Dr. Joshua Zimmerman
The Drs. Kenneth Chelst, Bertram Schreiber and Fred Zwas Book Grant is designed to foster scholarship among the faculty of and by facilitating the publication of scholarly books and enabling faculty to pursue research, engage in collaborative consultations and seek support for editing and publishing their manuscripts.
One of this year鈥檚 recipients was Dr. Joshua Zimmerman, who is Eli and Diana Zborowski Professorial Chair in Holocaust Studies and East European Jewish History and a professor of history.
鈥淚 am honored to have received the Drs. Kenneth Chelst, Bertram Schreiber and Fred Zwas Book Grant for the 2021-2022 academic year, and I will use it to further my research on a work based on the life of Jozef Pilsudski, who lived from 1867 to 1935.鈥
As Dr. Zimmerman explained, Pilsudki is today regarded as modern Poland鈥檚 founding father. He was the commander of the Polish Legions during World War I, a military formation whose soldiers were 10% Jewish. 鈥淲hen Poland emerged as a state in November 1918, Pilsudski was named head of state, commander-in-chief and First Marshall of Poland. When Bolshevik Russia invaded in 1920, reaching the gates of Warsaw, Pilsudski led Poland to victory, pushing back the Red Army and halting the advance of communism.鈥
Known as 鈥済randfather鈥 to the people, he protected minority and Jewish rights and became one of Europe鈥檚 most influential statesman in the first half of the 20th century. 鈥淗is towering stature as Poland's founding father was given permanent form upon his death in 1935, when he was laid to rest alongside the tombs of Polish royalty at Krak贸w鈥檚 Wawel Castle. In my work, I hope to bring to life this seminal figure in the first comprehensive biography in English. While a bitterly divisive figure in his own lifetime, Poland鈥檚 leaders today, from liberals to populists, publicly praise Pilsudski as the nation鈥檚 greatest son.鈥
Dr. Zimmerman plans to use the grant to hire a mapmaker 鈥渨ho will design seven maps and one family tree that will be wholly unique.鈥 He also plans to hire an indexer.
Dr. Joshua Zimmerman
