Editing Polish literature (section)

==World War II==
{{main|Polish literature during World War II}}
In the years of [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|German]] and [[Soviet invasion of Poland|Soviet occupation of Poland]], all artistic life was dramatically compromised. Cultural institutions were lost. The environment was chaotic, and the writers scattered: some found themselves in concentration and labor camps (or [[Jewish ghettos in German-occupied Poland|Nazi-era ghettos]]), others were deported out of the country; some emigrated ([[Julian Tuwim|Tuwim]], [[Kazimierz Wierzyński|Wierzyński]]), many more joined the ranks of the Polish underground resistance movement ([[Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński|Baczyński]], [[Tadeusz Borowski|Borowski]], [[Tadeusz Gajcy|Gajcy]]). All literary outlets were forced to cease operation. Writers who remained at home began organizing literary life in conspiracy, including lectures, evenings of poetry, and secret meetings in the homes of writers and art facilitators. Polish cities where such meetings were held most frequently were: [[Warsaw]], [[Kraków]] and [[Lwów]]. Writers participated in setting-up of the underground presses (out of 1,500 clandestine publications in Poland, about 200 were devoted to literature). Many fought in the Polish army in exile or resisted the [[The Holocaust in Poland|Holocaust]] in a civil capacity. The generation of the ''Kolumbs,'' born around 1920, were active during the [[Warsaw uprising]].<ref name="streszczenia.pl">[http://streszczenia.pl/epoka/literatura-ii-wojny-swiatowej/  Literatura II wojny światowej. Opis epoki.] ''Streszczenia.pl.'' Retrieved 26 September 2011.</ref><ref name="klp.pl">Dorota Blednicka, [http://medaliony.klp.pl/a-8227.html „Medaliony” na tle ówczesnej literatury wojennej.] ''Kulturalna Polska'' (Klp.pl). Retrieved 26 September 2011.</ref><ref name="pisarze.pl">Janusz Termer, [http://pisarze.pl/publicystyka/358-janusz-termer-komu-jest-dzi-potrzebny-pisarz.html Komu jest dziś potrzebny pisarz?] Portal artystyczno – literacki ''Pisarze pl''. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{in lang|pl}}</ref><ref name="republika.pl">[http://gacek33online.republika.pl/07tematy/wojna.html Heroizacja i deheroizacja postaci w literaturze wojennej i powojennej.] ''Literatura Online'' (gacek.prv.pl). {{in lang|pl}}</ref> Best-known representatives of the war years are:
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* [[Zofia Nałkowska]] (1884–1954), ''[[Medallions (book)|Medallions]]''
* [[Melchior Wańkowicz]] (1892–1974), ''Bitwa o [[Battle of Monte Cassino|Monte Cassino]]''
* [[Krystyna Krahelska]] (1914–1944)
* [[Gustaw Herling-Grudziński]] (1919–2000), ''[[A World Apart (book)|A World Apart: Memoir]]''
* [[Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński]] (1921–1944)
* [[Tadeusz Różewicz]] (1921–2014)
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* [[Tadeusz Gajcy]] (1922–1944)
* [[Tadeusz Borowski]] (1922–1951), ''[[This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen|This Way for the Gas...]]''
* [[Miron Białoszewski]] (1922–1983)
* [[Zbigniew Herbert]] (1924–1998)
* [[Jerzy Ficowski]] (1924–2006)
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{{see also|Polish literature during World War II|Sztuka i Naród}}