On Sunday evening at the National Library in Warsaw, the Kazimierz Moczarski History Prize—one of the most important distinctions awarded to books on the history of Poland after 1918—was presented. This year’s laureates are Dr. Sławomir Poleszak, Deputy Director of the Institute of Central Europe, and Prof. Rafał Wnuk, authors of Niezłomni czy realiści? Polskie podziemie antykomunistyczne bez patosu (“Unyielding or Realists? The Polish Anti-Communist Underground without Pathos”).
The winning book portrays the underground as a diverse and complex milieu: marked by ideological differences, internal tensions, moral dilemmas, and tragic fates. The jury praised the authors for their willingness to present all these dimensions without pathos, simplification, or idealization.
A total of 115 books were submitted for this year’s prize. The jury shortlisted five titles, including a biography of Konrad Swinarski, a biographical portrait of Roman Bratny, a monograph on the Confederation of Independent Poland, and a study of everyday life in post-war Legnica.
As part of the accompanying youth poll “Ołówek” (“The Pencil”), Bartosz Panek received special recognition for his book Zboże rosło jak las. Pamięć o pegeerach.
Photo: Ewelina Lach / City of Warsaw
Moczarski Prize for Sławomir Poleszak and Rafał Wnuk for their publication on the Polish post-war underground