Anna Zapalec

Dr. Anna Zapalec is an Associate Professor at the Pedagogical University of Cracow's Department of Contemporary History & Historical Education. She specializes in 20th-century Polish history, with a focus on World War II, Holocaust studies, Soviet/Nazi occupations, and forced migrations. Her work extensively examines repressions, deportations, and resistance movements in occupied Poland.

Her research explores diverse themes including:

• Jewish experiences under Nazi occupation
• Soviet propaganda and administrative restructuring
• Forced labor systems (Gulags)
• Women and children in wartime repressions
• Polish-British intelligence cooperation

Zapalec has received multiple honors, including the Minister of Science Award (2017) and Rector's Awards (2010, 2012) for academic excellence. She participated in major research projects like Poland in the British Resistance Strategy and Strategies for the Survival of Jews during the Occupation.

Internationally active, she completed fellowships at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2024), University of Ottawa (2023), and London archives. She co-organizes cross-cultural academic initiatives focusing on WWII remembrance and has held leadership roles in the Polish Historical Society and international historical congresses.