Polish Anti-Zionist Movement (1967-1968)

This thesis mainly talks about the issue of the anti-Zionist campaign in Poland, which happened during1967-68.The Israel air force’s surprise attack on Egypt, Jordan, and Syria led to the outbreak of the six-day war. As a result of both the USA and Soviet taking part in the war, the influence of the local war had been beyond the Middle East region. After the outbreak of the war, the Eastern countries led by Soviet launched an anti-Israel, anti-Zionist campaign. However, the rest of the eastern countries (Romania didn’t join in the movement at all) routinely followed suit the Soviet, it was only Poland that turned the diplomatic event in a domestic affairs, which lasted for almost one year and aimed at purging the Jews and reformist. The anti-Zionist campaign had forced about more than ten thousands polish Jews to leave Poland for other countries. The March event which broken out during the campaign enabled the relationship between the government and intelligentsia sharpen. It also ruined the inter-part democracy and had a bad effect on socialist construction of Poland.The anti-Zionist campaign in Poland just mirrored something about the cold war. These countries were too weak and small to keep independence in cold war. It is useful for us to understand cold war deeply. Meanwhile, it helps us to make out the relationship between Soviet and Soviet bloc country. The paper uses the former studies and the latest released archives to give the readers whole picture.The full thesis falls into four parts:The first part mainly introduce the history condition of the polish Jews。The history of polish Jews can be into three parts:before World War I, between Two World II, post-world war II. How could the small population and aging minority endanger their country peace? Why did the government attack them?The second part will discuss the reasons about the anti-Zionist campaign in Poland during1967-68. Under background of cold war, I will discuss the reasons at home and abroad. Due to the special strategy of Poland, both the USA and Soviet pay much attention to the country. In face of the political and economic penetration by USA, the Soviet had to tighten the control of poles. In the meantime, the Arabs failed in the six-day war, which the Soviet was side with the Arabs, but the USA supported Israel, made the Soviet Union launch an anti-Zionist campaign as a counterweight to America, Israel. Meanwhile, the political and economic crisis got worse and worse. The inter-party fraction conflict (especial the Partisan) upgraded this campaign to a real anti-Semitic, anti-reformist movement disguising under the anti-Zionist clothes.The third part mainly talks about the entire process of the anti-Zionist campaign in Poland during1967-68. This section will discuss this problem by some specific history events:the six-day war,"the fifth column" spoken by Gomulka in the sixth trade union plenary, and the March event. The mass media play an inciting role in the anti-Zionist campaign.The fourth part states the essence and influence of the anti-Zionist campaign on both the polish Jews and People’s Republic of Poland. Gomulka was faced with severely political and economic crisis in1960s. The poles had dissatisfied with the bad economic situation. The March event may broaden the crisis into the whole nation unrest. In order to distract the poles and worker class attention, Gomulka acquiesced in Moczar who launched the anti-Zionist campaign.The campaign changed the polish Jews’ fate, not only damaged their life, career but also ends up with one thousand years Jewish history and culture in Poland. To the People’s Republic of Poland, the immigration of the Jews caused the loss of human resources. Poland was been condemned by the world. However, improper methods taken by the polish government led to the form of KOR and Solidarity. When the debris of collapsing society starts to come down, they will be its victims. It deserves us to rethink profoundly.