Poland

For centuries Poland has been subjected to invasion, occupation, and oppression, but its history has also been marked by a dogged determination to retain a sense of identity. Hosted by Megan McCormick, this entry from the Globe Trekker travelogue series offers a whirlwind trip around parts of the new Poland, beginning in Silesia, where the future Pope John Paul II began his ministry. Nearby is a bone-filled "church of skulls," a grim reminder of the victims of war, who fell during the many conflicts waged by outsiders seeking control of the country. On a lighter note, McCormick also visits the Polish “Disneyland,” which celebrates all aspects of Polish culture, including the art of snuff taking. The ethnically German city of Gdansk (formerly Danzig) was the scene of two seismic battles. On September 1, 1939, Nazi troops attacked and brutally suppressed Polish patriots (although many of the ethnic Germans welcomed the action), setting off World War II. Several decades later, the city's shipyard workers rose up against their Russian Communist masters, launching the "Solidarity" movement that marked the beginning of the end for Soviet domination of Poland. Another point of interest is Hitler's headquarters—known as the "Wolf's Lair"—the scene of an unsuccessful July 1944 attempt by German officers to assassinate Hitler. McCormick also visits castles, recalling the famed "winged hussars," who used bird feathers and plumes as a form of psychological warfare, putting "wings" on their horses in an early attempt to shock and awe their enemies. Polish food, drink, and music are also covered, and McCormick takes a kayak trip along a canal that was built and used by stubborn Poles as a way of avoiding the government's "river tax." McCormick is a cheerful, if sometimes strident host, but this is a somewhat scattershot introduction to Poland, and the relatively brief running time leaves some coverage feeling superficial. Still, the market is not flooded with travelogues on Poland, so consider this a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Rees)