W nurcie przeobrażeń i deformacji nauki historycznej w Polsce po 1945 roku

Abstract

European changes in the education and school systems are a result of the development needs of the particular states and countries. In Poland, after the end of World War II, these domains of life constituted priorities in strengthening of the state power. An important role was assigned to the humanities, especially, teaching of history. Its new objectives and duties were defined and specified at conventions, congresses, and conferences (Wroclaw, Otwock, Kraków, and Lublin). They were publicized in many publications and periodicals. University historical studies were subordinated to them, and they were introduced in teaching history at schools. At the end of the 1940-ies, ideology started to enter the historians’ research workshop. Marxist approach to the history of mankind started to be obligatory. Researchers had to explain and interpret past events and phenomena in the light of historic materialism. Historians were forced to accept Marxism as the indispensable methodological basis of academic research. During the so-called “ideological attack” in the 1940-ies and 50-ies, Stalinism aimed at preserving the ideological image of the past. This way, it was also attempted to legitimize the totalitarian power exercised by the parties governing in Central-Eastern Europe in the post -war period. As a result of that, many historians at that time were not presenting the historical truth. They produced biased and manipulated texts deforming the past. Thus, one can state that during the period of People’s Poland, historians lacked conditions for unrestrained research, educational, and educative activity. Nevertheless, even at that time, there were a few researchers who endeavoured to make true scientific reconstruction of the historic facts and events. They included, among others, T. Manteuffel and S. Kieniewicz.