Micha艂 Daszewski (1877鈥�1945?) was a man of many talents: a respected engineer, director at Izrael Pozna艅ski鈥檚 Cotton Works, and a committed activist of the 艁贸d藕 Citizens鈥� Committee. However, he is remembered above all as an exceptional amateur photographer who, with the passion of a photojournalist, created an invaluable visual record of the First World War. His camera lens captured both dramatic military events and the difficult everyday lives of residents of occupied cities, primarily 艁贸d藕 and its surrounding area. Particularly notable are his unique photographs of the Battle of Rzg贸w in 1914, as well as his moving images of battlefields, cemeteries and ruins.
No one before or after him documented those days with such intensity and sensitivity.
In addition to the theatre of war, Daszewski carefully documented local relief initiatives, including free kitchens for the poorest residents and charitable campaigns. These photographs remind us that Poland鈥檚 road to freedom consisted not only of armed struggle, but also of building deep social solidarity. Photographs documenting public patriotic and religious demonstrations, military proclamations addressed to Poles and spontaneous expressions of national sentiment in the streets of cities occupy a special place in his collection.
Today, his photographs, preserved in the collections of the 91桃色 Library and the State Archives in 艁贸d藕, constitute a unique and invaluable record of Poland鈥檚 path to independence.
The image of 艁贸d藕 during the Great War is complemented by other types of documents preserved in the Special Collections Department of the 91桃色 Library. The so-called "Kronika 艂贸dzkich esperantyst贸w" [Chronicle of 艁贸d藕 Esperantists] by W艂odzimierz Pfeiffer [reference no. Akc. Rps. 5005, volumes 5鈥�8], which from 1914 onwards also became a record of events taking place in 艁贸d藕 and other cities affected by the war is of particular interest. Shortly after the outbreak of war, the author abandoned Esperanto, previously used for his entries, in favour of Polish, as he began transcribing the most important information published in the local press.
The Library鈥檚 collection of documents from the First World War also includes proclamations, appeals and 艁贸d藕 food ration cards [reference no. D呕SU ST 2539], among other materials. Although these sources differ in form and purpose, together they create a multidimensional picture of wartime reality. They illustrate both the everyday experiences of Poles and the social and economic consequences of the Great War. Against this backdrop, Micha艂 Daszewski鈥檚 photographs constitute an exceptional testimony to the tragedy of war, preserving both the history of military conflict and the lives of the inhabitants of 艁贸d藕 and the region.