The Early Days of Conference Interpreting in Poland

The emergence of conference interpreting in Poland is linked with a series of events of political significance that took place in the post-war period, such as the trials of Nazi criminals before the National Supreme Tribunal (1946-1948) and the International Congress of Intellectuals in Defence of Peace (which took place in Wrocław in 1948). The aim of the present paper is to shed light on those events as well as the role played by the interpreters themselves. Special attention will also be given to Irena Dobosz, one of the first Polish diplomatic interpreters, who worked for the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission established by the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953.