History

Holocaust survivor becomes internet star after using TikTok to tell younger generations about WWII atrocities

Tova Freidman has over 500,000 followers on TikTok, and her videos have had 8.8 million likes and 75 million views since they first went live a year and a half ago. Tova Friedman/TikTok

Using the social media platform to teach young people who don’t want to read books, Tova Friedman said: “Here they are, listening.”

The incredible true story of the men who took on the Gestapo to save a friend

Operation Arsenal, which took place 80 years ago today, was to go down in history as one of the most daring prison breaks of the Second Word War. And yet few have ever heard of it. TFN's Joanna Jasińska looks back at the events surrounding one of WWII's lesser-known bitter-sweet triumphs.

Rising from Rubble. Warsaw rebuilds itself after the war

The Museum of Warsaw is taking a look at the rebuilding of the Polish capital after World War II. After the city was decimated by the German occupiers, all that was left was rubble and a population of under 20,000, down from 1.3 million before the war.

Life of richest Pole to have ever lived after he won 774 kilos of gold in a casino is explored in riveting new book

A high-living bon vivant, Karol Jaroszyński’s youth was characterised by wild spending and long nights in Europe’s most glamorous casinos. And then he literally broke the bank of Monte Carlo by winning 774 kilos of gold at the roulette table.

Archaeologists uncover treasure from times of King Bolesław II

Dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, the objects include a mysterious lead amulet, a bronze horse, weapons, ornaments made of silver, lead and copper alloys, items of everyday use such as knives, and silver coins.

Long-forgotten piece of Polish art history resurfaces after 149 years

The sketch in oil was painted by Jan Matejko in around 1874 as a preliminary study for his iconic work Prussian Homage and offers a fascinating insight into the artist's creative process.

Warsaw Ghetto Rising exhibition opens in Madrid

An exhibition devoted to the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Rising, in which Warsaw's Jewish population rose up against the Nazis, opened on Friday in the government-run Centro Sefarad Israel institute.

Extraordinary tale of hero WWII air force dog retold in delightful animation

Some 80 years after his death, Ciapek has found himself standing alongside Poland’s other hero animals after having his story immortalised courtesy of an animated film produced for the Institute of National Remembrance.

Sounding out the past

How do we know what the past sounded like, even though there wasn’t any recording equipment or other such audio gadgetry back in the 19th century and beyond?

Builders find time capsule containing 19th century ‘coins and documents’ while digging up roundabout

Contained in a transparent glass container, documents in German bearing the date 1864 and coins from the second half of the 19th century can be seen.

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