Paweł Skibiński, Piotr Nowak, Paweł Samuś, Jarosław Molenda, Wojciech Königsberg and Bartłomiej Szyprowski, as well as the editorial team of the book “When silent graves speak…” were the winners of the 14th “Historical Book of the Year” Competition for the Oskar Halecki Award. The event is organised by the Polish Television, the Polish Radio, the Institute of National Remembrance and the National Cultural Centre.

In accordance with the regulations, the jury awarded prizes in four categories. They were awarded to authors whose books were published in Polish for the first time between 1 January 2022 and 28 July 2023. From 2 to 31 October 2023, the competition was accompanied by an online vote in which readers selected their ‘History Books of the Year’.

In the category ‘Best academic book devoted to the history of Poland and Poles in the 20th century’, the jury awarded Pawel Skibiński’s work ‘The Church in the Face of Totalitarianisms (1917-1989). World Catholicism and the Polish Experience’. The readers’ prize in the same category was given to the book by Jarosław Molenda, ‘Alfred Szklarski – a buyer of dreams. The first biography of the author of the adventures of Tomek Wilmowski’.

In the category ‘The best popular science book on Polish history in the 20th century’, the award was given to Piotr Nowak’s book “Philosophers (in three words)”. Readers in this category chose a book by Wojciech Königsberg and Bartłomiej Szyprowski entitled “Liquidate! Agents of the Gestapo and NKVD in the ranks of the Polish underground”.

“The best source publication devoted to the history of Poland and Poles in the 20th century” was the book by Danuta Jastrzębska-Golonka, Ewa Kowalska, Ewa Dulna-Rak and Katarzyna Ziębik entitled “When silent graves speak… The legacy of Katyn”.

In the category “Best memoirs concerning the history of Poland and Poles in the 20th century”, the jury honoured the book “Walery Sławek. Collected Memories” by Paweł Samuś.

Adrian Andrzejewski