General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Polish death camps" [View all]obamanut2012
(27,842 posts)POLES. The Nazi destroyed, on purpose, the Polish Gentile intellectual and middle class. ON PURPOSE. Poles were also considered subhuman, just not quite as bad as Jews. They were to be the Reich's slaves, given just enough schooling to function as slaves to their Nazi Overlords. Their Aryan looking children were taken away and given to Nazi families. They were imprisoned and butchered horribly. Yes, many Poles turned over neighbors, and also murdered Jews after the war. Many Poles have been and still are quite anti-semitic. That does NOT negate what was done to them during the War.
The Poles knew about the camps. How could they not? They knew and they told.
Many Poles also saved many Jews. To date, 6,266 Poles have been awarded the title of Righteous among the Nations by the State of Israelmore than any other nation. (wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_Righteous_among_the_Nations
Polish Jews saved Polish Jews. The Bielski Partisans are the most famous, but there were many more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_partisans#Notable_partisan_groups