O najnowszym tomie Historii Torunia (1945 –1975)
On the Latest Volume in the History of Toruń Series (1945 –1975)

Summary/Abstract: Since the early twentieth century, studies in urban history have expanded con-siderably, diversifying research perspectives and interpretive approaches beyond tra-ditional historiography. However, comprehensive publications on local history, par-ticularly those focused on specific cities, remain relatively rare. This discussion articlecritically examines the fourth volume of the History of Toruń (Pol. Historia Torunia)series, covering the years 1945 –1975 – a collaborative effort by nine authors editedby Ryszard Sudziński. The chosen chronological framework spans from the immedi-ate aftermath of the Second World War to the administrative reforms of 1975. Theauthors explore the development of the city of Toruń during three distinct periods:1945 –1948/1949, 1949/1950 –1955/1956 and 1956 –1975. The narrative maintainsa traditional structure, addressing topics in sequence – from administrative and po-litical issues to demographic trends, economic developments, urban infrastructure,education, the role of Nicolaus Copernicus University, cultural activities, religious in-stitutions, the presence of the Polish Army garrison, and aspects of daily life in the city.Each of these thematic areas significantly enriches our understanding of the post-warhistory of Toruń and its broader regional context, while also providing a foundationfor more extensive theses on Poland’s post-war transformation. The authors makeextensive use of diverse archival and library resources, contributing to the volume’ssubstantial scholarly value. However, a notable shortcoming is the unevenness in ar-gumentation, with some sections adopting a more specific and analytical approachdespite the volume’s intent to serve as a continuation of the previous more generalthree-volume History of Toruń, initially edited by Marian Biskup.

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