The prospects and perils of Holocaust research in Communist Poland: The first twenty years of the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the history of the Jewish Historical Institute (Żydowski Instytut Historyczny; ŻIH) from its creation in the late 1940s until the late 1960s. During this period, ŻIH was not only a documentation center but also a principal source of knowledge about the Holocaust beyond Poland and the Soviet bloc. It played a significant role in the establishment of a transnational collective memory of the Holocaust, one that transcended the Iron Curtain. Equally important in these years was its contribution to the continued existence of Jewish life in Poland after the Holocaust. In particular, the article highlights the significant role of its director, Ber Mark, who led the institute from 1949 until his death in 1966. A convinced Communist, he nevertheless remained deeply rooted in Polish Jewish culture. Under his direction, ŻIH sought to preserve its autonomy to the greatest extent possible and to maintain international contacts with scholars in Israel and Western countries.