Museum boss is forced out for ‘ignoring’ Poland

In 18 rooms the museum tells the story of the Second World War, explaining at every step its impact on Poland’s fate
In 18 rooms the museum tells the story of the Second World War, explaining at every step its impact on Poland’s fate
WOJCIECH STROZYK/ALAMY

The director of Poland’s Museum of the Second World War has been forced out by the nationalist government after it accused him of focusing too strongly on the conflict from a global perspective at the expense of Polish history.

Pawel Machcewicz was usurped in a merger two weeks after the museum opened to international acclaim. It marked the latest assault by the ruling Law and Justice Party on the liberalism it says is undermining Poland.

The action is being seen as another sign of hostility towards western values in eastern Europe following a law passed in Hungary last week aimed at closing the Central European University in Budapest, a bastion of liberal education founded by George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist.

The museum, in Gdansk, took eight years to create
The museum, in Gdansk, took eight years to create
CZAREK SOKOLOWSKI/ASSOCIATED PRESS

“The Law and Justice Party