Exploring Spring, Summer, WAR… Warsaw 1939: A Historical Photography Exhibition

This exhibition commemorates the 80th anniversary of World War II's outbreak by exploring the final summer in Warsaw before the conflict and the initial months of the war. It juxtaposes the city's vibrant pre-war life with the devastating impact of conflict, showcasing over a hundred photographs and archival materials.

Marking the 80th anniversary of World War II, 'Spring, Summer, WAR… Warsaw 1939' delves into the poignant contrast between the final summer of peace and the harrowing reality of the war's first months in Warsaw. The exhibition questions how much the war would change the city and whether inhabitants could have truly prepared for its devastation. Visitors can expect to see around a hundred photographs from various collections, representing different photographic styles and perspectives—official, private, and propaganda. These images are accompanied by detailed descriptions, excerpts from diaries and memoirs, a calendar of events, and amateur archival films from the early occupation period. The photographs include works by photojournalists from the 'Illustrated Daily Courier,' American correspondent Julian Bryan, Home Army soldier Sylwester 'Kris' Braun, and German journalist Wilhelm Haase Lampe. The exhibition is structured into four sections: the first depicts the everyday life and unsettling rhythm of Warsaw's last summer before the German attack; the second features Julien Bryan's famous photographs of the siege, showing destroyed streets, civilian suffering, and portraits; the third presents images of Warsaw after its capitulation, highlighting damage sustained early in the war; and the fourth section focuses on German soldiers photographing themselves with the ruins and the city's life under occupation, concluding with a German journalist's December 1939 photos before the northern district became a ghetto. This presentation highlights the scale of destruction and the immense effort required for survival and rebuilding, underscoring Warsaw's resilience. The exhibition is part of a larger series of events titled 'Warsaw. Let it last,' organized by the History Meeting House. It features contributions from curators Monika Kapa-Cichocka, Katarzyna Madoń-Mitzner, and Ryszard Mączewski, with exhibition design by Katarzyna Brzostowska. Key partners include the Warszawa1939.pl Foundation, National Digital Archives, and State Archives of Warsaw, with media support from Polskie Radio, Gazeta Wyborcza, and others. The visual materials aim to underscore the radical transformation of the city and the human experience within it during this tumultuous period.

The exhibition is organized by the History Meeting House. Specific ticketing or admission details are not provided on this page, but general opening hours for the venue are listed as Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday-Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00.