Auschwitz, Poland, and the politics of commemoration, 1945-1979 /

Huener (Univ. of Vermont) demonstrates convincingly that Auschwitz, as place and concept, has been "modified by age, the elements, and especially by the diverse and often competing narratives of the camp complex's history" since 1945. The varied experiences of the victims (Poles, Jews, others) make a single commemorative interpretation impossible. The author traces the influence of Polish national identity, communist politics, Catholic faith, and international interest on the development of the memorial site. An emphasis on Polish martyrdom resulted in a marginalization of the Shoah, a development well documented by the different treatments of the base camp (Auschwitz I) and Birkenau (Auschwitz II). Huener explains the tensions between an initial and continuous emphasis on Polish victims and the need to acknowledge Jewish suffering as the site became increasingly "internationalized." The discussions of Cold War politics and the impact of John Paul II's visit in 1979 are especially valuable. This work is well conceived, remarkably articulate, and sensitive to the great complexity of Auschwitz's history and memory. It is required reading for those interested in postwar Poland and the construction of memory in the context of multiple and competing demands. ^BSumming Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above. G. F. Schroeder St. John's University, Minnesota