I Am First a Human Being: The Prison Letters of Krystyna Wituska
by Krystyna Wituska
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On the eve of World War II, Krystyna Wituska, a carefree teenager attending finishing school in Switzerland, returned to Poland. During the occupation, when she was twenty years old, she drifted into the Polish Underground. By her own admission, she was attracted first by the adventure, but her youthful bravado soon turned into a mental and spiritual mastery over fear. Because Krystyna spoke fluent German, she was assigned to collect information on German troop movements at Warsaw's airport. show more In 1942, at age twenty-one, she was arrested by the Gestapo and transferred to prison in Berlin, where she was executed two years later. Eighty of the letters that Krystyna wrote in the last eighteen months of her life are translated and collected in this volume. The letters, together with an introduction providing historical background to Krystyna's arrest, constitute a little-known and authentic record of the treatment of ethnic Poles under German occupation, the experience of Polish prisoners in German custody, and a glimpse into the prisons of Berlin. Krystyna's letters also reflect her own courage, idealism, faith, and sense of humor. As a classroom text, this book relates nicely to contemporary discussions of racism, nationalism, patriotism, human rights, and stereotypes. This is a new edition of the book originally titled ""I Am First a Human Being: The Letters of Krystyna Wituska"" (Vehicule Press, 1997). show lessTags
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by meggyweg
Member Reviews
Considering that she was writing these while confined in prison under sentence of death, I found Krystyna Wituska's letters to be remarkably cheerful and optimistic. Irene Tomaszewski's introduction provides a decent historical context to the letters as well as a good portrait of Krystyna's life, and the notes help the reader keep track of who was who in her life. (Though the notes were a bit repetitive at times. Yes, I know her aunt's husband was killed in the War. I got that the first time. You don't need to mention it over and over again.)
This is a good addition to the collection of books about the Polish resistance in World War II, as well as the political prisoners in Germany at that time, and it's not so depressing as many such show more books are. You can't help but like and admire Krystyna's upbeat attitude as well as her courage.
For a similar book out of Denmark, check out “Heroic Heart: The Diary and Letters of Kim Malthe-Bruun 1941-1945”. show less
This is a good addition to the collection of books about the Polish resistance in World War II, as well as the political prisoners in Germany at that time, and it's not so depressing as many such show more books are. You can't help but like and admire Krystyna's upbeat attitude as well as her courage.
For a similar book out of Denmark, check out “Heroic Heart: The Diary and Letters of Kim Malthe-Bruun 1941-1945”. show less
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- Paper, Ebook
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