Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. As of June 2010, its population was estimated at 1,716,855, with the metropolitan area at approximately 2,631,902, making it the 9th largest city in the European Union.
About 85% of the city was destroyed by the Germans in WW II, including the historic Old Town and the Royal Castle. This is Warsaw January 1, 1945 (thanks, once again, to the Internet for the photo).
Before the outbreak of World War II, the northwestern part of Warsaw was mostly occupied by the Jewish population (about 400,000 people, some 30% of the city). During the World War II a ghetto was formed out of the Jewish district by the Germans. When the order came to annihilate the ghetto as part of Hitler's "Final Solution" on 19 April 1943, Jewish fighters launched the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Despite being heavily outgunned and outnumbered, the Ghetto held out for almost a month. When the fighting ended, almost all survivors were massacred; only few managed to escape or hide. The above memorial commemorates the brave Jews who fought during the ghetto uprising.
After the war, the conquering Soviets constructed this building, originally known as the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture and Science. Its architecture is closely related to several similar skyscrapers built in the Soviet Union of the same era. Many Poles initially hated the building because they considered it to be a symbol of Soviet domination. Even with other modern sky scrapers, the Palace of Culture and Science is the dominant structure in Warsaw. The Soviets also erected large prefabricated housing projects in Warsaw to address the housing shortage. Poland regained its independence from the Soviets in 1989.
Many of the historic streets, buildings, and churches were restored to their original form. Above is the reconstructed Royal Castle and the beginning of the Old Town. In 1980, this area was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Polish people are very proud of their native son, composer Frédéric Chopin. The above sculpture was destroyed by the Germans in 1940, but rebuilt in 1958.
The Presidential Palace survived the war, and today it functions as seat of the Polish Council of Ministers.
After about 6 hours of touring and walking around Warsaw, it was time to begin packing for home. Our travel group had a farewell drink at 5:30; then Bonnie, Liisa, Ruth, and I had a quiet dinner in the hotel. They saved the best hotel for last. Although all our rooms were pleasant on this trip, we loved our room at the Sheraton.
No comments:
Post a Comment