Inhuman Land: Searching for the Truth in Soviet Russia, 1941-1942

by Józef Czapski, Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Translator), Timothy Snyder (Introduction)

In 1941, when Germany turned against the USSR, tens of thousands of Poles—men, women, and children who were starving, sickly, and impoverished—were released from Soviet prison camps and allowed to join the Polish Army being formed in the south of Russia. One of the survivors who made the difficult winter journey was the painter and reserve officer Józef Czapski.

General Anders, the army’s commander in chief, assigned Czapski the task of receiving the Poles arriving for military training; gathering accounts of what their fates had been; organizing education, culture, and news for the soldiers; and, most important, investigating the disappearance of thousands of missing Polish officers.
Blocked at every level by the Soviet authorities, Czapski was unaware that in April 1940 many officers had been shot dead in Katyn forest, a crime for which Soviet Russia never accepted responsibility.

Czapski’s account of the years following his release from the camp and the formation of the Polish Army, and its arduous trek through Central Asia and the Middle East to fight on the Italian front offers a stark depiction of Stalin’s Russia at war and of the suffering, stoicism, and bravery of his fellow Poles. A work of clear observation and deep compassion, Inhuman Land is one of the twentieth century’s indispensable acts of literary witness.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Russia, Poland, Biography, War

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Józef Marian Franciszek Czapski (ang Joseph Czapski) (April 3, 1896 – January 12, 1993) was a Polish artist, author, and critic, as well as an officer of the Polish Army. As a painter, he is notable for his membership in the Kapist movement, which was heavily influenced by Cézanne. Following the Polish Defensive War, he was made a prisoner of war by the Soviets and was among the very few officers to survive the Katyn massacre of 1940. Following the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement, he was an official envoy of the Polish government searching for the missing Polish officers in Russia. After World War II, he remained in exile in the Paris suburb of Maisons-Laffitte, where he was among the founders of Kultura monthly, one of the most influential Polish cultural journals of the 20th century.

Reviews

[La Tammina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non conoscevo, se non a grandissime linee da manuale di storia, l'odissea dei polacchi post patto Molotov-Ribbentrop e gli eventi relativi al massacro di Katyn'. La terra inumana è una sorta di Arcipelago Gulag, però scritto in presa diretta e prima di Arcipelago Gulag.
Nel testo la protagonista è la tragedia di un popolo in balia dei nazisti e dei bolscevichi, ma in tutto quell'orrore brilla il calore di Czapski che, alla ricerca dei commilitoni scomparsi, raccoglie nomi, storie e memorie di un'umanità disperata e dispersa.

[Fonch · Rating 5 out of 5]

CRITICISM at Earth INHUMANE of Józef Czapski dedicated to Malgorzata Wolczyck, Beata, Jaroslaw Szymanski, Bozena Boroniecka, Magda Kossakowska, Agnieszka, Agnieszka Krawczykowska Maciej Nowicki, the journalist of Religion in freedom Pablo J.Gines, the weekly Digital Religion in freedom and all Polish friends ms Goodreads.
Ladies and gentlemen Said so starts with criticism of the book of Józef Czapski. My Polish friend Malgorzata Wolczyck gave this book me. All those who know me know one thing from me, and that my two favourite countries are Poland, and Japan. In Poland I love their history, their religiosity, the kindness of its people, and as I already told you I am a bad Catholic, like King Solomon and Passepoil porquwe (to meet this nice character to read "The hunchback" of Paul Féval https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... ) The book in question keep it long time in cabinets, that my mother with admirable compression left me to store books, and I had so much time saved. If users don't know one of my favorite movies is the "The silver chalice" starring Paul Newman (although renegará it), Nalie Wood, Silvia Mayo and the great Jack Palance doing Simon the magician. Of course I liked it more than Thomas Costain https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film3... in the film Simon Magus novel proposes Nero to face San Peter, found me a sublime the idea in this case. The reading of this book came because the journalist and writer Pablo J. Ginés Rodríguez (which Russian spouse has a beautiful) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and whose book "Conversos seekers of God" I recommend said, it would read "Pavilion of Cancer" of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... then my friend Malgorzata Wolczyck put his trump card, and said that the book's "Inhuman land" and another writer whose name I do not remember said, that they were better than Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. At first this seemed a robe of David against Goliath Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn seemed to have it all in favor. In fact, it is the moral conscience of the West against capitalism, and communism, Nobel Prize, and a fervent Orthodox Christian. It was impossible, that this unknown Czapski. . At least for those who are not Polish I could compete with him. Many years ago a magazine called box office asked me to write articles with my father. Unfortunately the magazine went bankrupt. I could not post my article of Doraemon cat robot of the future https://www.goodreads.com/series/1553... . Before the bankruptcy, many projects had in mind one of them was to write an article confronting Fyodor Dostoyevski Before the bankruptcy, many projects had in mind one of them was to write an article confronting Fyodor Dostoyevski https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... with the prize Nobel Henryk Sienkiewicz https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... this idea was not original as a play Sigmund Freud pitted against C.S. Lewis called the session end of Tamzin Townsend https://www.teatroespanol.es/programa... an experiment like took it place Armand. M. Nicholi in his book "The question of God" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... in this duel seemed that Sigmund Freud was going to eat to C.S. Lewis, but was otherwise Milton Walsh did the same in his unpublished e interesting book unfortunately not translated to the Spanish "Second Friends: C.S. Lewis and Ronald Knox in Conversation" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... in this case the Almighty C.S. Lewis faced someone more formidable, although less media than the Viennese psychiatrist we refer to the great Ronald A. Knox https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . In fact, Milton Walsh not facing Ronald A. Knox with C.S. Lewis, who, in their lives, only lost a debate with the Catholic Elisabeth Anscombe (follower of the theses of Wittgestein) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... although I'm a judge very partial given my love for Poland in this duel between Czapski and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I must confess that I have friends on both sides, because we've confessed that Pablo J. Gines is married to a Russian woman, but my beloved Juan Manuel de Prada https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... is a lover of Russia especially of Dostoyevsky and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. This book is divided into three parts part Józef Czapski, who was one of the few survivors, which was captured by the Red Army when in virtue of the disgusting and shameful pact Molotov - Ribbentrop, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union with treachery and malignancy is partitioned Poland. In the first part Czapski talks about much of their Polish partners of presidio (the crime was that it was to crush the most lucid of Polish intellectuals both nazis and poles), and this is not a conspiracy to save neocon backs to liberalism Western. Everyone knows, that I despise liberalism as well as to the communism - socialism, fascism, and Nazism (can read the wonderful novel by C.V. Georghiu https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... ) The truth is that although you philias and phobias the atrocities of the Red Army were a crime. Already would have been unacceptable to they have died normal people, but over educated people, died and intelligent. Doctors, politicians and generals as Soltan who read the Polish trilogy of Henryk Sienkiewicz https://www.goodreads.com/series/1461... and explains military tactics, and the why they lost to nazis and Soviets? Speaking of another colleague who wants to create a Confederation, of a very brave priest. In short, Józef Capski makes a tender and loving portrait of his compatriots, and friends of imprisonment of those who will never see, and flower and Polish society. That attempted to crush the nazis and Soviets. This is the first of the three structures. As the book as the Spanish publishing house Cliff has divided it is divided into three parts. In the second part we see that the Czapski artist who will be one of the surviving 400 15000 prison officers is recruited by general Anders (that in turn as it explains Czapski will investigate the events of Katyn) and since the Soviet Union was invaded by Germany this it has broken his pact with Hitler, and it has reached an agreement a priori with their former enemies. This part is without a doubt the most interesting, and it is the bulk of the work of Czapski. Here it is not only of the whereabouts of the Polish prisoners captured by the Russians. It is the most perfect denunciation of Soviet totalitarianism, which became such tyranny, which became confined to the Russians in prisons. Through the testimony of Czapski we see as Stalin had not controlled the situation, and that if it had not been for the brutality of Hitler the Russians would have received to the Germans as heroes. We see interesting biographies of certain people, who appear in this book. One of the testimonies that impacted me most of this book was the murder of two Jewish Democrats, and crimes, West allowed the Soviets to win the world war We see how Stalin speaks good words, but at the same time boycotts the attempt to create a Polish Army, as he filled it with bandits, or tries to infiltrate Soviet agents. Remember, when poles rose up in 1944 against the Germans, Stalin let the Germans to kill the members of the resistance, so for more easily subdue the poles. Of having intervened, could have saved a cruel suffering to Poland. There are other impressive moments as Soviet generals Zhukov and others go on a strategy Kafkiana to Czapski from one side to another. Much of what is proposed Czapski are speculations, because you can not be sure that has been their companions if they died in the Arctic, or Zembla and the island of Francisco José. The conclusion is reached that is Nemiadkin, and Stalin if they knew the fate of the Polish prisoners. There are very interesting portraits of Sikorski, most critical with Ylya Ehrenburg https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... changing the comrade count, whose story I told my friend Alfonseca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... get something better standing Aleksei Tolstoy Nykolayevich https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... who was the favorite writer of the regime, and the richest. There are also some detail of the poor Ana Ajmatova https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and its ambiguous situation with the Soviet regime, saved because a poem like Stalin, and then condemned to ostracism with brutality. There are portraits and fascinating portrayals as Rozanov. To who likes literature, and Russian art, and Polish I recommend no doubt this book. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... In fact, this book is very complete from a point of view, historical, political, artistic, and religious is undoubtedly a gem, and a classic of 20th century. Not only are the crimes of communism, also those perpetrated in Tsarist times by Catherine II, that the only thing that resembles Semiramis is in its insatiable lust. The deportation of Poles was brutal, and the cause of his death, because they refused to be happy and wanted to flee Russia-(.) We see Czapski will bringing together the army, and speaks of his anecdotes, and his companions. Of all the problems that put them out. The attitude of communism with islam which use to weaken the Tsar, to create nationalism, who then fought. The same strategy, which is being used in my country, by the way (which left power and is an ally of pro-independence peripheral nationalisms, and empowers al-Islam against the Catholic religion which attacks in a merciless manner) Refers to the repression of the Kirziguises. It is very interesting the longer Iranian side, when Polish soldiers with Czapski leave and his convalescence in a hospital, as well as their healing the semblance of Lubomirski, and history of the sick children. There is a very nice story of an Assyrian Christian.The last part is devoted to clarify the crime of Katyn, dismantling the strategy of Goebbels, but accusing those responsible, also condemns the Machiavellianism of England, who wants to ignore these crimes, but Czapski provides evidence that they indicate clearly who are the culprits. In short, a magnificent book is a true work of art, no doubt has a defect, but I am unable to find any, because it is vast, and full-featured. No doubt this book is the great favorite to win in the category of non-fiction. It is the best book to read about Soviet repression, and the gulags, beating "The incredible walk" Slawomir Rawicz https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... and how said to Carolyn Astfalk https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... this book is a lot better than the of Walter J. Ciszek so much we've praised in the Catholic Book Club "Walking along dark paths" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or the book of Torcuato Luca de Tena 'Ambassador in hell' of Torcuato Luca de Tena https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... can also compare this book with the novel of my admired Juan Manuel de Prada "you will find me death" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... . It is a pity that this book does not have the publicity of the works of Vasily Grossman https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... nor those of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I hope, that my review will help rediscover Goodreads users this magnificent book, and I wish you a thousandth like part of what I liked to me. This is the first part of my criticism of the second part will be my review of "Cancer Pavilion" of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. We'll see who wins. At the end I put a defense of the sanctity of G. K. Chesterton.

[Vityska · Rating 4 out of 5]

До цього видання увійшло два тексти. По-перше, короткі, але не менш вражаючі «Старобільські спогади», в яких автор згадує життя полонених польських офіцерів у таборі в Старобільську. По-друге, власне «На нелюдській землі» - історія про те, як з поляків, яким дарували свободу в обмін на лояльність до совєтської влади, формувалася Польська армія. Варто сказати, читач майже нікого з героїв першого тексту не зустріне у другому. Причина проста і трагічна: з кількох тисяч в’язнів старобільських таборів вижити вдалося лише кільком десяткам. Пошукам тих тисяч зниклих, як вважалося на той час (бо, навіть самі пройшовши поневіряння полону, керівники новоствореної Польської армії не могли повірити, що 10000 їхніх співвітчизників могли бути просто знищені) Юзеф Чацький присвячує майже весь свій час, проведений на нелюдській, совєтській землі.
«Старобільські спогади» написані доволі лаконічно і сухо, у них багато цифр і прізвищ тих, з ким Чапський ділив табірний побут. Але за цією стислістю фактів ховається велика трагедія народу, з яким совєтська Росія робила те ж саме, що й з українським, – винищувала найкращих його представників, інтелектуальну, наукову і творчу еліту. Бо серед полонених поляків були не лише професійні військові, а й мобілізовані до війська університетські професори, науковці і вчені, інженери, лікарі, письменники і музиканти. Від маленьких штрихів, якими автор описує їх – поручика Ральського, професора-природознавця, який у таборі почав писати книжку про степові рослини, майора Солтана, який з товаришами по нарах ґрунтовно обговорював суспільні і політичні справи Польщі, Томаша Хенціцього, котрий писав політичні статті на клаптях паперу, - щемить серце. Бо кожна із цих приватних історій – маленький шматочок велетенського пазлу совєтськиї злочинів.
Після того, як Німеччина напала на Совєтський Союз, совєти вирішили «перепросити» своїх учорашніх жертв і зробити їх своїми союзниками: почався процес створення Польської армії, командувати якою мав генерал Андерс, теж принагідно випущений з ув’язнення. Юзеф Чапський потрапив до числа тих полонених офіцерів, яких закликали до нової армії. Разом з тим, у нього було своє завдання: відшукати польських офіцерів, розпорошених по сталінських таборах (а надто – тих, кого вивезли зі Старобільська у невідомому напрямку), аби і їх забрати до армії. Пошуки були довгими і переважно безнадійними. Бо замість товаришів Юзеф Чапський знаходив лише нові – звісно, неофіційні, - свідчення страшних злочинів і безглуздих масових убивств.
Окрім своєї пошукової роботи, автор описує складні умови, у яких формувалася армія, - задавнені хвороби, виснаження, епідемії тифу й дизентерії косили солдат сотнями. Також він розповідає про місцини, через які доводилося проїжджати – російську «глибинку» з чорними хатами і злиденними людьми, розкішне життя в воєнній Москві, доступне лише обраним, голі степи і спеку Узбекистану і благодатний спокій Ірану. А ще досить багато розмірковує про те, як люди, яких він зустрічає у Совєтському Союзі, ставляться до цієї своєї батьківщини.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph Czapski è un polacco che ha avuto la sfortuna di vivere gli anni della seconda guerra mondiale.
Non è stato un bel momento per nessuno, men che meno per i polacchi, in balia delle decisioni dei due innominabili del periodo, Baffetto e Baffone, che prima si coalizzano e poi si sfanculano senza ritegno.
Il Nostro nel 1939 va in villeggiatura in un gulag e lì rimane finché Baffetto, in un delirio di onnipotenza devastante straccia il trattato di nn aggressione e infrange l'unica regola nn scritta della storia:
MAI. INVADERE. LA. RUSSIA.

Baffone passa quindi al lato chiaro della forza, i polacchi diventano amici, Czapski passa in scioltezza da condannato a morte ad alleato e può girare per l'URSS e (ri)formare un esercito polacco con i suoi ex compagni.
L' unico problema è che all'appello mancano circa 22 mila suoi compatrioti.

Questi esseri umani però sono già stati giustiziati in quello che è passato alla storia come il massacro di Katyń.
L'Unione sovietica ammetterà la propria responsabilità solo dopo il 1989.

Non è un libro facile. Anzi. È un mattone devastante che leggerà solo gente interessata all'argomento come me o incredibilmente masochista.
Ho impiegato circa due mesi a leggerlo e almeno un altro a pensare a cosa scrivere.

Personalmente mi colpisce sempre la vita quotidiana della gente in tempi di guerra, mentre altrove si moriva sotto le bombe, qui si incontrano soldati in licenza, persone lontane dalla guerra che però ne subiscono le conseguenze.
C'è fame e disperazione ovunque.

Czapski è anche un pittore. E si vede.
Il suo libro è un quadro scritto con colori cupi, grigi, che descrive molti incontri. Gente logora, affranta, disperata, che appare per pochi istanti e poi torna a mischiarsi tra le ombre di questa terra inumana piena di freddo e neve sporca.

Ma nn fraintendete, è un gran libro, non è un riassunto esaustivo dei fatti, e come dice lo stesso autore nella premessa è semplicemente "il racconto di un anno di esperienze osservazioni e pensieri di un polacco in unione sovietica".

Impegnativo.
Ma necessario (per me).

[Marek Pawlowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Czapskiego zacząłem czytać z polecenia Babci, która czytała ją jeszcze w czasach, gdzie za jej posiadanie trafiało się do więzienia. Muszę przyznać, że zrobiła na mnie piorunujące wrażenie. Co ciekawe nie dla tego, że znajdują się tam przykłady nieludzkiego traktowania więźniów, żołnierzy czy ogólnie Polaków przez Rosjan, ale dlatego, że czasy, które opisuje są dla mnie tak dalekie. Dalekie w sensie wartości, którymi ludzie żyli, sposobie myślenia ,opisu, widzenia świata, który nie wprost ujawnia się czytając książkę. Dlaczego tak zwracam uwagę na to wrażenie, bo ten okres jest tak różny od tego, co widzę, tak diametralnie inny od tego, w jakim myślę, że żyje a oddziela nas granica jedynie kilkudziesięciu lat. Czym innym jest czytać książkę historyczną ukazującą fakty na temat zdarzeń a czym innym jest czytać pewien emocjonalny opis, który oddaje tamte czasy (może oddaje tamte czasy to zbyt dużo powiedziane, oddaje pewną emocjonalna perspektywę tamtych czasów widziana przez Czapskiego). Pierwszy opis przestawia suche informacje, nie dziwi; drugi przeraża, zachwyca, bo do tych faktów dodaje coś, co powoduje, ze zaczyna się w tym żyć.

[Yaroslava Tymoshchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

після таких книжок фікшн - це якісь дитячі вигадки. сильна книжка

[Gremrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool Ukrainian book that combines several important memoirs by a prominent Polish intellectual who was an officer of the Polish Army during World War Two (yeah, one of those few who didn’t end up in Katyn only by a miracle).

Юзеф Чапський (Józef Czapski) had a very interesting biography (born in Prague, raised in Minsk, educated in Saint-Petersburg, then lived and worked in Poland and France, etc.). On September 01, 1939, at the beginning of the war, he was mobilized into the Polish army, and on September 27, captured by the Soviets. Together with all the other Polish officers, he was imprisoned in Soviet camps. He was lucky to be released and joined the famous “Anders’ army.” Moreover, he was Anders’ representative who was searching for all those Polish officers throughout the USSR in 1941-42. Later, together with Anders’ army, Юзеф Чапський moved to Iraq (where the army finalized its preparation to participation in the war with the help of the Allies) and then to Italy (where the Polish army conducted its most military activities and had some major victories), where he met the end of the war. Similarly to Anders and many other true Polish patriots, he did not return to Soviet-occupied Poland and lived in France for the rest of his life.

He wrote two major memoir books about his experience during the war: “Старобєльські спогади” (“Wspomnienia starobielskie,” 1944) and “На нелюдській землі” (“Na nieludzkiej ziemi,” 1949).

“Старобєльські спогади” is about his stay in the Soviet GULAG as a Polish POW. It was written immediately when Юзеф Чапський left the USSR, when he was in Iraq, because Юзеф Чапський already understood then that he probably would never see again his comrades-in-arms with whom he stayed in those camps (the Poles did not know about Katyn yet but already had an idea that all these officers should be dead by now) and he tried to write down everything he remembered about these people and their last days. (Later, Юзеф Чапський also personally testified regarding Polish prisoners in Soviet captivity before the United States Congress.)

“На нелюдській землі” is a longer and more detailed memoir dedicated to his work as Anders’ representative in the USSR and their search for all those Polish officers and work dedicated to the release of and support to all the deported/detained Poles overall. It contains many important first-person details about the attitude to Poles in the USSR and to his mission in particular, plus some curious observations about Soviet life overall.

Both these books were published in post-war Poland illegally (of course) and in translation in Britain, France, and other countries. The first “official” Polish publication of the memoirs was in 1989.

Our Ukrainian edition was named “На нелюдській землі” but it actually contains both of these memoirs and some other additional materials (in particular, a later addition “Бойовий шлях” — about the development and military activity of the Polish army after it left the USSR).

Well, I probably should not say anything else, as it is already obvious that these memoirs are extremely important and useful for anybody who is interested in the tragic and heroic fate of Poland during World War Two. I can only add that I recommend reading this book AFTER you read memoirs by Władysław Anders about the same events, as Anders’ account provides a good short and clear introduction to the problem, while Юзеф Чапський’s text is much more detailed and complicated (I should say that I found the book somewhat difficult to read, but I am still very glad that I read it and can only recommend it). I made a lot of bookmarks to reread these places and think about them. Maybe I will quote something later (but it’s mostly some long passages that require context and commentaries/additional information).

I am very happy that I was able to buy this book when it was still in bookstores and thus now have this volume in my collection of valuable materials about Poland in World War Two. (It is not possible to buy this book in paper now, I suppose, but it is available as an e-book.)

[Zany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vzpomínky člověka, který jen náhodou unikl osudu důstojníků povražděných v Katyni, jsou syrovým pohledem na realitu zajateckých táborů, osudy stovek tisíc lidí zajatých, zatčených či deportovaných do dalekých končin bolševického impéria. Czapský měl po svém propuštění na starosti právě jejich vyhledávání, včetně pátrání po tisícovkách zmizelých důstojníků. Přijímal také příchozí do Andersovy armády, takže se v knize mísí osudy nejen Czapského, ale i spousty dalších.

[Breaking_Bad · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nie wiem, ilu jest ludzi w więzieniach i obozach sowieckich, słyszy się liczby od 16 do 35 milionów, ale charakterystyczne jest powiedzenie jednego z sędziów śledczych: kiedy mój znajomy badany powiedział mu, że nas Polaków jest 30 milionów, że nie tak łatwo nas zgładzić - zaśmiał się: >>no wielka mi rzecz, my w samych obozach pracy i w więzieniach mamy więcej<<."

We wspomnieniach zawartych w "Na nieludzkiej ziemi" Józef Czapski - więzień Starobielska i innych obozów, cudem nie zgładzony jak jego koledzy w Charkowie, Katyniu, Twerze, potem uczestnik formowania Armii Andersa w Sowietach, jednym słowem świadek historii - niezwykle przenikliwie opisuje ten prawdziwie diabelski system jakim był Związek Sowiecki.
"Nie, tego nikt nie może zrozumieć, musi przyjść genialny pisarz, obserwator, nowy Tołstoj czy nowy Proust, rosyjski czy polski, który by mógł opisać to, co w Rosji jest wszędzie, co chwila, co zdradza nagle w życiu zwykłym, powszednim, jeden gest nikły, jedno spojrzenie niezapomniane. Nie trudne warunki, nie głód, to wszystko jest mniej ważne w porównaniu z tym zdławieniem człowieka, z niemymi spojrzeniami ludzi, wśród których nie ma prawie takiego, który by nie miał kogoś najbliższego w obozach na północy."
W tych słowach przebija wielka skromność Czapskiego, bo to między innymi on właśnie okazał się tym genialnym obserwatorem i pisarzem, dzięki któremu choć w niewielkiej części możemy poznać gehennę narodów zdławionych przez zbrodniczy, komunistyczny Związek Sowiecki – w tym półtora miliona Polaków wywiezionych, więzionych, głodzonych i mordowanych po wkroczeniu Armii Czerwonej na wschodnie tereny II Rzeczpospolitej we wrześniu 1939 r.
Czapski poświęcił wiele miesięcy na przełomie 1941 i 1942 r. na poszukiwania uwięzionych polskich oficerów. Wtedy, myśl że kilkanaście tysięcy jeńców wojennych mogło zostać zlikwidowanych, jeszcze przez nikogo nie była brana pod uwagę. "Na nieludzkiej ziemi" to również dziesiątki opowieści rozdzierających serce o śmierci naszych rodaków od głodu, mrozu, chorób - w tym szczególnie przejmujące losy dzieci. Przy czym Czapski potrafił pisać bez patosu i z dystansem. Ze smutkiem opisuje kłótnie niektórych oficerów w Starobielsku o pryczę itp., czy zachowanie żołnierzy dopiero co wypuszczonych z obozów, którzy oddają się pijaństwu i rozpuście. Taka to jednak ludzka natura: "Nie mógłby człowiek żyć, nie mógłby się uśmiechnąć, gdyby zawsze pamiętał i żadnego wspomnienia nie zacierał." Lektura obowiązkowa, po prostu.

[Jethro Tull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hrvatski prijevod: Jozef Czapski: "Na neljudskoj zemlji". Preveo s poljskog Adrian Cvitanović. Oceanmore, Zagreb, 2025.
Original je objavljen u Parizu 1949.
U ovoj potresnoj knjizi istaknuti poljski slikar J. Czapski piše o potrazi za svojim sudrugovima u sovjetskom zarobljeništvu 1941-1942. godine. Naime, nakon sporazuma Ribbentrop-Molotov Crvena armija zarobila je stotine tisuća poljskih vojnika, ali i civila, i oni su razmješteni po logorima i gulazima diljem Sovjetskog Saveza. Živjeli su u očajnim uvjetima, u gladi i boleštinama. Mnogi su u toj sotonskoj, neljudskoj zemlji terora umrli ili su bili strijeljani kao narodni neprijatelji. Kad je Njemačka napala Sovjetski Savez, Staljin je proglasio amnestiju za zarobljene poljske vojnike te počinje njihovo okupljanje kako bi se formirala poljska armija u SSSR-u pod vodstvom generala Andersa. Czapski je radio kao načelnik Ureda za potragu za nestalima. Radio je na prikupljanju podataka o zarobljenim Poljacima, na njihovu oslobađanju iz logora i organiziranom okupljanju. Iz susreta s logorašima Czapski, i sam logoraš, saznaje stravične priče o nečovječnim uvjetima života u gulazima po sibirskim bespućima. Ova knjiga anticipira djela Solženicina i Šalamova. Zadnje poglavlje posvećeno je masakru nekoliko tisuća poljskih časnika koje su počinili sovjetski vojnici u Katynu.
Knjiga je nastala na temelju autorovih autentičnih zabilježaka, ali i naknadnih sjećanja. Vrhunsko štivo!

[Maurizio Manco · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Passano i secoli, cambiano i regimi, ma la gente resta uguale in barba a pedagoghi e propagandisti." (p. 359)

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional and important witness. Worth reading.

[Natalia]

Nie wiem, czy w ogóle wypada gwiazdkować takie książki.

„Na nieludzkiej ziemi” to zapiski Józefa Czapskiego, malarza, pisarza, a także rotmistrza Wojska Polskiego, który we wrześniu 1939 roku wraz z kilkunastoma tysiącami innych jeńców został aresztowany przez wojsko sowieckie, wywieziony do ZSRR i osadzony w obozie jenieckim.

Czapski od samego początku spisywał doświadczenia swoje i swoich towarzyszy, tak więc „Na nieludzkiej ziemi” to wspomnienia z lat 39-43, kiedy to armia gen. Andersa została ewakuowana do Iranu. Nie jest to, jak mogą sugerować opisy zamieszczone z tyłu okładki, opowieść o Gułagu, bo autor nigdy do niego nie trafił, to raczej historia polskiego żołnierza, któremu udało się przetrwać dzięki „amnestii” i układowi Sikorski-Majski. „Na nieludzkiej ziemi” odkrywa przed nami tę część historii, o której nie uczy się w szkołach, kulisy tworzenia wojska polskiego i towarzyszące temu spektrum emocji: nadzieję, radość, chaos, niepewność, lęk, bezradność. To wspomnienia osoby niezwykle wrażliwej, artysty, wystawionej na trudną próbę. Czapski jest skupiony na jednostkach, przejmuje się ich losami i skrupulatnie opisuje je w swoich wspomnieniach, tak aby jak najwiarygodniej oddać brutalną sowiecką rzeczywistość.

Niezwykle ważny w tej książce jest wątek zbrodni katyńskiej - wszak Czapski trafił jako jeniec do obozu wraz z tysiącami innych wojskowych, zabitych później przez władze sowieckie strzałem w tył głowy, a sam właściwie cudem uniknął egzekucji. Opisuje on swoje próby odnalezienia zaginionych oficerów, nierzadko jego kolegów, próby z góry skazane na porażkę. Jako czytelnicy czujemy jego dezorientację, niezrozumienie sytuacji, bezradność i jednocześnie zachowaną do końca nadzieję, że to tylko nieporozumienie i lada dzień zobaczy, jak zwolnieni z obozów koledzy dołączają do formującej się polskiej armii. „Na nieludzkiej ziemi” to także memoriał upamiętniający tysiące bezprawnie zabitych, pochowanych w zbiorowym grobie, polskich oficerów, niezgoda na zapomnienie o nich.

Wspomnień Józefa Czapskiego nie czyta się łatwo. Są szczegółowe i trudne w odbiorze ze względu na wydarzenia, których dotyczą, ale zdecydowanie warto dać sobie szansę na zapoznanie się z tym kawałkiem historii.

[Prooost Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In World War II, the Poles (along with other eastern Europeans) found themselves in an absurd position. Poland was invaded by Germany, and the Polish Army was, naturally, fighting them. Then came the Hitler-Stalin Pact, which resulted in the Polish military being rounded up by the Soviets and put in camps. When Hitler broke the pact and the Germans invaded the Soviet Union, the Russians declared an amnesty and released the Polish officers from the camps (those officers whom they had not already executed), with the purpose of forming a new Polish Army within the Soviet borders. The Polish officers made the attempt, but as time went by it became clear that Stalin didn't trust the Poles, and that their army would not receive the support they needed to even survive.

Józef Czapski, from a cultured Polish family, and trained as a painter, was an officer in the Polish Army, and tells the story of the intense suffering of life in the Soviet Union during that time, and of Stalins murderous intentions. A kind, deeply humane man, Czapski tells the story with an almost unimaginable grace. Though the overall situation was as grim as it gets, there were moments of humor, beauty, and kindness. Czapski took care to learn people's individual stories, and put them on the page. So, many of their names and stories were not lost.

I learned many things I didn't have any inkling of: how the Polish Army made its way, via Iran, Iraq, and Palestine, to Italy, where they fought at Monte Cassino; of the scattering of Polish civilians and orphans to places around the world: India, Kenya, Mexico.

In the end, although the Poles fought bravely, conditions were such between the western powers and the Soviet Union, that much of Poland was ceded to the Soviet Union, and that all of it ended up behind the Iron Curtain.

Czapski's experience was mostly with the Soviets, but in the final chapter of the book, he struggles with those big questions about Germany and Germans. Are the Germans unique, or do all nations have this sort of brutality within them? How can people behave so murderously with others, and be so gentle and kind to their own? I don't know if anyone has answered, or can answer these questions with any success, but Józef Czapski did it as well as anybody could.

[Riet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een heel goed geschreven verslag van een stuk WWII geschiedenis, wat vrij onbekend is. De schrijver is een Pool, schilder en schrijver, die al in WWI gevochten heeft en daarna voor de onafhankelijkheid van Polen. Na de Russische inval in Polen en daarna als de Duitsers de Russen aanvallen wordt hij gevangen genomen door de Sovjets samen met honderdduizenden anderen. Als Stalin ze nodig heeft om de Duitsers te bestrijden, gaat hij meehelpen om een Pools leger te vormen. er zijn schrijnende verhalen over de kampen vooral in Rusland. Het gevormde Poolse leger komt uiteindelijk via Perzie in het Midden-Oosten terecht. Zij worden o.a. ingezet voor de bevrijding van Italia (Monte casino). De schrijver probeert zo objectief mogelijk te blijven. Dat is niet eenvoudig, als je leest wat er allemaal gebeurde in de Gulag en als ze er uiteindelijk achter komen, dat hun officieren en intelligentsia in Katyn en andere plaatsen zijn vermoord. Ondanks dat het een "geschiedenisboek" is, leest het vlot als een roman.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but just not my cup of tea. So many names and situations that meant nothing to me. Obviously, the awful circumstances and the disregard for humanity is soul crushing but just way too much for me to take in. Being less than interested in political maneuvering and military positions it was difficult for me to retain much of what I read. The little stories of friends, family and others that he met along the way were much more impactful. This edition had an addendum that the author added some years later and to me, that was the best part. The reader learns that a sister of his remained in her home and kept a diary of what was happening during her war experience.

[Micebyliz]

Honestly this book is so depressing it was hard to read and i made the mistake of reading at night and then of course had dreams....
I remember watching The Unknown War on PBS years ago, narrated by Burt Lancaster. It was on late at night (of course) and we both had terrible dreams during that series. This is much like that. But it's so vital to read this account and to absorb what it has to offer because it's so much more than the story. It's a deep and profound psychological study of the human mind and the damage that can be done by war. You just can't imagine and you can't explain it.

[Jack Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hugely passionate, precise, with immense observational capacity and an ability to paint a picture of his landscape with the stories of others. I cannot recommend enough - not only as a work of history but also a work of literature. The whole work was lifted by the translation of Antonia Lloyd-Jones.

[Evan Bock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little ponderous and heavy in its style. But not unusual for authors of that region and time. It was still an enlightening and fascinating look at a little talked about aspect of the historical struggle of Poland between the interwar years and World War 2.

[Poland · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 Stars

Czapski is wonderful.

[Beth Medvedev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great. But also really difficult at times. We owe the future to remember the stories of the past.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible and incredibly sad story. The last chapter in which Czapski deals with the aftermath, with Polish antisemitism, and with the inhumanity of the Nazi regime, is stunning and worth reading on its own.

[Wojtek Konieczny · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audiobook), 8/10
Lektor - 4/6

[Austin Barselau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A paean to Polish pride and patriotism

[Marinella De Amicis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Troppo elencativo speravo in una storia non mi è piaciuto

[Chiara Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un diario di memorie che ti fa capire l'altra faccia della guerra, quella che non viene raccontata se non da chi l'ha vissuta e raccontata

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

To powinna być lektura obowiązkowa. Szkolna. Dorosła. W tym wydaniu aż po "O Niemcach", rozdział najlepszy z całości.

[john callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, an artist, was an officer in the Polish army when the Nazis invaded on 1 September 1939; he retreated to the east and was made a prisoner of war of the Soviets, who had invaded on 17 September. After the Nazis invaded the USSR in June 1941, the Soviets decided to let the surviving Polish POWs form an army to fight the Nazis. This army was evacuated to the Western Front through Iran and Iraq, and to Palestine, where it joined the Allies. It was on the front lines in the Allies' invasion of Italy. This group was instrumental in the Allied taking of Monte Cassino.

Czapski describes the horrors of living in the USSR during the war years: countless people were dying from hunger, exposure (freezing), and disease.

The author was assigned by Polish authorities to find out from the Soviets the whereabouts of many thousand Polish officers who were missing when the army was being formed. He traveled as far as Moscow trying to find out the fate of these thousands of people.

They were already dead, murdered by the Soviets earlier in the war in what is now known as the Katyn Forest Massacre. A total of more than 15,000 died.

Some historians have since theorized that the massacre was motivated by the Soviet desire to eliminate a significant population of educated Poles to make easier the creation of the post-war Soviet satellite People’s Poland

[Megan]

Necessary reading (imho).

Biggest takeaway messages: (1) the pursuit of truth is the pathway to justice; (2) to reconcile and to do right by history, we must not turn away from it but face it head-on. Only then can we not only understand history, but learn from it (and thus learn about ourselves, our societies, and our cultures)

I also leave this book thinking about how much humanity can exist during moments of absolute inhumanity (how the Polish prisoners in Gryazovets and other camps came together, and how they held onto poetry, learning—and anything that connected them to Poland) and also the strength of the Polish spirit when both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were trying to crush it from existence. But those moments that Czapski captured of small acts of kindness and the endurance of these Poles during unimaginable suffering and injustice (especially while in the Soviet Union, as he was trying to pursue what had happened to missing Polish officers whom he later learned were murdered in what became known as the Katyń Massacre) will perhaps leave the longest lasting impression on me.