Knotenpunkt Boleslawiec

The article, which was published on 15.05.2010 in the biggest Bosnian daily newspaper, called “Oslobodjenje”, was written by one of the projects members Aleksandra Cholewa-Domanagic, as a project member. At the beginning, Article is presenting “Foundation EVZ”, and speaking about goals, methods, and general idea of our project: “The town of Boleslawiec as nodal point of Polish, German, Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian life lines in the context of postwar migration”.

Based on the story of polish family Woloszyn, the author is presenting the history of polish minority in Ex-Yugoslavia, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since the end of XIX century till 1946. The story of family Woloszyn is presented in article by Karolina Atagic, a polish lady, artist, living and working in Sarajevo. Karolina is explaining that her family, as many others came to Bosnia, during Austro-Hungarian monarchy. They came from Galicia, and received land in Bosnia. Karolina’s family came to biggest polish village – Novi Martinac. Before WW2 polish minority was mostly living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in municipalities: Banja Luka, Gradiska, Laktasi, Prnjavor. During WW2 Karolina’s mother was arrested and sent to concentration camp in Reutlingen, where Karolina was born. After the war, they both came back to Bosnia and found out that all polish people, among them Karolina’s family were gone. Karolina’s mother managed to establish contact with her family at the beginning of 1960, and then Karolina has fives time seen her polish family.

Poles migrated back too Poland for many reasons. After the war, they were poor, living in very hard conditions. During the war a lot of Polish men joined Tito’s partisans, and because of that their families has suffered from local Serbs Chetniks battalions. Polish people didn’t feel safe any more. There was a big propaganda organized from Poland, which was calling all Poles abroad to come home. Around 18.000 Poles came to Poland in 34 big transports between 1946 and 1948. They were put to town Boleslawiec and around, from where Germans had to moved out after the WW2. Polish people from Bosnia kept Bosnian culture, a lot of them is still speaking Bosnian language, cooking Bosnian meals, singing Bosnian songs.

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