The Struggles for Poland: this weekend at the Imperial War Museum London

by Kathryn Hadley

This weekend, the Imperial War Museum London is organising a series of free film screenings of episodes from the 1980s television documentary series The Struggles for Poland. All nine episodes, which chart the history of Poland in the twentieth century, from the birth of the Polish state, to the German occupation during the Second World War and the period of communist rule, will be screened in the museum’s cinema across the coming two weekends as part of Polska! Year. Members of the production team – Martin Smith, Wanda Koscia and Neil Ascherson - will be attending the screenings this Sunday January 17th.

Polska! Year is a joint initiative of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs designed to strengthen cultural relationships between Great Britain and Poland. It was launched last spring and comprises over 200 projects which present works of Polish artists to the British public.

For further information, visit www.polskayear.pl

Here are the details of the timings and dates of the individual screenings.

The Struggles for Poland: Once Upon a Time, 1900–1923
January 16th, 10.30am
From the ashes of the First World War, a new Polish state is born. (Director Martin Smith. 52mins)
The Struggles for Poland: A False Dawn, 1923–1939
January 16th, 12.00pm
Undaunted by near bankruptcy, hostile neighbours and a divided population, Poland reaches for greatness. The country becomes a flashpoint at the start of the Second World War. (Director Boleslaw Sulik. 52mins)
The Struggles for Poland: A Different World, 1919–1943
January 16th, 2.00pm
Prior to the Holocaust Poland’s 3 million Jews made up 10 per cent of the population. (Director Raye Farr. 52mins)
The Struggles for Poland: Occupation, 1939–1945
January 16th, 3.30pm
The experiences of Polish men, women and children during the period of German occupation. (Director Dai Vaughan. 52mins)

The Struggles for Poland: Friends and Neighbours, 1939–1945
January 17th, 10.30am
The fate of the Polish Army and State during the Second World War. (Director Martin Smith. 52mins)
The Struggles for Poland: Bright Days of Tomorrow, 1945–1956
January 17th, 12.00pm
The establishment of Communist rule in post-war Poland. (Director Boleslaw Sulik. 52mins)
The Struggles for Poland: Sweepers of Squares, 1956–1970
January 17th, 2.00pm
Riots in the streets. Russian tanks encircle Warsaw. Hungary 1956. Czechoslovakia 1968. A workers’ revolt brings changes. (Director Paul Robinson. 52mins)
The Struggles for Poland: In This Life, 1900–1979
January 17th, 3.30pm
The Roman Catholic Church in Poland, and the moral and political dilemmas that have shaped it. (Director Boleslaw Sulik. 52mins)

The Struggles for Poland: The Workers’ State, 1970 –1980
January 23rd, 10.30am
Under Communist supervision, Poland becomes an industrial society. The birth of Solidarity brings great changes. (Director Dai Vaughan. 52mins)
The Struggles for Poland: A Different World, 1919–1943
January 23rd, 12.00pm
The Struggles for Poland: Occupation, 1939–1945
January 23rd, 2.00pm
The Struggles for Poland: Friends and Neighbours, 1939–1945
January 23rd, 3.30pm

Imperial War Museum London
Lambeth Road
London SE1 6HZ
Telephone: 020 7416 5000
www.iwm.org.uk