Warsaw, Poland. Date uncertain. ? 1946. Photographer unknown.
By Paul Goldfinger
I picked up this photograph at a flea market a few years ago. There were pieces of paper stuck to the back, but some Polish writing was visible. My initial suspicion was that someone was murdered on the streets of Warsaw during or after World War II. I had read Jan Gross’s book called “Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland After Auschwitz.” That book documented attacks on Jews and others who tried to return to their homes in Poland after the war had ended. There also were deaths as Poles fought against the new Communist government, so not all the violence was based on anti-Semitism. Another issue was the high crime rate during that period. Poland was unstable after the war. They lost more of their citizens than any other country in Europe during WWII.
In studying the photograph, I was struck by the fresh grave that appeared to have been dug on a city street. A large cross had been placed in the dirt. There was no date. The clothes suggested the 1940’s, or maybe the 1930’s. Years later I was able to expose more of the writing and had it translated.
The location was Dabrowskiego Square in central Warsaw. The Polish person who looked at the image commented that you wouldn’t expect to find a grave in that location.
If any of you history buffs out there have an idea, please let us know. There is a story to be told about this picture.
