Our second day in Warsaw and beyond.....

Off for the day on the trams... great way to get around. Three day pass is $10 or 30 zlotys.

Headed out on Saturday to visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum. It is quite a powerful experience. Don't have photos but purchased the guidebook that tells the story.

It is important to know the distinction between the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ( April 19th-May 6th, 1943) when the Jews of Warsaw, having lived for three years in the confines of a ghetto, 480,000 people in the 10-15 square blocks. If you have read the history and associated stories you know that they were starved and deprived of the means to live. In June, 1942, the transports began and approximately 300,00 were sent to the death camp at Treblinka (about 150,000 people had already starved to death or died of diseases). The remaining 30,000 were kept in the ghetto and in April, 1943, revolted against the German army and oppressors. You know the rest of the story.
It is quite moving to walk the streets, see the memorials and see the names of those who died for humanity. Below is the photo id card of Frydrich Zelman, one of the many freedom fighters.

The Warsaw Uprising happened in August-October, 1944, when the Polish Home Army (in hiding) and Polish resistance rose up against the German army and in the end were repressed. The Russian Army, alleging planning to help, sat on the east side of the Vistula River and did nothing while the Germans disseminated the Polish freedom fighters. It is quite a human tragedy.  Here is a photo of the Warsaw Memorial to those who resisted.

On Sunday we wandered through old town and saw the area had been rebuilt. If you are interested in the extent of the destruction (85-90% of Warsaw was leveled by the Germans), you can go to the website below. Powerful photos of the destruction and rebuilding.

http://www.polishforums.com/history-poland-34/restoration-polish-cities-ww-destruction-32836/

Here are a few photos of the area today.

Old town square

Relief design on building in square

Back street in old town

Coachmen in the square

Sports stadium in the distance

Royal castle (rebuilt)

Stain glass in St. John's Cathedral

This was the cathedral where the Warsaw Ghetto fighters took refuge and the Germans drove a tank into it and it explored killing 500 plus people.  This cathedral was totally destroyed then rebuilt and dedicated by Pope John Paul II.

After the visit to the old town square, we visited the Gestapo headquarters where resistance fighters were interrogated, sent to concentration camps or murdered outside Warsaw.

Memorial cell

Yes, it was quite the emotional day. So much tragedy, yet so much courage. 

Ending the day on a lighter note, here is Leslie's favorite place...