The Toporzeł is an emblem created by Stanisław Szukalski in 1935 to replace the traditional White Eagle.[1][2][3] It was created by combination of axe and eagle (topor+orzeł). The head has the form of a hook shaped like an eagle's head, which symbolizes breaking a tradition. A symbol based on the Toporł, but with a cross instead of an eagle's head (Topokrzyż) appeared in Szukalski's magazine "Krak". It bore the inscription "GOJ - Gospodarczą Organizujmy Jedność" and was intended by the author to be used to mark non-Jewish shops[4] At the beginning of 1940, in German- occupied Warsaw, this symbol was used by Polish anti-Semites from the "Atak" group to mark Christian shops , in order to economically boycott Jews.[5]
"Therefore, I am bringing you a beautiful sign, a new Eagle, even simpler than the Piast, so that you, who are possessed, are also you, the intention of the mission of the Rodoslawi; with an open heart they adopted on their banners, a sincere confession of national and racial patriotism, this is the sign of Topor, which became the Eagle. Let the Axor give us all, regardless of the different paths of attaining to the same Ideal, inspiration is needed today “ - S.Szukalski
References
edit- ^ Kirch, Eva; Kirsch, Donat, eds. (2001). Struggle: The Art of Szukalski. Last Gasp. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-86719-479-1. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Lameński, Lechosław (2007). Stach z Warty. Szukalski i Szczep Rogate Serce. Wydawnictwo KUL. p. 187. ISBN 978-83-7363-554-8.
- ^ Lameński, Lechosław (2007). Stach z Warty. Szukalski i Szczep Rogate Serce. Wydawnictwo KUL. p. 193. ISBN 978-83-7363-554-8.
- ^ Lameński, Lechosław (2007). Stach z Warty Szukalski i Szczep Rogate Serce (in Polish). Wydawn. KUL. p. 223. ISBN 978-83-7363-554-8. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Szarota, Tomasz (2015). On the Threshold of the Holocaust: Anti-Jewish Riots and Pogroms in Occupied Europe : Warsaw, Paris, The Hague, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Kaunas (PDF). Peter Lang Edition. p. 39. ISBN 978-3-631-64048-7. Retrieved 6 August 2024.