Witold Stankowski

Professor Witold Stankowski holds a position at the Department of Central European Studies within the Institute of European Studies at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. He maintains additional appointments at the Capt. W. Pilecki Małopolska State University in Oświęcim and the Pilecki Institute in Warsaw. Appointed Professor of History by decree of the President of the Republic of Poland in 2011, his academic career spans contemporary European history with particular emphasis on Polish-German relations.

Stankowski's research interests focus on the contemporary history of Poland and Europe, specializing in World War II history, postwar Germany, Holocaust studies, and war memory. His scholarly work examines personal testimonies, historical sources, and the impact of totalitarian regimes on European societies. His biographical studies of significant historical figures like Szymon Wiesenthal and Witold Pilecki demonstrate his commitment to preserving historical memory through individual narratives.

His recent publications reveal consistent thematic focus on WWII documentation, Holocaust victim and perpetrator studies, and the examination of historical sources from occupied Poland. The 2024-2025 publications particularly emphasize judicial systems under Nazi rule, personal accounts of wartime experiences, and the role of family in shaping moral responses to oppression.

• Best History Book of the Year 2011
• Silver Cross of Merit
• Gold Cross of Merit
• Medal of the National Education Commission
• Cross of Merit on the Ribbon of the Order of the Federal Republic of Germany

Stankowski has received prestigious scholarships from multiple institutions including the Foundation for Polish Science, German Academic Austauschdienst, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, German Parliament, and Lanckoroński Foundation. His research projects include 'Polish Intelligence during World War II' at the Pilecki Institute (2021), demonstrating his ongoing engagement with critical historical investigations. His academic work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary human rights discourse, particularly through his studies on education and human rights violations.