The Nazi Persecution of Polish Catholics: The Wojtas Family Collection

In this episode of Curators Corner, Museum librarian Vincent Slatt shares photographs, documents, and artifacts from the Museum’s collection that document the persecution his grandparents Eugene and Irene Wojtas, Catholics from rural Poland, underwent at the hands of the Nazis, and their early life together after they met in a displaced persons camp after the war. The collection provides insight into the experiences of the vast number of Polish citizens—at least 1.5 million—whom the Nazis deported to German territory for forced labor between 1939 and 1945.

Learn More

• Special Focus—Remembering the German Invasion of Poland

• Holocaust Encyclopedia—Polish Victims

• Holocaust Encyclopedia—German Administration of Poland