning villages. In addition, members of the LSSAH committed atrocities in numerous Polish towns, including the murder of 50 Jews in Błonie and the massacre of 200 civilians, including children, who were machine gunned in Złoczew. After the success at Pabianice, the LSSAH was sent to the area near Warsaw and attached to the 4.Panzer-Division under then Generalmajor (brigadier general) Georg-Hans Reinhardt. The unit saw action preventing encircled Polish units from escaping, and repelling several attempts by other Polish troops to break through. In spite of the swift military victory over Poland, the regular army had reservations about the performance of the LSSAH due to their higher casualty rate than the army units.

In early 1940 the LSSAH was expanded into a full independent motorized infantry regiment and a Sturmgeschütz (Assault Gun) battery was added to their establishment. The regiment was shifted to the Dutch border for the launch of Fall Gelb. It was to form the vanguard of the ground advance into the Netherlands, tasked with capturing a vital bridge over the IJssel, attacking the main line of defense at the Grebbeberg (the Grebbeline), and linking up with the Fallschirmjäger of Generaloberst Kurt Student's airborne forces, the 7.Flieger-Division. On May 10th, 1940 the LSSAH crossed the Dutch border, covered over 75 kilometres (47 mi), and secured a crossing over the IJssel near Zutphen after discovering that their target bridge had been destroyed. Over the next four days, the LSSAH covered over 215 kilometres (134 mi), and upon entering Rotterdam, several of its soldiers accidentally shot at and seriously wounded General Student. After the surrender of Rotterdam, the LSSAH left for the Hague, which they reached on May 15th, after capturing 3,500 Dutch soldiers as prisoners of war. After the surrender of the Netherlands on May 15th, the regiment was then moved south to France. After the British counterattack at Arras, the LSSAH, along with the SS-Verfügungs-Division, were moved to hold the perimeter around Dunkirk and reduce the size of the pocket containing the encircled British Expeditionary Force and French forces. The LSSAH took up a position 15 miles south west of Dunkirk along the line of the Aa Canal, facing the Allied defensive line near Watten. However, on the following day of May 25th, in defiance of Hitler's orders, Dietrich ordered his 3rd battalion to cross the canal and take the Wattenberg Heights beyond, where British artillery observers were putting the regiment at risk. They assaulted the heights and drove the observers off. Instead of being censured for his act of defiance, Dietrich was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On May 26th the German advance resumed. By the 28th the LSSAH had taken the village of Wormhout, only ten miles from Dunkirk. After their surrender, soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, along with some other units (including French soldiers) were taken to a barn in La Plaine au Bois near Wormhout and Esquelbecq. It was there that troops of the LSSAH 2nd battalion, under the command of SS-Hauptsturmführer Wilhelm Mohnke committed the Wormhoudt massacre, where 80 British and French prisoners of war were killed. After the conclusion of the Western campaign on June 22nd, 1940, the LSSAH spent six months in Metz (Moselle). It was expanded to brigade size (6,500 men). A 'Flak battalion' and a StuG Batterie were among the units added to the LSSAH. A new flag was presented by Heinrich Himmler in September 1940.

During the later months of 1940, the regiment trained in amphibious assaults on the Moselle River in preparation for Operation Seelöwe, the invasion of England. After the Luftwaffe's failure in the Battle of Britain and the cancellation of the planned invasion, the LSSAH was shifted to Bulgaria in February 1941 in preparation for Operation Marita, part of the planned invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia. The operation was launched on April 6th, 1941 by aerial bombings of central-southern Yugoslavia, specially over Belgrade causing enormous destructions and thousands of victims and woundeds. After the LSSAH entered on April 12th into the Yugoslavian capital, then to follow the route of the 9.Panzer-Division. The LSSAH crossed the border near Bitola and was soon deep in Greek territory. The LSSAH captured Vevi on April 10th. LSSAH was tasked with clearing resistance from the Kleisoura Pass south-west of Vevi and driving through to the Kastoria area to cut off retreating Greek and British Commonwealth forces. The brigade participated in the clearing the Klidi Pass just south of Vevi, which was defended by a "scratch force" of Greek, Australian, British and New Zealand troops. With the fall of the two passes the main line of resistance of the Greek Epirus army was broken, and the campaign became a battle to prevent the escape of the enemy. On April 20th, following a pitched battle in the 5,000-foot-high (1,500 m) Metsovon Pass in the Pindus Mountains, the commander of the Greek Epirus army surrendered the entire force to Dietrich. By April 30th, the last British Commonwealth troops had either been captured or escaped. The LSSAH occupied a position of honor in the victory parade through Athens. After Operation Marita, the LSSAH was ordered north to join the forces of Army Group South massing for the launch of Operation Barbarossa.

Following LSSAH's outstanding performance during Marita, Himmler ordered that it should be upgraded to divisional status. The regiment, already the size of a reinforced brigade, was to be given motorized transport and redesignated "SS-Division (mot.) Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler". It was moved to Czechoslovakia in mid May for reorganization until being ordered to assemble in Poland for Operation Barbarossa, as part of Gerd von Rundstedt's, Army Group South. There was not enough time to deliver all its equipment and refit it to full divisional status before the launch of the invasion of the Soviet Union, so the new "division" remained the size of a reinforced brigade, even though its expansion and development was of concern. Through July it was attached to III Panzer Corps before finishing August as part of XLVIII Panzer Corps. During this time, the LSSAH was involved in the Battle of Uman and the subsequent capture of Kiev. In early September, the division was shifted to LIV Army Corps, as part of the 11th Army, during the advance east after the fall of Kiev. Hoping to capitalize on the collapse of the Red Army defense on the Dnepr River the reconnaissance battalion of LSSAH was tasked with making a speedy advance to capture the strategically vital choke point of the Perekop Isthmus but were rebuffed by entrenched defenders at the town of Perekop. In October, the LSSAH was transferred back north to help solidify the Axis line against fresh Soviet attacks against the Romanian 3rd Army and later took part in the heavy fighting for the city of Rostov-on-Don, which was captured in late November; there, the LSSAH took over 10,000 Red Army prisoners. However by the end of the year, the German advance faltered as Soviet resistance grew stronger. Under pressure from heavy Soviet counterattacks during the winter, the LSSAH and Army Group South retreated from Rostov to defensive lines on the river Mius.[47] After the spring rasputitsa (seasonal mud) had cleared, the division joined in Fall Blau, participating in the fighting to retake Rostov-on-Don, which fell in late July 1942. Severely understrength, the LSSAH was transferred to the Normandy region of occupied France to join the newly formed SS Panzer Corps and to be reformed as a Panzergrenadier division. The LSSAH spent the remainder of 1942 refitting as a panzergrenadier division.

This meant that the SS Panzergrenadier divisions were full-strength Panzer divisions in all but name. The division also received nine Tiger 1 tanks, and these were formed into the 13th (schwere) Company/1st SS Panzer Regiment. The collapse of the front around Stalingrad and the encirclement of the German Sixth Army created a threat to General Feldmarschall Erich von Manstein's Army Group Don. Manstein requested reinforcements to halt the Soviet attack near Kharkov. The SS Panzer Corps was then ordered east to join Manstein's forces. Arriving at the front in late January 1943, the LSSAH was engaged in fighting in and around Kharkov as a part of Hausser's SS Panzer Corps. In March 1943 the division participated in the recapture of Kharkov. On March 12th, 1943, the LSSAH made progress into the city's center by breaking through the Soviet defenses in the northern suburbs. By the end of the day, the division had reached a position just two blocks north of Dzerzhinsky Square. Despite the declaration that the city had fallen, fighting continued on the 15th and 16th March, as German units cleared the remnants of resistance in the tractor works factory complex, in the southern outskirts of the city. While in Kharkov, troops of the LSSAH engaged in the murder of wounded Soviet soldiers that were located in the city's military hospital; several hundred were killed. Additionally, captured Soviet officers and commissars were routinely executed. The division was pulled back to rest and refit. Division commander Sepp Dietrich was promoted to form a new Corps, the 1st SS Panzer Corps Leibstandarte, and the LSSAH was to supply all the senior officers for the new headquarters. At the same time a new SS division would be formed from members of the Hitler Youth and the LSSAH would supply all of the regimental, battalion and most of the company commanders. Elements of LSSAH took part in Fabrikaktion "factory action" a/k/a/ Großaktion Juden "Major Action (on) Jews", an operation to capture remaining German Jews that worked in the arms industry. Men of the LSSAH helped the Gestapo round up Jews in Berlin; people were taken from their jobs and herded in to cattle wagons on February 27th,1943. Most of the captured perished either in Auschwitz or other camps in the East. The division, re-equipped with vehicles, arrived on the Po River Plain on August 8th, 1943. The LSSAH was given the task of guarding several vital road and rail junctions in the area of Trento-Verona. After several weeks, the division was moved to the Parma-Reggio area. During this period, the Leibstandarte was involved in several skirmishes with partisans. With Italy having announced an armistice with the Allies of September 8th, 1943, the division was ordered to begin disarming nearby Italian units. This went smoothly, with the exception of brief, bloody fights with Italian troops stationed in Parma, Cremona and Piacenza on September 9th. While on rear security duties in Italy, LSSAH men murdered 49 Jewish refugees near Lake Maggiore, in the Lake Maggiore massacres, who had fled there after the German takeover.

The LSSAH was sent to the Istria Peninsula and was engaged in several anti-partisan operations as part of Nazi security warfare. During its period in Italy, the LSSAH was reformed as a full panzer division, and redesignated 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. In early November, the division was ordered back to the Eastern Front. The division was assigned to XLVIII Panzer Corps, a part of 4th Panzer Army, which was struggling to hold the line near Zhitomir. The division was transferred to the Cherkassy area at the end of January, where it was assigned to the III Panzer Corps, part of 1st Panzer Army. As part of the corps, the division took part in the relief attempt of German forces of Army Group South encircled in the Korsun Pocket in January–February 1944. The majority of the LSSAH, which amounted to 41 officers and 1,188 men, were withdrawn to Belgium for rest and refit, however a Kampfgruppe was left behind. On March 25th, the 1st Panzer Army was encircled in the Kamenets Podolsky pocket. The battle group took part in the fighting to escape the encirclement, forming a part of the spearhead which linked up with the II SS Panzer Corps near Buczacz on April 6th. The LSSAH Division was reformed in Belgium and was at full strength by April 1944. The division was transferred again as part of the I SS Panzer Corps which at this time consisted of the 101 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion, SS Division Hitlerjugend, SS Division Götz von Berlichingen and the Panzer Lehr Division. The LSSAH had been positioned north of the River Seine to counter any possible landing in the area of the Pas de Calais so the first units did not arrive in Normandy until after the Allied invasion there on June 6th, 1944. The first action they were involved in was the defense of Carpiquet village and airfield in the Allied Operation Windsor. There then followed a number of Allied attacks Operations Charnwood and Jupiter. On July 12th the LSSAH was holding the Caen south sector from Maltot in the west to the Caen – Falaise road in the east. On July 25th, 1944, US forces under General Omar Bradley succeeded in breaking through the German defenses as part of Operation Cobra and entered Brittany. Hitler forbade any retreat, and ordered a counteroffensive, codenamed Operation Lüttich, by the XLVII Panzer Corps, consisting of the 2nd Panzer Division, part of the LSSAH, the SS Division Das Reich and the 116th Panzer Division. The plan for the attack to hit the 30th Infantry Division east of Mortain, then cut through American defenses to reach the coast. The US response was aided by Ultra intelligence, which had revealed the plans for Operation Lüttich by August 4th. As a result, Bradley was able to obtain air support. The LSSAH and other divisions went on the attack on August 7th, the weather was not suitable for flying that morning, which disadvantaged the Allies. The SS Division Das Reich recaptured Mortain, and an armored battle group under Joachim Peiper reached Bourlopin, but had to halt due to US counterattacks and air strikes. The much-reduced division was encircled in the Falaise pocket by US, Canadian, and Polish forces. Some LSSAH units broke out of the pocket on August 22nd, leaving behind all their tanks and artillery. The division sustained 5,000 casualties during the Normandy campaign. The LSSAH would later participate in the Battle of the Bulge.

During March 1945 elements of the LSSAH were called for Operation Spring Awakening which was the last major German offensive launched during World War II. It began in great secrecy on March 6th, 1945. The German forces launched attacks in Hungary near Lake Balaton. This area included some of the last oil reserves still available to the Axis. The operation involved many German units withdrawn from the failed Ardennes Offensive on the Western Front, including the 6th SS Panzer Army and the LSSAH. Operation Spring Awakening was a failure for the German side. Within a week, the early gains were halted by massive counter attacks by Soviet forces. After the failure of Operation Spring Awakening, Sepp Dietrich's 6th SS Panzer Army retreated in stages to the Vienna area. The Germans prepared defensive positions in an attempt to hold the city against the fast arriving Red Army, in what become known as the Vienna Offensive. The Germans could not hold Vienna, which fell to the Soviet forces on April 13th. Part of the LSSAH ended the war fighting in Berlin. On April 23rd, 1945, Hitler appointed Brigadeführer Mohnke the commander for the central government district (Zitadelle sector) that included the Reich Chancellery and Führerbunker. Mohnke's command post was under the Reich Chancellery in the bunkers therein. He formed Kampfgruppe Mohnke which was divided into two weak regiments made up of approximately 2,000 men. After Hitler's suicide, they received orders to break out. Prior to the attempt, Mohnke briefed all commanders who could be reached within the Zitadelle sector about Hitler's death and the planned break out. It started at 2300 hours on May 1st. Mohnke led the first of ten small groups. Several very small groups managed to reach the Americans at the Elbe's west bank, but most, including Mohnke's group, could not get through the Soviet lines. Many were taken prisoner and some committed suicide. On May 2nd hostilities officially ended. After Vienna was captured, the LSSAH had fewer than 1,600 men and 16 tanks. Apart from the remains of Berlin Guard Battalion, the LSSAH surrendered to US forces in the Steyr area on May 8th, 1945.

[janerogoyskasblog]

Jane Rogoyska is a writer and historian whose work explores themes of conflict, exile, identity, memory and politics. She has a particular interest in the turbulent period between the 1930s and the beginning of the Cold War in Europe, with a present focus on Poland’s wartime and post-war experience.

She studied Modern Languages at Cambridge University and film direction at the NSFTV in Leeds and the Polish National Film School in Łódź, working extensively as a filmmaker before deciding to focus on her own research. She has now written three full-length books and collaborated on a series of connected projects in radio, theatre and photography.

Writing about Katyń

My grandfather was a Polish economist and civil servant. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he was Deputy Director of the Bank of Poland. In his youth, he had been a member of the Polish intelligence services and fought for Polish independence with Marshal Piłsudski.

My father’s early memories of fleeing Warsaw with his parents on a specially commissioned government train (along with government gold hidden under the floorboards) has always exerted a powerful fascination over me. That journey marks a transition: not just the moment when my father’s destiny changed irrevocably but the point at which the sophisticated, cosmopolitan, multicultural Poland of the 1930s, to which my grandfather and the protagonists of Kozłowski and Surviving Katyń belonged, came to an abrupt end.

My mother is English. I was brought up speaking only English at home. I learned Polish as an adult, travelling to Poland for the first time as a student in 1990 just as the brutal legacy of the Second World War, including the Katyń Massacre, was being discussed openly for the first time. My fascination with war, politics, espionage, exile and memory has its roots in my family background and in that first encounter with a freshly post-communist country, grappling with its past.

In an unexpected irony, during my research I discovered that my great-uncle, Ludwik Rynkowski, was among those murdered at Katyń.

[art-now-poland]

Pyramid of Lights - Limited Edition 3 of 4, Dariusz Kaca

This graphic is really made by hand from beginning to end! …The statement that in penetrating the spiritual space it is more important to travel through it, to face the mystery than to achieve the ultimate cognition and to reach the end – seems to be a cliché. What can this journey be like? The spiritual journey to a sanctuary is a pilgrimage. The motivation to go on a journey is based o the awareness of transcendence, confirmed by everyday miracles of existence, even those of the lowest rank. The road is delineated by the Milky Way. Thus the search for direction has a vertical dimension here. Thanks to a discovered sign - post we are not travelers lost in the labyrinth but the ones who, going deep to mystery, broaden their awareness in that search. Each artistic act is such pursuit of the axis of the world. In Dariusz Kaca’s work the Earth unites with Heaven not only physically, but also in imagery motives. The artist draws line bridging the gap between the elements of microcosm and macrocosm, the earthly existence rises - in the mythological language - towards things that are unattainable and for reason longed-for …” From catalogue “Graficzny obraz nieba” by Dariusz Lesnikowski. Galery AMCOR, Łódź 2012

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Printmaking-Pyramid-of-Lights-Limited-Edition-3-of-4/457317/4159561/view

[whatshouldieatforbreakfasttoday]

Eat Łódź

Sponsored

WHERE TO EAT:

Nóż - this was my first tip for Łódź and the first place I visited. It is located at Off Piotrkowska, where you can find many delicious and interesting looking places. I had a toast served with a Spanish ham and an egg and it was just what I needed. The bread was very fresh and a side salad was a nice accent. I need to mention the coffee as well - delicious.

Owoce i warzywa - somehow this place reminded me of my childhood. I love the old armchairs and a very friendly vibe. I could sit there for hours. They also have yummy and healthy shakes.

Montag Piekarnia - they have a cake called 'pure evil' and there must be something in the subject because cakes as good as this one cannot exist. The second thing is that the owner makes you feel like you're a good friend and this is such a beautiful experience. You can also observe how they make bread :D:D:D

Dwa przez cztery - this place is a must! They have a beautiful collection of polish wines and they serve it with beautiful snacks prepared by Affogato. Each bite was delicious and each glass of wine was served with an interesting facts and a story. If you feel like a bigger bite, you can sit in Affogato, which is located in the same space. Judging by tapas we had - it must be perfect.

Beza Food and Bourbon - they got me at the entrance as they were serving churros with chocolate that day. Furthermore, my chocolate omelette was mind-blowing. It is located just opposite the Puto Hotel, so it will be a nice spot for the second breakfast or a coffee break.

Fatamorgana - we got there after a rain caught up with us. We asked for a warming tea and we got a super delicious one with an addition of citruses, herbs and in a size of my head - big advantage. We were not very hungry so we ordered mains only. Big mistake. Just look at the picture, If you think that it looks pretty, believe me, it tasted even better than it looks.

Przędza - my number one for coffee in Łódź. They definitely know what they're doing and they also have a very nice selection of a coffee beans.

Miska Gastro Bowls - You may be thinking that you did not go away for a weekend to sit in a hotel, but in Puro Hotel you will change your mind. Miska offers yummy bowls inspired by oriental cuisine and are simply a beautiful place to eat. Believe me, after you will experience a breakfast of champions in the morning, you will be very excited for more.

Powidok - it is located on Plac Wolności, which will make a nice start for your walk through Piotrowska street. I went there in a morning to have a small bite, as so many people suggested this spot. It has an elegant interior and nice breakfasts as well. For me the biggest adventage were big windows, which make you observe life of Łódź. I really hope to go back for dinner soon.

Ato Ramen - the best ramen in Łódź and this is what everyone says. If you're a fan of ramen, you need to taste it over here. Tomasz had it and loved it.

Start Rynek II - I am so happy we went there. It is a bit like going back in time. Even our waitress had a dress fitting the restaurant's style. Our dinner was delicious and the atmosphere made us talk about the day we met...

Gorąca Pączkarnia - they say that there are the best donuts in town and I guess they are right. Be prepared, come hungry, as you won't stop at one.

Drukarnia - I felt like a sandwich so we went to Drukarnia in Off Piotrowska. Sitting next to a huge loft window on a sunny day was a blast itself, but the sandwich was top of the tops. I highly recommend the place and their bread.

Ato Sushi - we loved the chefs preparing our food in front of us and chatting about fish, wine and the art of Japanese food. They pour sake over the top, which means that you are welcome. I guess the manager wasn't aware of this, as he was not the most welcoming person, twice. But even though, I've decided to try the famous food and it was a beautiful experience after all.

WHAT TO SEE:

Pałac Izraela Poznańskiego - it's beautiful, each detail makes you stop and look. You can learn about the history of the place, family and people important for Łódź.

Palmiarnia - it was such a pleasant stop. Very relaxing place and it literally makes you feel like you're on a tropical island.

Off Piotrkowska - this area is pretty unique. Red brick buildings, huge windows and many people grabbing a bite. I assume that wherever you eat in this place, it will be delicious. We tried 3 spots and each one was yummy.

MS - Muzeum Sztuki - very interesting experience.

WHERE TO STAY:

PURO Hotel - this is the only place we tried and to be honest, I am not going to try any other place. Our room was beautiful in details and had a perfect view (which made it difficult to leave the room sometimes). There is a cinema for guests free of charge, bar on the roof with a great view and, what counts like crazy, breakfast of kings in the morning. I can honestly write that this is the most beautiful hotel I've been to so far and I am sure that you'll be very happy after your stay as well.

[robimypodroze]

Street art 🎨 in 🇵🇱 Polish Łódź is something that you can discover over and over again 🤩 💙 Łódzkie murale są czymś, co można podziwiać bez końca 🤩 💙 #robimypodroze #disabledcantravel #polska #poland #visitpoland #łódź #visitlodz #disabled #streetart #mural #murales #sztuka #łódzkiemurale #wheelchairlife #travel #blogger #polishblogger #travelblog #polandinawheelchair #instatravel #photooftheday #disabledtravel #polishman (w: Łódź, Poland) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnvfXHLltsA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cqm7u4bgnzcx

[maksiov]

Discover the 3d mural "Mermaid" in Łódź city, Poland. ProLogis and Urban Forms create an immersive experience for viewers.

[minervainthedark]

Designed by Paweł Kaźmierowski(@p_kazmierowski) Category : Fashion designer Location : Łódź, Poland  School : ASP Łódź(@asp_lodz) Art account : Paweł Kaźmierowski(@kazmierovski) We are on a mission to discover up-and-coming global creative talent and create a platform to support them. Tag us for a chance to be featured. (at Łódź, Poland) https://www.instagram.com/p/ConmaRfyMI8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ringlawfirm]

JEWS BRILLANT SO DAMN BRILLANT THAT THEY ALLOWED 6 MILLION CALLED 'CHRIST KILLERS', JEWS TO SLAUGHTER LIKE SHEEP OR WORST

JEWS BRILLANT SO DAMN BRILLANT THAT THEY ALLOWED 6 MILLION CALLED ‘CHRIST KILLERS’, JEWS TO SLAUGHTER LIKE SHEEP OR WORST

#DidYouKnow that a #Polishmedical scholar discovered the ABO blood type? Ludwik Hirszfeld, born in 1884, grew up in Łódź, Poland and studied medicine and philosophy in Berlin. Hirszfeld was an immunologist, microbiologist, hematologist, and serologist who exceptionally contributed to the research field and was once nominated for a Nobel Prize in Medicine. Today, he is credited with naming blood…