Why did the Wola Massacre take place? How many people died during the Wola Massacre? How did the massacres unfold? Why was Wola the main target? What were the consequences of the Wola Massacre? – these and other questions will be discussed in today's episode of PodGAZt.
The Wola Massacre, which took place in the first days of the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, remains one of the most brutal and unaccounted for crimes of World War II. Committed by German troops against civilian residents of Warsaw, it was part of a ruthless extermination policy aimed at breaking the spirit of resistance in the capital of Poland.
"Every resident must be killed, no prisoners may be taken. Warsaw is to be razed to the ground and in this way a terrifying example is to be created for all of Europe" – was the order that became the basis for one of the largest acts of genocide during military operations in Europe.
Piotr Brulikis, a descendant of a family that survived the massacre and who has been trying to promote knowledge about this tragedy for years, talks about these events, as well as about the people who managed to survive, by organizing meetings and running the social networking site "Rzeź Woli Warszawa 1944" on Facebook. In his conversation, we learn about the background of this bloody tragedy, discover the stories of former residents, and learn how places such as the former Gasworks in Wola became a shelter for those who managed to avoid death.
However, the question remains - does the world remember the victims of the Rzeź Wola Massacre enough? This unsettled crime is one of many examples of unfulfilled justice that cast a shadow over the contemporary memory of World War II.
For years, sport has been uniting, inspiring and building a sense of community. However, the question of whether it can exist completely outside of business and politics becomes particularly interesting when we look at the history of sports clubs established by employees in the interwar period.
In the 1920s and 1930s, when numerous workers' clubs appeared on the map of Warsaw, sport was an important element of professional and community life.
RKS "Świt" was more than just a sports club: it integrated the local community, strengthened bonds between employees, and also became a place where sport, business and politics met in a specific way.
In the case of "Świt", its functioning was supported by the Warsaw gasworks in Wola.
In the present times, when sport is becoming increasingly commercialized, and its connections with business and politics are more visible, it is worth recalling the history of clubs such as "Świt". They are the ones who show that sport can play a much deeper role than competition. It can be a space for dialogue, solidarity and cooperation, a place where social and work values meet sporting aspirations.
PodGAZt: Wola – how did this Warsaw district develop? Part 1
The history of Warsaw's Wola dates back to the second half of the 13th century, when it was home to small villages, the largest of which was called "Wielka Wola Warszawska". Since then, the district has undergone many transformations, becoming one of the fastest developing regions of the capital today. Full of dramatic events and key moments, Wola has played an important role in the history of Warsaw and Poland, combining the everyday lives of its residents with the turbulent national history.
In the latest episode of our PodGAZt, we explore the fascinating history of this district:
- What were its beginnings like?
- How did Wola influence the development of the entire capital?
- What events have shaped its character over the centuries? .....
These and many other questions are answered by our guest - Dr. Krzysztof Mordyński, historian, museum curator and doctor of humanities.
Wola is a district that has witnessed extraordinary changes over the centuries, both in the everyday lives of its residents and in the context of important historical events. Just a few kilometres from the centre of Warsaw, Wola has developed over the years as an industrial, social and cultural area, becoming one of the symbols of the dynamic changes taking place in the capital.
In the latest episode of our PodGAZt, we invite you to explore the fascinating history of Wola. This time, we focus on the industrial and business roots of this district, as well as how the developing local business influenced the lives of its residents. What companies were established in Wola? What conditions did they provide for their employees? And what made the Warsaw Gasworks play such an important role in the history of this place? These and other questions are answered by our guest – Dr Krzysztof Mordyński, historian, museum curator and doctor of humanities, who with passion and in-depth knowledge brings closer the most interesting threads from the history of the district.
In the episode, we also look at the everyday lives of the workers at these plants, trying to understand what life was like in Wola during its greatest industrial boom.