Faded Polish engravings in Diyala recall Iraq’s forgotten World War II chapter

KHANAQIN — Two stone carvings etched by Polish soldiers more than 80 years ago still stand on a hillside outside Khanaqin, silent remnants of a little-known episode in Iraq’s World War II history. Though weathered and at risk of decay, the engravings have drawn renewed interest from Polish officials seeking to preserve the site and commemorate the legacy of thousands of Polish refugees once housed in Iraq.

The story dates back to 1939, when more than 48,000 Polish nationals — both soldiers and civilians — fled Nazi Germany and Soviet occupation. By 1942, after release from Soviet camps, thousands were evacuated through Iran as part of the Anders’ Army and relocated across Iraq. Some 3,000 settled in Khanaqin, near the Iranian border in Diyala governorate.

“These weren’t just soldiers on a military mission,” said local historian Sarbast Barzoo. “They came to Khanaqin as refugees after their country was invaded. Their stay left behind traces of memory and history that still live on in local stories and artifacts.”

Among the most notable of those traces is a carving of a Polish eagle left on a stone outcrop near the edge of town — a symbolic marker of the community’s temporary presence. “In 1940 and 1941, during their stay, a plague spread in the area,” Barzoo said. “More than 100 Polish soldiers and civilians died and were buried in a cemetery nearby.” He added that while the cemetery remained visible for decades, parts were damaged in recent years by unknown individuals.

Majid Shalyar, director of the Khanaqin Museum, said efforts are underway to document and preserve this piece of local history. “We’ve archived documents and records from their time here. Polish delegations have visited the museum several times,” he said. “Our goal is to highlight their story for visitors and keep this part of Khanaqin’s past alive.”

The museum now houses a small exhibit dedicated to the Polish presence in the area. Shalyar said the site and its artifacts continue to draw interest from Polish diplomatic missions in both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region, which have raised the possibility of a formal restoration.

“Not all history is written in books,” Barzoo said. “Sometimes it’s carved in stone on a forgotten hillside.”