New article. When the mnemonic actors become storytellers: the lore of the ‘recovery’ in 1970s Poland

We are happy to announce that a new article by our principal investigator, Karolina Ćwiek-Rogalska, was published in the journal Acta Poloniae Historica.

The article delves into the memoirs of Polish soldiers who settled in the Recovered Territories after World War II, examining how they convey the stories of Poland’s acquisition of the formerly German lands in 1945. Karolina identifies two main forms of storytelling: myth and lore. The myth represents authoritative and obligatory stories, while lore involves flexible and optional storytelling. She also discusses how the myth of the ‘recovery’ evolved into lore over time, from the immediate post-war period to the 1970s. This analysis sheds light on the various ways in which personal and collective experiences shape the narratives of historical events.

The article is available in open access on the web page of Acta Poloniae Historica and our our website. We’d like to encourage you to check the whole issue of the journal as well.