Kazimierz Majewski: A Marxist among Classicists

There were few Marxist sympathizers among Polish classicists decimated during World War II. How they fared the tense and uncertain first postwar decade depended on their Communist connections personality. Kazimierz Majewski (1903–1981), a classicist from Lviv, commanded quasi-universal respect in academic community – despite his views because of scholarly, organizational, didactic achievements. Tasked with organizing inaugurating new University Wrocław 1945, he contributed to creating three thriving classical departments philology, ancient history, archaeology scholarly society, journals, vibrant community. When moved Warsaw four years later, founded an institute for material culture, developed multidisciplinary research team, launched within Soviet bloc two major archaeological excavation projects, Olbia Novae, where generations archaeologists learned how perform fieldwork communicate its results internationally through regular publications cooperation. Through Party connections, protected ensured support colleagues less fortunate this respect.