User:Kpalion/Evacuation of Polish National Treasures during World War II
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Between 280[1] and 300[2] objects of fine and decorative art deemed to be of exceptional artistic or historical value, which became known collectively as Polish National Treasures or Polish Art Treasures (Polish: Skarby Narodowe,[2] French: trésors polonais), were evacuated out of Poland at the onset of World War II in Septemer 1939 and transported via Romania, France, and Britain to Canada. The bulk of the treasures came from the Wawel Castle in Kraków and included a rich collection of Jagiellonian tapestries, as well as Szczerbiec, the medieval coronation sword of Polish kings. Most of the rest of the evacuated objects were manuscripts from the National Library in Warsaw, including the earliest documents in the Polish language and Fréderic Chopin's autograph sheet music. The treasures were complemented by works of art from the Royal Castle of Warsaw and a Gutenberg Bible from the library of the Catholic Higher Seminary of Pelplin.