Zofia Nalkowska's Medallions: Witnessing Holocaust Horror in 1946

Zofia Nalkowska, a prominent Polish writer of the 1930s, shifted her focus after World War II to document the atrocities of the Holocaust. In 1946, she published 'Medallions,' a series of short stories based on her observations as a member of the Main Commission for the Investigation of German Crimes in Poland. The work is noted for its restrained, documentary style, capturing the trauma of genocide without sensationalism. Nalkowska's earlier career as a novelist of elegance gave way to a stark, testimonial mode. The article, published in Neue Zürcher Zeitung, reflects on how the war compelled her to bear witness, framing 'Medallions' as a subtle cardiogram of a sick Europe. The piece draws parallels to Thomas Mann's 'The Magic Mountain,' suggesting Nalkowska's work diagnoses the continent's moral decay. Nalkowska's legacy as a witness is emphasized over her pre-war literary fame.