O Ś WIĘ CIM ISSN 1899-4407 PEOPLE

CULTURE HISTORY

YOUNG AMERICAN JOURNALISTS IN GERMANY AND INTERNATIONAL SUMMER ACADEMY THE FACES OF JUSTICE REVISITED

no. 31 July 2011 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

EDITORIAL BOARD: Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine EDITORIAL

Last month, the Jewish Center host- Their authors were Rodryg Romer, Site? Gerhard Hausmann, a lecturer ed FASPE project participants, on his daughter Elżbieta, and her fi ancé at this German institution, answers which we reported in the previous Maksymilian Lohman, who were im- this question in an interview in this issue of the monthly. Among them prisoned in Auschwitz in 1943. Fam- Oś. were young journalists as well as ily members of the former prisoners students from the Columbia Univer- donated these priceless heirlooms. We also invite you to visit the ex- Editor: sity in New York. In this issue of Oś, Within this Oś, we also summarize hibition at the International Youth Paweł Sawicki we are publishing their texts, which the fi rst International Summer Acad- Meeting Center. For the fi rst time Editorial secretary: were the effect of the ten-day pro- emy, which was prepared for teach- in Poland, the works of Pat Mercer Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka gram. To start with, we have chosen ers from abroad by the International Hutchens are on display. In total this Editorial board: general refl ections and descriptions Center for Education about Ausch- includes twenty-fi ve reproductions Bartosz Bartyzel Wiktor Boberek of the entire visit, as well as a text witz and ; as well as of oil paintings, which are an artis- Jarek Mensfelt written by Eugene Kwibuka from report on a visit to the Memorial tic and literary interpretation from Olga Onyszkiewicz Rwanda, who, in a particularly emo- Site by members of the International the infamous Auschwitz Album. We Jadwiga Pinderska-Lech tional manner, wrote about Ausch- Council of Christians and Jews. also encourage you to take a close Artur Szyndler witz in the context of the genocide look at the second part of the guide- Columnist: experienced within his own country. For the third time, a group of stu- book created by the Jewish Center Mirosław Ganobis dents attending the School of Man- dealing with the Jewish history of Design and layout: On the pages, you will agement of Public Organizations of Oświęcim. Agnieszka Matuła, Grafi kon fi nd an article about, among others, North Rhine-Westphalia, have come Translations: eighteen original letters written in to Oświęcim on a study visit. Why Paweł Sawicki David R. Kennedy the concentration camp that were is it so important for future Ger- Editor-in-chief Proofreading: donated to the Museum Archive. man offi cials to visit the Memorial [email protected] Beata Kłos Cover: Rebecca Lim Photographer: Paweł Sawicki A GALLERY PUBLISHER: OF THE 20TH CENTURY Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum www.auschwitz.org.pl Here is one, short artistic and biographically based subject! Re- cently, I watched, notably, not the fi rst time a fi lm on a public televi- PARTNERS: sion channel... broadcast on by a paid provider, a Soviet-Japanese Jewish Center fi lm, which was made in 1975, entitled Dersu Uzala that was di- www.ajcf.pl rected by the Japanese maestro Akira Kurosawa, who was award- ed an Oscar! Today I am also once again reading the book by Center for Dialogue Vladimir Arsenyev, Along the Us- and Prayer Foundation sury Land, that forms the basis of the screenplay for the riveting fi lm. www.centrum-dialogu.oswiecim.pl Here in Poland, it was published in the darkest period of the Sta- linist era: in 1951! However, since it tells the story about the start of International Youth the twentieth century, set during Meeting Center the years 1902-1907, it is distant, www.mdsm.pl as a ballad about travel and adven- tures, from the terrible reality of that time. IN COOPERATION Siberia, the Ussury Country, as WITH: well as borderlands of Russia and China. Hunters and trappers, rob- Kasztelania bers and villains, Siberian taiga, na- ture, people and animals. A great www.kasztelania.pl and true friendship! Attempts at meeting, culminating in tragedy, State Higher modernity mixed with age-old Vocational Schoolol customs, and the trapper culture. in Oświęcim A superb fi lm that is luckily recog- nized and honored as such! And its www.pwsz-oswiecim.pli i l ending, I view in a psychological and stylistic context together with Editorial address: the last scenes ofthe fi lm Amadeus „Oś – Oświęcim, Ludzie, by Miloš Forman! Historia, Kultura” Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 20 32-603 Oświęcim Photo: Andrzej Winogrodzki e-mail: [email protected] The book by Władimir K. Arseniew Along the Ussury Land, that was the basis for the Kurosawa movi Dersu Uzala Andrzej Winogrodzki

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

WE ARE HERE TOGETHER

embers of the International Council of Christians and Jews visited the Auschwitz Memorial for the fi rst time in the history of the organization. On July 5, the group of more than a hundred people from 27 coun- Mtries walked the Remembrance Trail on the grounds of the German Nazi Concentration and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, which was marked by four symbolic stations. The visit to the Memorial was part of the three-day Council meeting, held in Cracow this year under the title Religion and Ideology: Polish Perspectives on the Future.

The participants, Jews and about Auschwitz and the it possible to build relations Christians of various de- Holocaust at the Auschwitz- of trust. I see improvement nominations, walked from Birkenau State Museum and in this dialogue because Po- THE STATIONS the main gate and along the the Center for Dialogue and land is no longer associated OF THE REMEMBRANCE TRAIL camp ramp (unloading plat- Prayer, which played host to only with Auschwitz, but is IN BIRKENAU form) to the crematorium members of the Council. also seen as the place where ruins—the road along which The main ICCJ sessions were the Polish Jews lived,” said deported Jews were once led held in Cracow. The out- Krajewski. Station I – The Righteous was dedicated to the memory to death in the gas chambers. standing role of John Paul II Referring to Dialogue of Tasks of those who remained outside the camp: family and At the foot of the memorial in the Polish-Jewish dialogue for a New Century, a docu- friends, and also people indifferent to the fate of the pris- to the victims in Birkenau a was emphasized during the ment issued by the Confer- oners, and perpetrators. Above all, however, there was ence of the Polish Episco- discussion in this place of the people who risked their “We have come here today from different pate, Archbishop Stanisław lives to save others—the Righteous among the Nations of Gądecki of Poznań said that the World. There was a reading from the memoirs of milieus, united in a desire to render our there is still too little shaping Merka Szewach, a former Auschwitz prisoner who wit- respects to the victims and in awareness of the of responsible attitudes in re- nessed how an Oświęcim resident named Janek risked obligation to work for a better future in which lation to Jews in homilies and his life to help her and other people imprisoned in the we can live together as brothers and sisters.” the teaching of the catechism. camp. “We feel uneasy about the Participants of the International Council recurrence, time after time, Station II – The Persecutors, located at the fi rst guard of signs of associating Jews tower, is a reminder of those who caused the killing and of Christians and Jews meeting with all the worst things,” suffering. Father Manfred Deselaers, a German priest who has worked at the Center for Dialogue and Prayer for many years, bore extraordinary witness here: “Who are those people who lost all humanity? And why did this happen? They came from Germany. I am a German. The majority of them were baptized. I am a Catholic priest. I do not bear personal guilt, but what happened here and the fact that my people perpetrated it fi lls me with sadness. I feel the deep wound that we infl icted on others, on you and your families, the relations between us and other peoples, and I am deeply, deeply sorry. I have hope in the depths of my heart and I wish to beg you for the renewal of relations that are human, friendly, and full of trust and love.”

Station III – The Prisoners of the Camp, located half- way along the ramp, was intended to serve as a reminder of all the prisoners in the camp: Jews from all over the world, Poles, Roma and Sinti, Soviet POWs, and many Photo: CDPF others. The memoirs of Primo Levi were quoted here, Members of the Council at the Remembrance Trail and there was a citation that the words spoken by John Paul II during his visit to the site of the camp in 1979, joint appeal was issued: “We when he said: “In this place of terrible suffering, which have come here today from “Poland has become the leader among brought death to four million people from various na- different milieus, united in a countries trying to respond to a troubled tions, Father Maximilian Kolbe won a spiritual victory desire to render our respects history, and this makes it possible to build similar to the victory of Christ Himself, giving himself to the victims and in aware- relations of trust. I see improvement in this over voluntarily to death in the starvation bunker—for ness of the obligation to work his brother.” The refl ection at this station concluded with for a better future in which dialogue because Poland is no longer the prayer Our Father. we can live together as broth- associated only with Auschwitz, but is also ers and sisters.” seen as the place where the Polish Jews lived.” Station IV – The Shoah, located between the ruins of After the Jewish prayer of the crematoria, recalled the approximately 900,000 vic- mourning, El Male Rachamim, Prof. Stanisław Krajewski, philosopher and co-chairman tims who were brought to Auschwitz-Birkenau and and the saying of the Kad- of the Polish Council of Christians and Jews taken straight to the gas chambers. There was a reading dish, the participants lighted from the memoirs of Salmen Levental, a member of the candles in silence. meetings. There was also said Gądecki. “Such a harm- Sonderkommando, the group of prisoners forced by the Guests from 27 countries in- discussion of the shaping ful pattern remains rooted Germans to operate the crematoria and gas chambers in cluding Palestine and Saudi among the younger genera- in the mentality of certain Auschwitz. Arabia toured the grounds tion of responsible attitudes parts of the public and, what of the former Auschwitz in relation to Jews. Professor is worse, is passed on from German camp, visited the Stanisław Krajewski, a phi- generation to generation.” and Archbishop Stanisław and Jews—Father Wiesław Franciscan monastery in losopher and co-chairman of Participants in the three-day Gądecki, and the current Dawidowski and Professor Harmęże with its Laby- the Polish Council of Chris- conference included Rabbi chairman of the Committee, Stanisław Krajewski—and rinths of Memory exhibition tians and Jews, stated that David Rosen of , Dr. Bishop Mieczysław Cisło. Professor Zdzisław Mach of by former Auschwitz pris- the rise in the number of ti- Philip Cunningham of the The Faculty of International the . oner Marian Kołodziej, and tles on Jewish issues from United States, Father Pro- and Political Studies at the The fi rst meeting of the in- took part in workshops and Catholic publishers was due fessor Hans Herman Hen- Jagiellonian University was ternational Council of Chris- learned about the educa- to the position taken by John rix of Germany, two former the co-organizer of the con- tians and Jews was held in tional work of institutions Paul II. “Poland has become chairman of the Polish Epis- ference. Members of the Or- Warsaw in 1994. gathered around the Memo- the leader among countries copate Commission for Di- ganizing Committee includ- ed both co-chairmen of the rial including the Interna- trying to respond to a trou- alogue with Judaism, Arch- ps (on the basis of the KAI) tional Center for Education bled history, and this makes bishop Henryk Muszyński Polish Council of Christians

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUMMER ACADEMY

he fi rst International Summer Academy concludes at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum: History, Remembrance, and Education. More than twenty participants of various ages and occupations from around Tthe world took part in the project. Alicja Białecka, head of the program section at the In- ternational Center for Edu- cation about Auschwitz and the Holocaust and the co-organizer of the project, stated that the Academy was a new direction in the work of the Center, which has previously concentrat- ed more on training specifi c groups of educators as part of its cooperation with insti- tutions like the Council of Europe or the Memorial Institute in Israel. “The seminar is something completely new in our edu- cational work. It is targeted at English-speaking indi- viduals. Until now, these

people have not had the op- Photo: agju tion of being taught directly Participants of the Summer Academy welcomed by Alicja Białecka, head of the ICEAH Program Section by us at the Education Cent- er on the grounds of the Me- learned that we cannot are the same,” said Velasco. seminar, in order to under- memory. I am very grateful morial,” said Białecka. limit ourselves to this. What For Nora Fischbach-Hir- stand the origins of my own to you for this. I want to cry José Velasco of Arizona once happened here can shbein of Venezuela, the family history better and when I utter this,” she said is on his third trip to the also make us able to pre- Academy was a powerful learn about what happened with emotion. “I want to Auschwitz Museum. He vent similar events now. experience. During the Hol- here,” she said. While not- thank you all and I do not said that he came the fi rst The roots of Auschwitz lie ocaust, the German Nazis ing the high standard of the have the words to express time as an ordinary tour- in intolerance and we re- murdered many members lectures and the commit- what I feel.” ist and the second time in ally should teach our young of her family, who came ment of the organizers, she Aside from in-depth tours a student group. This time, people, in particular, to be from Kalisz and Koźminek, also stressed that attend- of the former German Nazi he came to prepare himself tolerant of others. In Ari- Poland. Her grandfather, a ing the Academy helped concentration camp, the better for imparting the his- zona we have similar cases former Auschwitz prisoner, her overcome the negative Academy schedule also in- tory of Auschwitz to new where particular groups are never talked with her about feelings about Poles that cluded a series of lectures groups of young people stigmatized, for example his wartime experiences. she acquired in her family and discussions on subjects with whom he plans to re- immigrants from Mexico “Even as a small child I saw home. “Now I’m a different connected with Auschwitz turn in the near future. who come to Arizona and the number that he had tat- person. All of you here are and its postwar history, “My fi rst trip to Ausch- become scapegoats. The tooed on his arm. That’s Poles and I see the effort you Polish-German relations witz was like gazing into scale is different, of course, why it was so important put into maintaining this during the war, and the ed- the past. However, I also but the principles at work for me to take part in this place and preserving the ucational challenges facing the Auschwitz Museum, the world’s best known Memo- rial site and the symbol of the Holocaust, in the future. Alicja Białecka confi rmed that the program will be continued. “This fi rst Inter- national Summer Academy is only the beginning,” she said. “What is happening at this moment demonstrates the necessity of continuing this kind of work. We will try to organize the Sum- mer Academy each year. The positive reactions by the participants seem to indicate that the program we put together is optimal: a well balanced combina- tion of an encounter with the original historical place, with the memorial, and with the Museum as an in- stitution, along with the knowledge shared by the staff of this institution and the invited guests.” Photo: agju Participants of the Summer Academy visiting the site of the former Auschwitz I camp jarmen

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

ORIGINAL CONCENTRATION CAMP LETTERS WRITTEN BY PRISONERS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO THE AUSCHWITZ MEMORIAL SITE ARCHIVES he Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Archives have just received a collection of eighteen original letters written in the Camp. Their authors—Rodryg Romer, his daughter Elżbieta, and her fi ancé Maksymilian Lohman—were Timprisoned in the camp in 1943 for working within the underground. The letters—precious family heirlooms— were presented to Rafał Pióro, a deputy-director of the Museum, by members of the former prisoners’ family: Barbara Romer-Kukulska as well as Aleksandra, Paweł, and Rafał Lohman. Krzysztof Antończyk, the as well as providing more Elżbieta Romer left her mark Death March, she worked head of the Digital Repository knowledge about the fate of in the memories of former as a nurse until the end of of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Auschwitz prisoners. Thanks prisoners. She is mentioned the War. For her efforts, State Museum said, “These to the descriptions of indi- often in both the testimonies the International Red Cross historical documents will be viduals and events by the au- of former prisoners, as well as bequeathed her with their stored in specially construct- thors, which can be linked to in books published about the highest honor—the Florence ed and climate controlled certain known incidents and history of the concentration Nightingale Medal. storage facilities, under the information that has been camp. What is highlighted Even though her father suf- professional oversight by ar- passed down in the family there is her generosity and fered in the concentration chivists and conservators.” history, it is also possible to selfl essness in providing help camp, he actively participated They will be valuable addi- do a deeper historical analy- to fellow prisoners. After es- in the process of Polish-Ger- tions, making the Museum’s sis, as well as add enrichment caping from a column of pris- man reconciliation. In 1965, collection more complete to the emotional layer. oners during the evacuation, he translated a famous let- ter and message from Polish Photo: A-BSM Bishops to German Bishops. Handing over of the camp letters AN APPEAL FOR THE DONATION The three family members were sent to Auschwitz from that took place in a private OF CAMP DOCUMENTS a prison in Tarnów, where home. Maksymilian Lohman they found themselves after was using an alias because he We turn to former camp prisoners, their family members, and anyone who has in their having been arrested in Jasło. was a fugitive from a prisoner possession letters and post cards from Auschwitz, to make them available for the Mu- This occurred as a result of of war camp for Polish army seum Archives Department. In the case of documents the Museum already possesses, someone informing the occu- offi cers. Rodryg Romer was in addition to protecting them against the process of decay, they have frequently been of pational forces about clandes- an offi cer, a reservist, of the great help in providing families of former prisoners with information about the fate of tine meetings of the under- Polish Army in Wadowice. their loved ones. ground resistance movement jarmen ITALIAN EXHIBITION AT THE AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM CLOSED

rom July 2011, the Italian exhibition at the Auschwitz Memo- rial is closed to visitors. Not educational in any way, it failed to Fmeet the basic requirements for national exhibitions as set by the International Auschwitz Council, which have been in force since the 1990s. The Italian exhibition, ers stated that the fi nal sec- sake and would be referred opened in 1980, was made tion was supposed to be an to in a gallery of contempo- up of a ribbon of fabric in the apotheosis of positive colors rary art as an installation form of a spiral, hung with signifying victory over the or performance. This type paintings intended to repre- time of contempt and perse- of art is not presented on sent various incidents from cution. the grounds of the former the history of Italy in the This type of exhibition can Auschwitz camp, where

1930s and 1940s. The design- be categorized as art for art’s the educational dimension Photo: pasa Italian Exhibition

is connected with remem- exhibition did not conform NATIONAL EXHIBITIONS brance, education, and mak- to the rules established by ing the younger generation the International Auschwitz Aside from the main exhibition, other permanent exhibitions on the grounds of the aware of the tragedy of the Council. Positive talks are Museum, referred to as “national,” are open to visitors. The idea dates back to 1946 victims of the Shoah and underway with the Italian and the original plans for the Museum. The fi rst national exhibitions opened in the the concentration camps, as government about creating 1960s; they convey information about the Nazi German occupation of countries whose well as encouraging people a new narrative-historical ex- citizens—Jews above all—died in Auschwitz. to refl ect upon their personal hibition in the future that will The government of a given country designates institutions and organizations to pre- responsibility for the world meet the requirements set by pare the contents and visual presentation of its exhibition. Over the years, most of around them and its future. the International Auschwitz these exhibitions have been modernized or completely replaced. For more than a The organizers of the closed Council and the Auschwitz- decade, cooperation and consultation with the Auschwitz Museum have preceded exhibition, the Italian ANED Birkenau State Museum. each opening of a national exhibition. At present, the Austrian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, association, have been re- French, Hungarian, Polish, Roma, Russian, and Slovakian exhibitions are open. minded regularly over the years about the fact that the jarmen

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 International Youth Meeting Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

AUSCHWITZ ALBUM REVISITED —AN EXHIBIT OF WORK BY PAT MERCER HUTCHENS wenty-fi ve reproductions of oil paintings are artistic interpreta- tions of photographs from the so-called, Lilly Jacob Album. These PAT MERCER HUTCHENS Tparticular photographs, which show the process of mass murder at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp, have become an inspiration for Was born in Winnfi eld, the artist, whose work is being presented for the fi rst time in Poland. Louisiana. She is a gradu- ate of several art schools exceptionally emotional. in the United States and in Hutchens focuses on a cer- Jerusalem; holds a Master’s tain individual, often giving Degree in art as well as in them a name, so as to—as management and human she emphasized during the resource development; she exhibit’s opening—make is also a doctor of theol- the art more personal. ogy from Louisiana Baptist When we hear about, for University. The main fo- example, a tragedy or ca- cuses of her scholarship are tastrophe, this information languages, especially Le- creates short-lived empa- vantine Arabic, and Jewish thy. However, when we Studies. can identify with the vic- She has been a teacher of tims, these feelings become painting, printing tech- deeper and more tangible. niques, drawing, and the Within Pat Hutchens series, fundamentals of design at the people immortalized on several schools: the Corco- the photographs from the ran College of Art and De- Auschwitz Album are tell- sign in Washington, George ing their personal history— Mason University, North- of course, most of these are ern Virginia Community artistic, and deeply spiritual Colleg, Lord Fairfax College in Middletown, and the Do- interpretations. They are minion Theological Seminary. Not only is she the direc- Photo: Pat Mercer Hutchens realistic, but not void of a Litte Pink Rose of Hungary tor, but also the director of Washington Artworks—an certain level of styling—in organization that promotes art in the Washington metro system. As a writer, poet, and photographer, Pat is the In a monolithic style and Hutchens focuses on a certain individual, editor of the column in a Washington magazine called, Photo: Private archive range of warm earth tones, The Jerusalem Connection. the paintings focus on a often giving them a name, so as to—as she emphasized during the exhibit’s opening— Pat takes part in many charitable undertakings by donat- perspective, individual, or ing her works to be auctioned as well as supports founda- group that the artist has make the art more personal. When we hear tions which help children. She paints portraits and land- specifi cally chosen. This about, for example, a tragedy or catastrophe, scapes. Currently, she is working on a series of historical technique, frequently deep- paintings, dealing with events that occurred in northern ened by a very personal this information creates short-lived empathy. However, when we can identify with the victims, Virginia as well as within the Washington metro at the comment, makes the exhibit beginning of the twentieth century. Her work has been Auschwitz Album Revisited these feelings become deeper and more tangible. shown at solo and collective art exhibits in, among others, New Orleans, Chicago, California, New York, Virginia, The Auschwitz Album is a set of extraordinary visual evidence about the process of mass Washington, and even in Israel and Russia. murder at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration and Death Camp. The photographs were taken by SS men, most probably Ernst Hofmann and Bernhard Walter, either at the end of a way, separating us from by the words of the artist, May or the beginning of June in 1944. The photographs document the arrival of Hungarian them by a delicate fog—the who clearly explains to the Jews from Carpathian Ruthenia as well as the entire process that prisoners were put through paintings show their sub- viewer about the individu- after arrival at the Camp, until just before the moment of these individuals’ murder. This jects suspended in time: al’s eventual fate. Pat, whose visual documentation, whose initial purpose is unclear (but, it is assumed that this was to they are already aware that faith is deep, believes that be an offi cial record for higher ranked offi cials), was discovered by Lilly Jacob in one of the they have been pulled into these crimes will not go un- warehouses of the liberated Concentration Camp of Dora. There are a total of 193 photo- the horrifying machinery of noticed and their perpetra- graphs, on 56 pages (initially, there were more pictures, however, Lilly Jacob gave several of the Nazi system, however, tors will one-day face their them to those liberated from the Camp). This album was used for, among others, evidence they still possess a glimmer fi nal judgment. during the Frankfurt trial against Nazi criminals in the 1960s. In 1980, Lilly Jacob donated the of hope. Nevertheless, the The exhibition was organ- album to the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem. paintings are accompanied ized by the International Youth Meeting Center in association with The Jeru- salem Connection Report in Washington. It is an event that runs in tandem with the Jewish Culture Festival in Cracow. The opening, which was held on June 30, included the attendance of the artist and accompany- ing her, a sizable delegation from the United States. The exhibition was available for viewing at the IYMC until the end of July. Photo: IYMC Photo: IYMC Joanna Klęczar Vernissage Vernissage

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011 International Youth Meeting Center

THE SECOND POLISH NATIONWIDE CONFERENCE

FACES OF JUSTICE. AUSCHWITZ AND THE HOLOKAUST AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF GENOCIDE DURING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

lmost one hundred individuals from all over Poland took part in the conference Faces of Justice. Researchers, teachers, and representatives of non-governmental organizations discussed the nature and consequences of the Acrime of genocide in modern Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as holding the perpetrators accountable. During lectures and lively debates, it was discussed how to educate young people and adults today so that similar crimes are not repeated. Photo: IYMC Among the participants there were: 5 professors, 20 PhDs and 14 doctoral students. Represented were the univer- sities of Cracow, Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznań, Katowice, Lublin, Kielce, Sieradz, and Oświęcim. Krystyna Oleksy, the director tions are carried out, where tional Youth Meeting Center of the International Center for criminal medical experiments in Oświęcim, the Internation-

Education about Auschwitz are carried out, where torture al Center for Education about Photo: agju and the Holocaust, empha- takes on its most heinous Auschwitz and the Holocaust The conference was opened by ICEAH director Krystyna Oleksy sized the need for universal form, where all human rights and the MDSM Foundation Board chairman Dr. Alicja Bartuś education of not only facts, are violated. It is high time but also the causes and meth- that at such a conference we ods the crimes are carried out. try to answer the question: “Our institution accomplishes What is our opinion about these goals through intensive all this? WE, those who teach work with teachers and edu- about Auschwitz and the cators, as well as young peo- Holocaust. How do we teach ple from Poland and abroad,” so that it is not only passing she said. on facts about the past, but In turn, Alicja Bartuś, Presi- education that helps build a dent of the Board of the In- better tomorrow as well as a ternational Youth Meeting better here and now.”

Center, noting the crimes There is a plan to also pub- Photo: IYMC Taking part in the discussion panel toward the end of the conference were (from the left): Prof. Jacek Chrobaczyński, committed in the twentieth lish a book this year, which head of the Modern Polish History Department at the Pedagogical University in Cracow, Piotr Łubiński, who was century, talked about what includes the most noteworthy in Afghanistan twice accompanying Polish soldiers, and Prof. Wiesław Kozub-Ciembroniewicz, President of the was going on in the modern lectures and refl ections from Research Council of the Center for Holocaust Studies at the Jagiellonian University. world: “There are still ar- the conference. eas, where for years crimes The conference was organ- at the Auschwitz-Birkenau my, the Historical Institute at Studies at the Jagiellonian against humanity are perpe- ized in cooperation with: the State Museum, as well as the Pedagogical University, University. trated, where public execu- Foundation for the Interna- with the Oświęcim Acade- and the Center for Holocaust (WB)

Photo: IYMC Why, after the Second World War

Photo: IYMC was there no genocide waged Prof. Marek Kornat spoke about the legal and political understanding against the Germans in Poland?— of the notion of genocide by Raphael Lemkin, sociologist Dr. Lech M. Nijakowski, and Dr. Edyta Gawron examined Amon Göth, commandant from the University of Warsaw,

of the Plaszow Concentration Camp and the fi rst person attempted to provide an answer to Photo: agju who was ever sentenced for the crimes of genocide. this question. Participants of the conference

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Jewish Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

OSHPITZIN. A GUIDE

elow we publish the second part of the fi rst guide to the Jewish history of Oświęcim—Oshpitzin. This is the result of ten years of historical research and collecting materials by the Auschwitz Jewish Center in BOświęcim. The publication is accompanied by a www.oshpitzin.pl website which presents a virtual map of the Jewish town, accounts of former residents of the town, videos, photos as well as lesson plans for educa- tors. On the next page of the magazine you can fi nd the city map with all the objects on it.

Liebermann, co-owner of vent took place in 1899. The 4 Emil Kuźnicki Roofi ng Pa- church, built in neo-Gothic per Factory (est. 1888), and style was partly destroyed Józefi na. Iro and Łucja had during WW2 and recon- DRUKS two children, Adam (1930- structed afterwards. FAMILY HOUSE 1996) and Elinoar (b. 1935). Shortly before the outbreak MEZUZAH (Hebrew: The building at 4 Cho- of World War II, the Druks doorframe) A piece of pin Street belonged to the and Liebermanns fl ed parchment placed in a Druks family. Built in the Oświęcim, heading east- decorative case on a door- 1930s, it stood out from the ward fi nding themselves frame. The parchment is architecture of Oświęcim in Palestine in 1942 after inscribed with handwritten as the only building in- many dramatic circum- verses from Deuteronomy spired by the Bauhaus stances. 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 which is the Jewish declaration of faith, Shema Israel (He- brew: Hear O Israel the Lord is Our God, the Lord is One) and two associated passages.

6 Market day at the Main Square, c. 1935

a bunker was built (after the square was primarily a MAIN MARKET the war, it was made into place of economic activity SQUARE the shopping center and of Oświęcim’s merchants. recently demolished). An- Farmers would come to The present market other sign of the rebuilding the market to sell their pro- square was established in are arcades, which still ex- duce. In 1941, the square Oświęcim during the 16th ist at the former Herz Hotel was the main gathering century. In the same cen- building and at the build- place for local Jews before tury, there was a storied ing in Plebańska Street (op- deportation to the ghettos Druks Family House (fi rst on the right), 1930’s town hall and wooden posite of the Internal Reve- in Będzin, Chrzanów, and buildings in that area. Ac- nue Service). Before WWII, Sosnowiec. style. It was also known for cording to an 1867 docu- being the fi rst house with 5 ment by J. N. Gątkowski, a fl at roof. Dr. Iro Druks the square had a well, was an attorney, a mem- three-storied tenement ber of the town council, CHURCH houses, the monument and a prominent member OF OUR LADY of St. John of Nepomuk of the Zionist Revisionist OF SORROW and the storied town hall, movement in Poland. His which was the seat of lo- wife, Łucja Liebermann, cal authorities until World was born to a family of The construction and con- War II. During the war, the Oświęcim industrialists; secration of the church and main square was partly re- her parents were Joachim the adjacent Seraphite con- built. In the central part,

Main Market Square, 1909 Hasids at the Main Square, 1930’s, photo: Jerzy Wysocki

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011 Jewish Centerter

bi in the nearby town of 7 Kęty. Eliyahu Bombach was married to the daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Saf- HOUSE frin. They lived at the Main OF RABBI ELIYAHU Market Square (today no. BOMBACH 10) Like his father Eliyahu belonged to the Komarno From 1900 to 1939 chief branch of Hasidism and Rabbis of Oświęcim were was also friends with Father members of the Bombach Skarbek. The latter was said Family. Osias Pinkas Bom- to be a guest at Rabbi Bom- bach (1865-1921) was the bach’s daughter’s wedding. chief Rabbi of the town In 1941, Eliyahu Bombach until he passed away. He was deported to the ghetto lived with his family at the in Sosnowiec and from there Main Market Square (today, to KL Auschwitz- Birkenau no. 4) in the house of Jakób where he was murdered. Wulkan. At this residence a regular minyan convened in RABBI (Hebrew: my mas- a small prayer room known ter, teacher) – spiritual lead- as bet din shtibl or Rabbi’s er of the Jewish community, shtibl. The place was also learned in Halakhah (rab- used as Rabbi Bombach’s binic law) and ordained in yeshiva. Rabbi Bombach a special ceremony called was also the author of a smichah. Rabbis tradition- religious work titled Ohel ally taught, supervised Yehoshua, published in 1901 kosher food, mediated The page of Eliyahu Bombach’s in Drohobycz. Rabbi Bom- disputes and offi ciated at paper: Kuntres Maane Eliyahu bach was succeeded by his lifecycle events. Rabbis are Army ceremony at the Main Market Square. (Drohobycz, 1896). On the platform stand (L-R): Roman Mayzel, Mayor of Oświęcim, It was presented during his son Eliyahu (1883-1943), usually hired by the Jewish Rabbi Eliyahu Bombach (marked) and Naftali Dawid Bochner, bar mitzvah who was previously a rab- community. President of Oświęcim Jewish Community, 1933

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

FASPE: NEVER FORGET WHAT WAS NEVER REPORTED

he philosopher Theodor Adorno famously said, “After Auschwitz, there can be no poetry.” While visiting the site of the notorious death camp last week, I could see the truth of Adorno’s words. There is no beauty Tin the barracks, the barbed wire and the crematoria. I saw no poetry in the mounds of hair and glasses and shoes on display. But I did reach one other killed 800,000 people. conclusion on my visit: “Af- The Rwanda government, ter Auschwitz, there must military and the press incit- be journalism.” After all, the ed and supported the mur- greatest stain on the prac- ders, but the killings were tice of journalism in the 20th often carried out in a ran- century was its failure to ad- dom fashion by marauding equately tell the story of the mobs wielding machetes. Nazi crimes against the Jews. What struck my Rwandan The mere telling of that story student, Eugene Kwibuka, might have stopped—or at while at Auschwitz, was least slowed—the Nazi mur- the systematic apparatus of der machine. death that the Nazis estab- I was in Eastern Europe lished: the roundups, the leading a group of journal- deportations, the selections, ism students on an explo- the gassing, the burning ration of the press during and the harvesting of usable the Shoah. The goal of the items, like gold teeth and program was to apply the hair. Photo: Suzanne Rozdeba ethical lessons of that time to He noted that victims were FASPE project participants at “Gazeta Wyborcza” contemporary situations, be treated not like human be- they genocide, totalitarian ings, but like a “product.” and put what remained in Telegraphic Agency, which ative of mine, is the founder regimes or corruption. “They were washed, killed the service of the regime. are available online at www. and driving force behind The program, administered and destroyed without a In 1932, there were 4,700 archive.jta.org. FASPE. He does not neces- by the Museum of Jewish trace,” Kwibuka said. “A newspapers in Germany; Inevitably the discussion sarily expect to stop des- Heritage in New York, is brutal process.” by 1944, as the regime was among my journalism stu- pots or totalitarian regimes called Fellowships at Ausch- Before coming to Ausch- collapsing, fewer than 1,000 dents turned to the use of through the program, but he witz for the Study of Pro- witz, our group visited Ber- existed. None of them were social media today, such as does hope to instill in partic- fessional Ethics, known in lin where among the stops telling the truth, either about Facebook and Twitter, and ipants an ethical sense that short as FASPE. Journalists, was the House of the Wann- the news or about the Nazi how repressive regimes in will shape their professional of course, were not the only see Conference, where, on defeats on the military fi elds. Egypt and Tunisia were careers. “If we see terrible professionals who failed. Jan. 20, 1942, 15 top Nazis The failures of the American brought to their knees by wrongs, it is our job as pro- There are also FASPE pro- met to fi nalize plans for the press to tell the story of the what amounted to “citizen fessionals to do something grams for law and medical murder of all of Europe’s Shoah have been richly doc- journalists” and their smart- about that,” he said. students and for seminar- 11 million Jews. Wannsee umented by two scholars: phones. The fl ip side of FASPE will be again be tak- ians of all faiths. House is now an education Deborah Lipstadt of Emory these social media tools, my ing students from medical, Only three of the 12 students and documentation center, University and Laurel Leff students were quick to point law, theology and journal- in the journalism program and we met with one of its of Northeastern Univer- out, are that they have the ism schools next summer. were Jewish. Among the splendid educators, Wolf sity. The one exception to potential to distract us from To get more information others were two students Kaiser. the failure of the American what is important by bury- go to www.mjhnyc.org/ from India and two from Kaiser told us that when press was the work of the ing us in gossip. We don’t faspe. To see the work of Africa, all of whom had cov- Hitler came to power in Jewish press, which told the always focus on genocides the journalism students, ered strife between ethnic 1933, one of his most stra- story of the Holocaust even taking place in Africa or go to www.faspe.info/jour- and religious groups. One tegic appointments was of though no one in power Asia today because we are nalism2011. of the Africans was from Joseph Goebbels as minis- seemed to listen. Evidence too busy updating our Face- Rwanda, which experienced ter for propaganda. Goeb- of this is abundantly clear book pages. Ari L. Goldman is a professor a genocide of its own in the bels snuffed out any inde- with the recent opening of David Goldman, a lawyer at the Columbia University 1990s, when warring tribes pendent press that existed the archives of the Jewish who is a friend but not a rel- Graduate School of Journalism. DAY TEN: WHAT STAYS WITH US

ach moment of this trip has been signifi cant and impacting for us all, in different ways. Though our intellec- tual charge was the press’ response to the Holocaust, our 10 days together offered an emotional challenge of Eequal import. We visited sites where humans crafted and executed unfathomable acts of hate and brutality. We also saw how people grow and mend after tragedy. Here is a small sample of the Holocaust was devised in also said she is fundamen- genocide in Rwanda. “The never cut bread, but rip large most poignant moments for detail was striking. “Just im- tally changed from this way people would be taken clumps because that’s what our group. (These impres- agining Nazis hovering over trip and though she can’t in a train and arrive like a he learned to do in a concen- sions were grabbed over the these tables discussing this say how, she simply noted, product. They were washed, tration camp. It’s small but last two days in quick inter- plan… it’s incredible.” “things have moved in me.” killed and destroyed with- it shows the magnitude of views at meals and between The children’s shoes at Eugene said: “I was struck out a trace. A brutal pro- what something like that can our ethics seminars held at Auschwitz overwhelmed by the way people can be cess.” have on someone’s life—and our hotel.) Becky. “Especially the boys systematically and strategi- Gianna said that she saw a he’s one of the lucky ones.” Rodney said that he was shoes without laces,” she cally evil. The Holocaust quote in the House of Wann- Laura remembered a scene most impacted at the House said, “because those are was committed in an organ- see that really struck her. in the documentary, A Film of Wannsee. Being there he the kind my son wears for ized way.” In contrast, he “Someone was remember- Unfi nished, we watched be- said, in the place where the school everyday.” Becky said, was the chaos of the ing how his father would fore we left New York in

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 W Let mebeginwithwhatIthoughttheplacewouldlooklike. It’s almost like a climax that It’s almostlikeaclimaxthat each withastorybehindit. building people, weendedatthisone oned thousandsofinnocent a complexthatonceimpris- acres ofemptybuildingsin ”After walkingthrough400 Holocaust lifewasimpactful. weddings, andeverydaypre- at Birkenauofbirthdays, Chitra saidthephotoexhibit the restoftrip.” me downemotionallyfor propaganda. Ithinkitshut als andre visiting genocidememori- the genocideinRwandaand I lostmanyrelativesduring pation in1939. killed duringGermanoccu- to knowthatPoleswerealso they wouldliketheworld in O Auschwitz JewishCenter ing abeerinbaropposite young Poleswhowerehav- A quickchatwithfour Jews killedatAuschwitz. learned thatitwasn’tonly Auschwitz JewishCenter.I remaining synagogue:The square andvisitingthelast ing withpeopleinthetown camp, Ispenttimespeak- Before goingtothedeath interesting things. was abletolearnsomemore the visitofmemorial,I town ofO a nightinthenearbyPolish kill them.Andhavingspent machinery thatwasusedto victims andthesophisticated you couldseeremainsofthe fi of Auschwitzinmyhead.I —Rwanda—I hadapicture Based onwhereI’mfrom son was it wasrealandthataper- grave. “Iwasstruckbecause ing bodiesintoamassive which theNazisaredump- they canrestinpeace.Ifelt of buryingthemsomewhere museum purposesinstead remains oflovelyonesfor is ethicaltodisplaysome in Rwandaonwhetherit I followanongoingdebate good foodformybrainas This wouldatleastbesome handle victims’remains? Auschwitz StateMuseum How, forinstance,didthe would seeatAuschwitz. home inRwandaandwhatI genocide memorialsback with whatIalreadysawin if thereweresimilarities was alsoplanningtocheck happened isusualforme.I gured itwasaplacewhere O ś —O ś 1 wi ś wi ę fi fi ę cim informedme lming itforNazi lled withphotos, cim, People,History,Culturemagazine,no.31,July2011 fl ś evil and,notjustforashorttimeorasquickmistake,butsustainedanddeliberateperiodoftime. more confusion.My hat doyougetwhenaddconfusiontoconfusion?Ide ecting onwhat wi 2 ę cim priorto I CANSTILLFEELTHECONFUSION 3 4 in asense,guiltyforwalk- She saidinasenseshefelt, (the tourist)walkedout.” and didn’tgoout.Butyou where millionswalkedin literally walkedintoaplace in AuschwitzI.“Whereyou going intothegaschamber erful momentforherwas Raksha saidthemostpow- way. as children,posingthesame has ofherbrotherandshe almost identicaltooneshe for aphotographerthatwas and sisterproudlyposing a of be to seemed there wasoneportraitthat valuable inlife.”Shesaid reminds youofwhat’smost ers cameupwitheffective understanding howthekill- I amjusthavingahardtime that stillhauntsmeasIwrite. But I ings inRwanda. genocide victims’belong- me sinceIalreadysawmany this wasn’tmuchshockfor and toothbrushesbutagain er belongingslikesuitcases of survivors’shoesandoth- at thispoint.Wesawloads wasn’t awareofnewthings propaganda songstoo,soI in Rwandahadtheirown them marchtowork.Killers the prisonersandtohelp both tocalmthefearsof propaganda songsasaway up ofinmateswouldplay where anorchestramade different blocks.Wesaw of thecampandwetoured double barbedwirefence work camp.Wecrossedthe to insisttheplacewasa else’s voicewasstillthere emphatically, asifsomeone death camp,”ourguidesaid camp, Auschwitzwasa “Auschwitz wasnotawork to wakeupandgoforwork. stations duringthegenocide would besensitizedonradio Therefore peopleinRwanda kora” whichmeanstowork. to killTutsistheword“gu- would calltheiractivities during Rwanda’sgenocide new formesincemurderers you free.”Itdidn’tsound words mean:“workwillset frei” andourguidesaidthe man words“Arbeitmacht the sitewhichholdsGer- We startedatthegateof what wesaw. touched inauniquewayby ally noticedeachofuswas ism studentsandIgradu- our tourwithotherjournal- comfortable aswestarted 5 fi nally sawtheworst fi rst visitatAuschwitzleavesmestillwonderinghowhumanbeingsareabletodo 6 7 brother 8 cases atAuschwitzI.“They Kelly feltmovedbythesuit- next space.” it preparedustogointothe ghost likememory…Ithink Being inthepresenceofthat ing whattheyhadheard. the campshadstood,hear- where peoplewhowentto fi track 17because,“Itwasthe it really“hither”wason Emily saidthe and inSyria.” now inSudan,Rwanda, tinues tohappen,likeitis because ifyoudon’t,itcon- responsibility foreachother man beingsweshouldtake ing out.Onalevelashu- mally anacceptablefuneral I knowthatcremationisnor- people’s remainsareburned. terms withthesystemwhere in theland,Iamnotgood placed inacof entire remainsarenormally place wherethedeceased’s dignity but,comingfroma a nearbyJewishcemeteryin that remainedwasburiedin I learnedthatmostoftheash small quantity. we wereshownsomeina victims’ bodiestoashesand tion methodstoreducethe way! Thekillersusedcrema- Rwanda’s memorials.No the victims’bodieslikein victims oranyotherpartsof I willseeskullremainsofthe kept waitingtoseewhether crystal chemicals.ThenI loaded andkilledusing in whichpeoplewouldbe toured insidegaschambers taken toagaschamber.We ture ofnakedwomenbeing ing people.Wesawapic- vanced waysinslaughter- technology andmoread- Photo: Suzanne Rozdeba rst timewewerestanding 9 Participants oftheprojectvisitingexhibitioninso-calledSauna.Onright:EugeneKwibuka 10 fi n andburied 11 fi rst timethe 12 fi 13 nitely don’tthinkgetsomethingotherthan teary eyedreadingthat.” stroke ofthepen.Igotvery so personal.Evenjustthe Seeing theactualletterwas her familyaskingforfood. ish fromayounggirlto Like thisoneletterinPol- highlighted individuals. seum verypowerful.“They at theBerlinHolocaustMu- from thediariesandletters Sue saidshefoundexcerpts the magnitude.” moment Iunderstoodmore that wassohorrible.In deaths. Itwasthedeception were actuallygoingtotheir ing relocatedwhenthey thinking thattheywerebe- brought alloftherethings piece ofclothforwarmth. tion, liketakinganextra often forthesmallestinfrac- used topunishdetainees, all differentwaysthatwere and starvationchambers, prisoners, suffocationcells, We sawstandingcellsfor stopped. if theNazishadnotbeen what wouldhavehappened extent andIkeepwondering could exploitotherstothis imagine howhumanbeings 30,000 women.Ijustcan’t before uswasthehairof mated thatinadisplaycase at twotons.Ourguideesti- We sawsomehairestimated for useintextilefactories. was shornandthenshipped me ishowthewomen’shair Another troublingstoryfor using cremationfurnaces. were easilyturnedintoashes successful thattheirbodies plan ofthevictimswasso feeling thatanextermination I becomeunwellwiththe tures includingGermanbut procedure amongmanycul- 14 15 16 over fearandhate. forgiveness hastriumphed there isasignthathopeand The veryfactofusbeing hit meinapowerfulway. Auschwitz synagoguealso Saying kaddishinthe mourn) intheirownway.” everyone tohave(aplace to mourn,“Itwasnicefor just aseveryfaithhasaway moment forherbecause Alex saysthiswasaspecial kaddish andtalk,asagroup. Auschwitz synagoguetosay One nightwewenttothe the wayIhandlemywork. be agoodcontributionon on professionalethicswill days dedicatedtore issues butIknowthat10 as Idelvedeeperintothese I canstillfeeltheconfusion Holocaust. less than50yearsafterthe ocide inRwandahappened A bitofmathshowsthegen- er crimesagainsthumanity. the genocideandmanyoth- ing thesamestepstowards repeating mistakesfollow- derstand whypeoplekeep Neither doesithelpmeun- realize theywerewrong. stop, thinkforaminute,and Hitler andhisaidescouldn’t provide theanswerforwhy confusion, butitjustdoesn’t should helptomanagemy wards genocideandthat are theoriesaboutstepsto- for alongtime.Iknowthere would dosomucheviland kept wonderingwhypeople When ourtourwasdone,I www.faspe.info/journalism2011 Eugene Kwibuka(Rwanda) Margaret Teich fl

ections

Jewish Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

A STAR OF WORLD MUSIC AT THE OŚWIĘCIM SYNAGOGUE

atisyahu, also known as Matthew Paul Miller, the world’s most famous Jewish musician, combines elements of jazz, Mhip-hop, beatboxing, and the Hasidic tradition participated in the Shabbat prayers at the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot synagogue in Oświęcim on June 17.

This special occasion and prepared by the well guests, prayers rang out brought over 40 individu- known Warsaw restaurant within the Oświęcim syna- als from across Poland, owner, Malka Kafka, who gogue, which, before the to attend prayers led by operates two establishments Second World War, could the Chief Rabbi of Poland in the Polish capital, called be heard in twenty differ- Michael Schudrich. After “Tel Aviv” and “Haifa.” ent places of worship in our prayers, the Shabbat dinner town. Photo: JC took place, led together with Thanks to Matisyahu, Rabbi From left: AJC director Tomasz Kuncewicz, Matisyahu, Rabbi Michael American-Israeli musician Schudrich, and the many Maciek Zabierowski Schudrich and Efraim Rosenstein AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN OŚWIĘCIM

t the start of each summer, those living in the city center of Oświęcim and walking either early in the morning or in the Alate afternoon, may see a group of young foreigners running in unison beside the river. Each year, American offi cers attending the United States Naval, Air Force, and Coast Guard Academy, as well as West Point, come to Poland and Oświęcim for a week-long Academy program devoted to learning the history of the Holocaust and modern ethical issues connected to military operations. Tarnów, Bobowa, and Zakli- czyn, where the cadets visited the only Jewish military cem- etery, from the First World War, in Poland. The program ended with a hike through the beautiful Rusinowa Glade in the Tatra Mountains. Photo: JC Maciek Zabierowski In Bobowa synagogie Photo: JC Maintenance work at the Jewish cemetary in Oświęcim

This year, ten students be- diers toured the city and vis- gan their stay in Cracow, ited the Jewish Center and where they learned about Synagogue as well as the Jewish and Polish history of Jewish Cemetery. A part of the city. They also had the their visit included a two- opportunity to hear the testi- day study visit of the former mony of one of the Righteous Auschwitz-Birkenau Concen- Among Nations, Dr. Janina tration and Death Camp as Rościszewski, who, together well as a workshop detailing with her parents and brother, the fate of Roma prisoners of saved twelve Jews from the this site. Holocaust during the Second A special part of the visit World War. was touring the formerly Photo: JC In Oświęcim, the young sol- Jewish places within Galicia: Academy Program participants visiting Polish Aviation Museum in Cracow

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011 Center for Dialogue and Prayer Foundation

WHY DO FUTURE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATORS FROM GERMANY ORGANIZE STUDY VISITS TO THE MEMORIAL SITE?

or the third time now, a group of students from the School of Management of Public Organizations of North Rhine-Westphalia have taken part in a study trip to Oświęcim. Why is it so important that future German gov- Fernment administrators to come here? In what manner do their educator and lecturer try to reach these young people? These are the questions that we have posed the organizer of the journey to “Auschwitz,” Gerhard Haus- mann, a lecturer at the School of Management of Public Organizations of North Rhine-Westphalia.

What educational op- administrative offi cials or tions do students of the as police offi cers. School of Management of Public Organizations What inspired you to have and what type organize visits to the of employment will Auschwitz Memorial they later fi nd in North Site? Rhine-Westphalia? Around ten years ago, Gerhard Hausmann: the Interior Ministry took North Rhine-Westphalia the political decision that is the largest state within the process of higher the Federal Republic of education must include Germany, with a popu- historical elements that lation of 18 million indi- deal with government viduals. Our school is an administration. It was institution that educates meant that the main as- future government work- pect covered was to be ers. This includes offi cials the actions of government working at the local level administrators during (in cities and towns), the National Socialist pe- state administrators (at riod. The students should, the county, regional lev- above all, know how the Photo: CDP els, and within the Inte- administrators of that pe- Students from North Rhine-Westphalia with , a former Auschwitz prisoner rior Ministry), and those riod gave into the infl u- working within the po- ence of that ideology and nars, visits to Memorial ences and impressions involved in this historical lice ranks. Future govern- took part in the crimes. A Sites take place; among with their own friends subject. They are thankful ment administrators are specifi c place in the un- them is a visit of the for- and colleagues, in this that someone has given educated in a variety of tangling of these events is mer Concentration Camp way, reminding them- them the opportunity to fi elds, within appropriate the role of the police in the of Auschwitz. selves about the events get to know this place, groups, which include Holocaust. To accomplish that took place under the which is so important in law as well as specifi c this goal, various pro- In your opinion, what rule of the National So- history. areas of study (for exam- grams and educational effect does the visit to cialists. ple, fi nancial manage- materials have been cre- the Auschwitz Memo- What are the reactions ment, criminology), and ated. One of the projects rial Site have on your How are you personally among Germans to your this includes education are the seminars that are students’ thinking and affected by your regular journeys to the Memorial in social studies—and to be completed by all the behavior? What do you visits to the Memorial Site? this is where historical students. To deepen the expect of them? Site and what meaning education belongs. After knowledge, educational does each following visit Here, we must bring three years of study, the trips are planned. In the The visits to the Memo- have for you? about a certain dispar- graduates fi nd work as realm of historical semi- rial Site leave a very deep ity. When it comes to stu- and emotional impression Even though I have read dents, the reactions are on all the participating much about this subject extremely positive. Less GERHARD HAUSMANN students. They discuss matter in my work at the positive are the reactions this long after they have School of Management from among those I call, returned from their jour- and I strive to deepen my “the older generation.” Gerhard Hausmann is a police commissioner, and for ney. These debates, which knowledge of this history, Here, among educators as nearly 10 years, an educator at the School of Management involve the participation I am still moved by these well as administrators, es- of Public Organizations of North Rhine-Westphalia. He of the students, also take visits. I have already been pecially those within the teaches subjects relating to law and social studies, with place on the public radio. to the Auschwitz Memo- police, there are still many a particular emphasis on how they have shaped history. Many individuals choose rial Site seven times and individuals who turn In 2004, he became the manager of a research institute to take part in the seminar each time I fi nd a new away from such problems dealing with history and administration. This is where at the Auschwitz Memo- facet to this history. The or just do not have an the projects in educating about history took shape. Previ- rial Site. Recently, only in reason why I continue opinion on these matters. ously, he had worked at the police headquarters, within Münster from nearly 200 to come here is the fact However, the number of its administration in various cities (Münster, Bielefeld, students, 111 were cho- that I want to give young these people is dwindling Bonn, Recklinghausen). sen for the seminar. Un- people the opportunity to and this provides us with After a visit in 2010, he took up the subject of Auschwitz in fortunately, the number experience this as well. hope that those working the publication Historical Journal and entitled it: A Journey of attendees is limited, so This is one my duties in education will start to to Auschwitz. This magazine is distributed electronically to only certain individuals in the framework of the become interested in vis- all lecturers and students of the School of Management of are able to take part in this educational work. This is its to the Auschwitz Me- Public Organizations of North Rhine-Westphalia, mean- program. Personally, I also personally touching; morial Site. ing around seven thousand individuals. would like to see students when I see how passion- speak about their experi- ately young people get Interview by: Bogumił Owsiany

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Culture Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

AUSCHWITZ IN LITERATURE —THE WINNING ENTRY

he educational project Auschwitz in Literature has come to an end. Its participants had been the students of Powia- towy Zespół Szkół Ekonomiczno-Gastronomicznych [The County Economic and Gastronomical Schools] Num- Tber 4 in Oświęcim. The last stage of project was a contest for the best analysis of Batsheva Dagan’s collection of poetry, entitled, Imagination: Blessed Be, Cursed Be! The analysis that won the fi rst prize is presented below.

Batsheva Dagan, The Birth- What was this, soon I will tell you: had given the extraordinary day Present. A poem writ- This was a drawing, present. ten about a poem written in A slice of bread Auschwitz. And a poem. The entire poem, to a great BATSZEWA DAGAN extent, is about the distinc- Poetry allows one to talk The next stanza sheds fur- tion concerning normal life about the simplest things in ther light about what a and vegetation within a a refi ned and embellished special occasion was the camp. That, which normally manner, but it also allows receiving—the girl who re- would not draw attention, one to present their most dif- ceived this gift, was notably grows to the rank of a hap- fi cult experiences in the sim- celebrating her eighteenth pening, about which—as plest words that are the most birthday, and entering adult- stated in the second lyrical to the point. In the poem The hood. What kind of present stanza—the story has to be Birthday Present by Batsheva is appropriate for such an told. A need (or even duty) Dagan, the latter charac- occasion? You may ask this to free the truth about that teristic of poetry is present. question, but today nobody reality is again the common The history connected to the will answer that a slice of point of almost every crea- traumatic experiences of the bread will make someone tion that takes on the subject prisoners of the Auschwitz happy on her eighteenth of the Holocaust, especially Concentration Camp are birthday. However, in the when their authors are in- written about in a manner reality of the poem, this is dividuals who had lived that is frugal, balanced, hon- how it is—the slice of bread, through and experienced est, and one which gives the that Zosia kept herself from that hell. poem a signifi cantly expres- eating, was the most tangi- sive power. ble treat that you were able Błogosławiona bądź The same message can be to eat, as opposed to the deli- read in the last two stanzas The subject matter of the cacies drawn on the birthday wyobraźnio – of the poem. In the penul- poem is presented by both card. What could you actu- przeklęta bądź! timate stanza, the narrator the title (The Birthday Present), ally give your good friend speaks of what happened as well as the by the subtitle “in a place where there are to the gift she received—she (A poem about a poem written in no things, which you could Wspomnienia „Stamtąd” notes that the slice of bread Auschwitz). This comes from give in the free world?”—is had been eaten to the last the fact that the gift, which a rhetorical question that is crumb and the piece of pa- is part of the title—was re- posed even by the poem. per that the poem was writ- ten on disappeared “like You may ask this question, but today nobody dust in the air.” will answer that a slice of bread will make All that is left, however, is someone happy on her eighteenth birthday. the poem—metaphorically hidden within the individ- ceived literally from another The drawing—showing a centration camp, the whole not exist, because the concen- ual who received the gift, prisoner—in the form of not table covered in a variety of situation also seems ex- tration camp simultaneously where it had waited for the only a piece of bread and dishes (a roasted chicken, traordinary, when this is an questioned and denigrated moment when it would be drawing, but also a poem broccoli and cabbage soup, attempt to escape the hope- the fundamental human able to tell the story of the that was written especially fruit juices and wine, and lessness and hellishness of right—the right to live—and extraordinary gift as well as for this occasion. Its author even an apple in honey)— this reality. Without taking it also changed the rhythm of the extraordinary girl, who has been named in the poem obviously contrasts the slice the context of the situation time, robbed the individual of knew in the cruel world of written by Dagan as Zosia Sz- of bread, but in the reality of in which this story is being the ability to gauge time, forc- the camp that “this treas- pigelman, who was deported the concentration camp, this told, it may seem infantile ing them to accept the rhythm ure within her heart would to Auschwitz in 1943 and lost was a “true delicacy, the best and not worth any atten- of camp life, connected with cause the joy for others.” her life in the the thing from anything on that tion, so that is why while further roll-calls, labor, and, same year. The Birthday Pre- table.” This is because of a reading The Birthday Present inevitably, with selections. Zosia could not do this, sent memorializes this indi- simple reason: “a thin slice it is important to constantly since—as is stated in the vidual as well as the specifi c of black bread, with a bit of remember that it happened There is nothing unusual fi nal verse—she “died dur- situation that was connected sausage” was the reality. within a concentration that in such an inhuman ing the fi nal part of the jour- with the birthday, but in the camp, broader perspective it is also From this perspective, the There is nothing unusual that in such an a moving illustration of the description “real” is used A place fi lled with contempt inhuman reality, dreams as well as wants Camp reality. twice in this fragment of For the human right to life, the poem and it takes on a A place where you measured time are both the simplest and most important. The poem consists of twelve double meaning. “Real” in From roll-call to roll-call, stanzas that contain an ir- relation to the bread means And the measuring stick were reality, dreams as well as ney.” This is how the story, regular number of lines. The that the slice is something Unending rows of female prisoners wants are both the sim- that was supposed to be a fi rst stanza only describes physical, truly exists and it plest and most important. gift, like the poem written the event that will be later can be eaten, however, “real” This fragment, which comes These were dreams about by Zosia, ends. Within the mentioned and draws atten- in terms of word “delicacy” from the fi rst stanza of the a decent and nutritious poem written at Auschwitz, tion to the place where it oc- shows us that, this piece of poem is remarkably simple, meal—like the one on the there is no mention of the curred, in other words, the bread, received as a birthday yet, at the same time perfect- birthday card—and about grey and terrifying reality concentration camp and its present, is delicious, excep- ly illustrates that within the a “life without fear.” This of the camp—instead, there conditions, while in the sec- tional, and incomparable. world of the camp, human is exactly what the girl tell- are “wishes of joy and a de- ond stanza an explanation of actions, values, and behavior, ing the story in the poem sire for a new life in a new the gift mentioned in the title In the context of the pervad- had been stripped of their nat- was dreaming of, as was world”… appears: ing conditions in the con- ural sense. That sense could her good friend, Zosia, who Patrycja Piotrowska

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011 History

of helping the prisoners in preparing to drop off a ship- oners (PWOK), which was PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL various ways. These included ment of “Christmas presents” formed to organize material supplying food, medicine, for the prisoners when they aid to the Auschwitz prison- and warm clothing, acting were surprised by a gendar- ers and receive documenta- WOJCIECH JEKIEŁEK as intermediaries in covert merie patrol from Osiek. The tion of the crimes of the SS. (1905-1989) correspondence between the gendarmes shot Szalbót dead Close relatives of Jekiełek prisoners and their families, on the spot and captured were also involved in the Born on May 23, 1905 to a foreign radio stations, such as receiving documentation of Jekiełek. He managed to Auschwitz relief effort. Three peasant family in Osiek, near the BBC broadcasts, among the crimes committed in the break free, and was shot and of them—his brother Fran- Oświęcim, the son of Maciej the village populace. In Feb- camp, sheltering fugitives, wounded as he fl ed. With the ciszek (born 1897), his wife and Wiktoria. He attended ruary 1940, he and other and even taking part in pre- police searching for him, he Marianna (born 1900), and the seven-grade public school peasant activists in the Land paring escapes. Jekiełek was went into hiding in the area his daughter Teresa (born in Osiek. He allied himself to of Oświęcim began publish- the leader of this group. He near the camp. In February 1924)—were arrested in 1943 the peasant movement early. ing a clandestine journal ti- made personal contact with 1943, he managed to make and held for months in the During the interwar period, tled Wiadomości Podziemia the prisoners and dropped off his way to Cracow, where he Mysłowice investigative pris- he was chairman of the Pow- [Underground News], later food and medicine for them. continued his activity in the ons, after which they were iat Executive Board of the renamed Orka [The Plough- He also dealt with the prison- BCh Regional Command. He sent to Auschwitz. Marianna Wici Union of Rural Youth share]. The fi rst armed units ers on the level of the resist- served at fi rst as an offi cer for and Teresa died in Ausch- in Biała Krakowska, while began forming in the area ance movement structure. special missions, and then be- witz, while Franciszek was also serving as secretary of in late 1940 under the name The prisoners referred to him came deputy instructor and murdered in Buchenwald. the Powiat Executive Board “Chłostra” (Peasant Watch). as “Opiekun” (The Protec- head of communication for After the end of the war, Wo- of the People’s Party. During Jekiełek became the com- tor). There are extant secret the Regional Command in the jciech Jekiełek was chairman the peasant strikes of 1937, he mander. These units formed messages from those years in spring of 1943. While in Cra- of the board of the Coopera- was in charge of the Powiat the foundation of the Peas- which they thank him and the cow, he remained dedicated tive Bank in Kęty. In 1947, the Strike Committee, and was ant Battalions (BCh), which local BCh group for the help to the Auschwitz cause and Regional Military Court in sentenced to six months’ im- formed in 1941. Jekiełek was they received, mostly in the maintained clandestine con- Cracow sentenced him to six prisonment as a result. chosen as commander of the form of medicine. These doc- tact with the prisoners. The years’ imprisonment. Freed In the fi rst months of the Ger- BCh Bielsko Powiat Region. uments may now be found Museum Archives contain from prison in 1950, he set- man occupation, in late De- He used many pseudonyms in the Archives of the Aus- a secret message from July tled in Cracow. He graduated cember 1939, he attempted in the underground: “Wo- chwitz-Birkenau State Muse- 1943 addressed to “Żmija,” in from an external course in to make his way to Hungary, jtek,” “Opiekun,” and, most um in Oświęcim. The funding which prisoners ask him for economics and administra- in order to be able to join the often, “Żmija.” He was the designated for the relief effort help in escaping. In mid-1943, tion, and held white-collar Polish army that was form- founder and one of the main came from resistance move- Jekiełek joined with other re- jobs in Cracow building en- ing in France. However, the organizers of the so-called ment headquarters, contribu- sistance movement activists, terprises until retirement. He Slovakian police caught him Auschwitz BCh group, which tions by local civilians, chari- mostly from the peasant and died on January 15, 1989. in Prešov and took him back worked to alleviate the lot table organizations, and the socialist groupings, in set- Mirosław Obstarczyk to the Polish border, where of the prisoners. This group circulation of false food ration ting up the Committee to Aid the gendarmes released him. was founded in mid-1941 at coupons, produced by the Concentration Camp Pris- Mirosław Obstarczyk He went back to his native a secret peasants’ assembly secret Peasant Party “Roch” village, but had to go into in Malec, near Oświęcim, and printing press in Warsaw, hiding because he was un- functioned under the aegis which were either sold or der threat of arrest. He soon of the regional BCh head- exchanged for merchandise. VESTIGES OF HISTORY joined the fi ght against the quarters. It grouped together Near the end of 1942, Jekiełek FROM THE COLLECTIONS occupation regime and be- a range of people, most of and a courier from the nation- came a member of the Peas- them peasant activists, in- al headquarters of the Peas- OF THE AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM ant underground. He set up cluding many women, who ant Battalions, Anna Szalbót a structure to pass news from were committed to the idea (pseudonym “Rachela”) were hittled from a piece of wood, the fi gu- Wrine representing a prisoner is one of the most symbolic and expressive works of art, FROM GANOBIS’S CABINET which was created behind the barbed wires of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. n one of the issues of Oś, I wrote about books that had belonged to Arthur Lehmann, who had received them from his colleagues as This physically small, carved fi gurine was most probably Iwell as the commandant for his thirty-fi fth and thirty-sixth birth- found after the War within days. It seemed, then, that this would have been the end of this subject, the former Concentration the two books that contained the dedications. Nothing of the sort! Camp. It was donated to the Museum Collection by for- In a house not too far from already mentioned, Arthur the house during the occupa- mer prisoner Jerzy Adam the Birkenau Camp there was Lehmann had occupied the tion after her family had been Brandhuber, an artist, who supposed to be nothing. Ac- house, or if somebody had evicted. For me, this was an later became a researcher at cording to its owners, it was simply brought and left the issue of great importance, the Auschwitz Memorial Site. completely searched earlier. books there. I was missing this because I knew that if the The artist who created this Other than the books and just evidence. After a few months, plaque would have the name piece is unknown. The head of a few other items that I ac- I met a friend, whose fam- Lehmann on it, the mystery the fi gure is only partially in- quired through an antiques ily had owned the house. She would be solved… Impatient- tact, however, the carving has store, since someone had told me that her mother had ly, I waited for the “present” lost none of its character. We taken them earlier, the house at some point ripped from the from my friend. Once I had have before our eyes, carved was to be empty. However, I door the nameplate of some this exceptional object in my out of light-wood, a fi gure was never able to learn if, the German, who had lived in hand, I found that it had the of a human being giving the following written on it: “Leh- impression of hopelessness mann SS-Rottenführer.” and abandonment—with For that reason, I have the arms limp at his sides, in mis- nameplate, but who was Ar- shaped clothing, and enor- thur Lehmann, and what did mous shoes. There is a lack in he do at the camp? This will specifi c details; the primitive- most probably remain a mys- ness of the silhouette evokes a tery. Today, I wonder if the universalism that intensifi es above-mentioned house may the message and expression aw Ganobis ł contain some other secrets. I of this artistic creation. This hope that during its disman- is an individual during his tling we will fi nd some more downfall—his grief, his help- interesting items from the lessness, his solitude. Photo: Miros wartime period. Photo: Collections Depatment, A-BSM Door plaque from Artur Lehmann’s house Mirosław Ganobis Agnieszka Sieradzka Figure of a prisoner

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Photographer Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 31, July 2011

PHOTO JOURNAL

ellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) is the name of a study program pre- pared by the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York for a group of journalists, students of law, medicine, Fand the seminarians of all faiths. The aim of the program is an attempt to translate the ethical lessons of his- tory to contemporary events, such as genocide, the existence of totalitarian regimes, and corruption. A group of young individuals visited, among other places, , the former Auschwitz Concentration Camp, the House as well as Cracow. On pages 10-11 of Oś, you will fi nd more information on the subject of the conference and refl ections of its participants. We will later publish photographs taken by seminar participant, Rebecca Lim. Photo: Rebecca Lim Photo: Rebecca Lim Photo: Rebecca Lim Photo: Rebecca Lim Photo: Rebecca Lim Photo: Rebecca Lim Photo: Rebecca Lim

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