|
|
 |
 |
Background history
The notes written down in a small neat handwriting, accompanied by schematic drawings, were taken by Second Lieutenant Wilhelm Stryczek attending a course in biology, which was organized in Oflag VIIA Murnau in the years of World War II. They testify to the POWs’ self-education activity: through making efforts to develop intellectually in captivity, they strove to oppose the totalitarian institution of the POW camp which they were interned in. Systematic educational work allowed them to forget about the depressing reality: hunger, cold, dirt and humiliation. Courses available in the Wehrmacht-run camps meant educational classes in one or several subjects, which were organized for a group ranging from a few to some dozen interested POWs. That was the simplest and – at the same time – the most popular way to gain professional qualifications in different domains, specializations and on different levels. The courses were held in almost all of the camps run by the Wehrmacht, yet in those designed for officers they were organized on a much broader scale. One can even risk the statement that the courses dominated the educational activity in oflags, where they were most often organized within individual subject circles or sections. All the courses were supervised by relevant cells of cultural and educational commissions: in Oflag II A Prenzlau – by the Department of Permanent Courses, in Oflag II B Arnswalde (Choszczno) – by Department of Scientific Courses, and in Oflag II C Woldenberg (Dobiegniew) – by Department of Specialist Circles. Still another organizational principle was accepted in Oflag VII A Murnau, where a separate commission in charge of camp courses was established. It monitored eight disciplines being taught. The commissions were the bodies responsible for approving of programs and teaching staff, nominating examiners, keeping the register of the most significant work. The function of intermediaries between the commissions in charge of culture and education and course participants was played by the relevant Heads who dealt with organizational matters, as well as endeavored to procure suitable means and classrooms. Teaching programs were modeled most frequently on specialist or departmental courses which had been organized in the interwar Poland. At first, the courses were of the skills-improvement character to become a planned and systematic form of gaining new qualifications, including also completion of comprehensive education, and even obtaining specialist knowledge in many narrow disciplines. Foreign languages and teacher’s courses were very popular; so were the military ones run in conspiracy. Their organization was dependent on the personal composition of the POW community, that is on the number of POWs, their activity and the range of vocational specializations at their disposal. The least favorable conditions regarding this sort of activity presented themselves in stalags, where because of the POWs’ compulsory labor there was an incessant movement between working units and the host camp. This greatly hampered mutual communication. Besides that, the number of POWs capable of running educational classes was far lower than that in oflags. Among the Polish officers who were isolated in German oflags, there was a group of 18 thousand people from different circles of intelligentsia, representing a variety of disciplines of knowledge and professional specializations. It is thanks to them that the sphere of intellectual activity in the Wehrmacht captivity could materialize, becoming one of the most interesting and, at the same time, the most beautiful domains of life in captivity.
Prepared by: Dorota Musiał
|
|
|
Notes from a course in biology
Source of acquisition
The item was given over to the Museum by Wilhelm Stryczek of Cieszyn in 1970.
Description of the item
The course notes were written by hand on 45 pages of an A4 notebook, with ruled lines, cased in indigo hard cover. They contain neatly made schematic drawings. The state of preservation is good.
|
