Dear Ms Whelan. I am writing to you to express my strong reservations about the use of the phrase “the Polish killing fields of Babi Yar and Treblinka” in Jane Wheatley’s otherwise interesting article „Reinventing Helen”, published in last weekend’s (May 10, 2008 edition) “Good Weekend”. This leaves me with no other option, but to enumerate the reasons for which the above mentioned phrase is entirely inaccurate and deeply unjust.

1. It is common knowledge that during World War II Poland ceased to exist as a state and the subject of international law. As a result of the German invasion of 1 September 1939, followed by the Soviet aggression of 17 September of the same year, Poland was erased from the map of Europe, having been forced to yield its partitioned territories to Germany and Soviet Russia. The Polish territories under German occupation were, in part, incorporated directly into the Third Reich (including the Polish town of Treblinka), and, in part, became a special Germany-controlled area called General Gouvernement.

2. Babi Yar is a ravine in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine where in the course of two days, September 29-30, 1941, a special team of German SS supported by other German units and Ukrainian police murdered 33,771 Jewish civilians, which is considered by historians to be the largest single massacre in the history of the Holocaust. In the months that followed, thousands more were seized and taken to Babi Yar where they were shot. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians, of whom a significant number were Jews, were executed by the Nazis.

3. Treblinka concentration camp referred to in the article as “the Polish killing fields”, was contrived, organised and governed entirely by the German regime. Polish citizens were the first forced labourers and prisoners of this camp and in no way took voluntary part in setting it up. The use of the adjective “Polish”, however, implies that the Polish people or the Polish state were inherently involved in the organisation and administration of this camp, which for reasons stated above is false and misleading.

4. After World War II, the former Nazi concentration camps built on the occupied Polish territories were turned into museums, so calling these places “the Polish killing fields”, just because they are located within the boundaries of the present Republic of Poland, is again ungrounded.

I sincerely hope that the use of the phrase “the Polish killing fields” in Jane Wheatley’s article was unintentional and resulting from negligence or lack of in-depth reflection. However, even if devoid of bad intentions, it was nonetheless false, misleading, and harmful, not only to the excellent Polish-Australian relations, but also to the well-earned image of the Polish community in Australia.

I kindly ask that this letter be published and I remain yours sincerely,

Ryszard Sarkowicz
CONSUL GENERAL
OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND
in Sydney