O ś w i ę c i m ISSN 1899-4407 o e P p e l

C u l t u r e

y r o t S I H

Record Number of Visitors to the Auschwitz Museum In 2010, there were 1,380,000 VISITORS

no. 25 January 2011 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011

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

In the first of 2011 issues of this month- correct for public oppression. But to Higher Vocational School in Oświęcim ly, we summarize attendance at the oppress, it does not only have to be who are taking part in the project Hu- Auschwitz Memorial. In the past year, physical and it does not only have to be man Rights Yesterday—Human Rights the grounds of the former Auschwitz public. A quiet and effective way to de- Today. Nazi German Concentration and Death stroy a person, or persons, belonging to For seven years, the Center for Dialogue Camp were visited by 1.38 million peo- a certain group is through intolerance,” and Prayer has held Days of Recollec- ple. In the 60-year history of the Muse- Karina Polak writes. tion around the New Year Holiday. In Editor: um, this is a record number. On the pages of the International Youth this issue of Oś you will find reflections Paweł Sawicki We would like to draw particular atten- Meeting Center, there is a report about of participants who attended the recent Editorial secretary: tion to the following two essays, the fruit the two Cracow Poetry Salons that were meeting At the Threshold of Auschwitz. Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka born out of the Jewish Center’s project held in December, where the guests Editorial board: entitled, Why do we need tolerance? These were August Kowalczyk and Andrzej Paweł Sawicki Bartosz Bartyzel texts were written by two students from Seweryn. You will also find an article Editor-in-chief Wiktor Boberek the Marcin Wadowita High School in about the first meeting of secondary [email protected] Jarek Mensfelt Olga Onyszkiewicz Wadowice. “The twenty-first century school students from Weil der Stadt and Jadwiga Pinderska-Lech is a bit too diplomatic, you’d say—too German studies students from the State Artur Szyndler Columnist: Mirosław Ganobis Design and layout: A GALLERY OF THE 20TH CENTURY Agnieszka Matuła, Grafikon Translations: For many years after the war, and colorful, the format and ownership, and name—of a century the Chemik was in David R. Kennedy the only local newspaper frequency of publication the chemical works in a new our town, later it was not the Proofreading: that appeared in our town were also modified—it was reality, in every respect, there only, but still an important Beata Kłos was Oświęcimski Chemik [The published at a later date as a came a doctrine that produc- source of news and an edito- Cover: Oświęcim Chemist], pub- monthly magazine—for the tion plants should deal only rial forum! Paweł Sawicki lished as a workplace period- entire period of its existence in what they produce, and My cooperation with the Photographer: ical for Zakłady Chemiczne the Chemik had an impor- not—as it was before—for Chemik started in January of Paweł Sawicki Oświęcim [Chemical Works tant role and for many years example, the distribution of 1970, after the publication of a Oświęcim], and distributed to was the only local newspa- onions, or the publication of commemorative poem, dedi- the workforce in two-week in- per. Those in charge of it newspapers! This doctrine, cated to the 25th anniversary tervals. It was devoted to dis- were as follows: Zygmunt that came to be, eventually of the liberation of the Ausch- PUBLISHER: cussions about the economic, Nowakowski, Józef Rusinek, led to the elimination of the witz-Birkenau Concentration social, cultural, and sports life Bogusław Kwiecień, Agata Chemik. Its last issue was Camp. And it lasted, taking Auschwitz-Birkenau of the chemical works, as they Kościelnik with Mirosława number 1113! It appeared on various forms, to its very State Museum existed at that time. The first Pierko—always skillfully and printed with the date May 31, last number! Here I recall this issue of Chemik was released considerately! By changing 2007, so almost exactly on the poem. www.auschwitz.org.pl on May 1, 1962. Zygmunt itself, the range of distribu- 45th anniversary of its first Nowakowski and Henryk tion changed, as did the form publication. For nearly half Andrzej Winogrodzki Foltyn edited it at the time in of distribution. The chemical Partners: a manner that was contextual, works magazine became a interesting, and professional. general city newspaper, for WE REMEMBER Just as all contemporary press sale at kiosks, and the pub- Jewish In a quiet state of focused remembrance Center at the time, not just factory lication took into considera- On the white fields, with white snow, newspapers, the quality of tion the current issues facing www.ajcf.pl Where from blood came a blade of grass, from ashes a stone the paper, printing, and the the city—the social, cultural, The earth died in the tears of the birch wood graphic design of the Chemik sporting, as well as the his- left much to be desired; but torical subject of our city and On the grave of millions, endless crowds Center for Dialogue among the several thousand surrounding areas. Writ- The spring throws its green flower and Prayer strong crew of the chemical ing for it were well-known It includes a kiss of the sun Foundation works, as well as among their specialists on this subject, The memory and honor of those people. families, it enjoyed great pop- researchers and promot- www.centrum-dialogu.oswiecim.pl ularity and was published in ers of the history of our city: What should we promise, which words large quantities. Elżbieta Skalińska-Dindorf And what gesture should we make with our hands? Over the years, there were and Jan Ptaszkowski. On the holy grass, a sacred stone changes in editors, the graph- After various transforma- We swear on the ashes: Never again! International Youth ic design became elegant tions—in its organization, Meeting Center www.mdsm.pl

In Cooperation with:

Kasztelania www.kasztelania.pl

State Higher Vocational School in Oświęcim www.pwsz-oswiecim.pl

Editorial address: „Oś – Oświęcim, Ludzie, Historia, Kultura” Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 20 32-603 Oświęcim e-mail: [email protected] Photo from Mirosław Ganobis’s Collection A square in front of the Chemical Works.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

Record Number of Visitors to the Auschwitz Museum in 2010

n 2010, there were 1,380,000 visitors to the grounds of the former German Nazi Concentration and Exter- mination Camp Auschwitz. This is a record figure in the more than sixty years of the Memorial, which is Ithe most visited site of its kind in the world and the most visited museum in . The constantly rising attendance reflects the significance of this place as a symbol for the world.

ers, students, community of Auschwitz has led us to activists, and various occu- continue offering this option pational groups. There were over the winter with guides more than seven thousand in Polish, English, German, participants in in-depth ed- French, Italian, and Span- ucational projects this year. ish,” Urbaniak adds. “In view of the enormous The frequency of service interest on the part of indi- by the free shuttle buses vidual visitors, a new op- between Auschwitz and tion was added in which Birkenau was doubled in they tour the Auschwitz order to make it easier for I and Auschwitz II-Birke- visitors to see both parts nau grounds in organized of the Museum. The Pixel groups with a guide,” ob- company of Bydgoszcz do- serves Magdalena Urba- nated a lighted information niak of the Visitor Service panel for one of the Muse- Section. “The positive re- um buses. sponse to the new method The top ten countries of ori- Neither the closing of air- Year by year the number of of encountering the history Bartosz Bartyzel gin for visitors were Poland space after the eruption of people shown around the (530 thousand), the United the Icelandic volcano nor grounds of the Memorial Kingdom (84 thousand), It- the May floods in Poland by specially prepared and aly (74 thousand), had any significant impact trained guides is increasing. (68 thousand), (63 on the number of visitors,” In 2010 more than a million thousand), Israel (59 thou- says Andrzej Kacorzyk, persons took guided tours sand), South Korea (47 thou- head of the Visitor Service in the eighteen languages sand), the Czech Republic Section. “A noteworthy spoken by the more than 260 (45 thousand), Slovakia (43 fact is the arrival of ever in- guides. There is also a rise in thousand), and Norway (43 creasing numbers of Euro- the number of people taking thousand). Most important- peans and visitors from the part in specialist education- ly, the majority of the visi- Far East. Last year, there al programs conducted by tors to the Memorial—850 were more visitors to the the International Center for thousand—were young Memorial from South Ko- Education about Auschwitz people, school pupils, and rea than from the United and the Holocaust as part university students. States.” of projects targeting teach-

ZwiedzającyNumber of wg visitors krajów inw roku 2010 2010 according (pierwsze to 30 countries krajów) PorównanieComparison frekwencji of number odwiedzających of visitors betweenw latach 2001 2001-2010 and 2010 Polska 530600 Poland Holandia 12400

Wielka Brytania 84000 Australia 11800 Australia

Włochy 74000 Italy Irlandia 8500 Ireland

Niemcy 68000 Germany Dania 7500 Denmark

Francja 63000 France Chiny 7400 China

Izrael 59000 Israel Kanada 6200 Canada

Korea Południowa 47000 South Korea Chorwacja 5200 Croatia

Czechy 45000 Czech Republic Singapur 5100 Singapore

Słowacja 43300 Slovakia Słowenia 4300 Slovenia

Norwegia 43100 Norway Finlandia 4300 Finland

USA 38000 USA Portugalia 3300 Portugal

Hiszpania 32000 Austria 3200 Austria

Szwecja 24000 Rosja 2800 ProcentowyPercentage udział of odwiedzających visitors Węgry 16500 Hungary Rumunia 2500 Romania w stosunkuwith regard do liczby to population mieszkańców Japonia 15300 Japan Pozostałe kraje 99700 Other countries Polska 1,311% Poland Szwecja 0,258% Sweden Belgia 13000 Razem 1380000 Total Norwegia 0,897% Norway Węgry 0,136% Hungary

Słowacja 0,801% Slovakia Wielka Brytania 0,133% United Kingdom Polska / Poland Młodzież / Students 530600 855600 Izrael 0,793% Israel Włochy 0,118% Italy

Zagranica / Abroad Dorośli/ Adults Czechy 0,428% Czech Republic Belgia 0,073% Belgium 849400 524400

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ZNAKI PROGRAMÓW formy podstawowe 2.01

Formy podstawowe znaków programów są zbudowane z zestawienia znaku

Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011 NARODOWA STRATEGIA SPÓJNOŚCI – KSIĘGA IDENTYFIKACJI WIZUALNEJ 2007 – KSIĘGA IDENTYFIKACJI SPÓJNOŚCI WIZUALNEJ STRATEGIA NARODOWA

To save from destruction ince September 2010, further conservation work has continued at the site of the Former Nazi German Concentra- tion Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The project covers two prisoner blocks at the Auschwitz I site, the so-called reserve Sbuildings. The buildings mentioned above are blocks number 2 and 3, and they are extremely valuable primarily be- cause of their authenticity. The carrying out this project is possible thanks to financial support from the . ings were constructed on the to the left of the gate bearing there operated disinfection partial restoration work con- basis of a rectangular plan, the inscription “Arbeit Macht gas chambers for clothing, sisting of cleaning as well as with brick walls made of ce- Frei” into a “Russian Pris- but in the autumn of 1943 the the repairing of the loose ele- ramic brick. In 1925, this site oner of War Labor Camp,” clothing disinfection branch ments. Dirt from the filled-in was taken over by the Polish which of course was a total was eliminated. In February basement of block 2 has been Army, and the buildings in- fabrication: within 6 months of that year, a few rooms on removed, while in the attic corporated into the military more than 90 percent of the the ground floor were used of block 2, the wooden floor barracks complex. soldiers brought to the camp for the storage of food pack- boards were dismantled, as Following the creation of lost their life. From mid-1942 ages that were sent to the were the wooden ceiling ele- Auschwitz Concentration in block number 2 the reg- camp by the families of pris- ments. Test samples are tak- Camp by the Germans in istration of those deported oners. After several months en on a regular basis, which June 1940, blocks 2 and 3 to the women’s camp took the package storage depart- enable the analysis needed to were meant to accept the place. Among other things, in ment was moved. determine the actual state of first transports of prisoner. A this block the prisoners that The restoration works that historic buildings. part of block 2 was adapted arrived experienced the first have begun are being carried An influence on the deci- into the camp quarantine. painful clash with the reality out with great determina- sion whether these buildings Towards the end of 1940, of Auschwitz: bathing, sheer- tion, commitment, and pro- would undergo restoration prisoners were ordered to re- ing of hair, and being given a fessionalism. At the outset a work was primarily their move the external plaster of camp number. The block also thorough photographic doc- technical condition and the the two buildings. This was held police prisoners from umentation was done, which authenticity of the preserved done, after all, to each of the Silesia. The camp orchestra helped assess the condition of interior. In addition to the former barrack to give them also practiced there. the buildings. Before the start structure’s original preserved a unified appearance. The history of block 3 is very of the works, each room was floors, plaster, windows, and Each block’s story became a similar. In 1940, juvenile pris- put through a process so that doors, a great number of the separate administrative unit. oners occupied some of the it was thoroughly protected. building’s fixtures dating From 1941, the prisoners of rooms; another part of the During the dismantling of the back to the period the camp’s block number 2 stayed busy building housed the penal floorboards in both buildings operation have survived, for

Photo: A dam Pelc working on the expansion company that consisted of there were many discoveries example: wash basins and Interior of block of the camp: bricklayers, en- Jews and priests, which was that have been photographed toilets. gineers, Rollwagenkommando eventually moved to block and documented. These in- Prisoner blocks numbered prisoners, and those work- 11. In March 1942, the block clude personal belongings, 2 and 3 were built between ing in block’s agricultural became part of the first wom- such as a toothbrush, razor, The project’s implementation is 1916-18 by Austrian authori- Kommando. From October en’s camp set up in blocks 1- and elements of a military possible through EU co-financ- ties mainly for economic em- 1941 to March 1942, blocks 10. At the time, a hospital was uniform. The interior walls ing from the European Regional igrants. Block number 3 was number 2 and 3 along with located there and prisoners were sanitized, and the lay- Development Fund under the Op- a two-story building, while seven others (blocks 1, 12-14 were killed with a phenol in- ers of plaster and paint were erational Infrastructure and En- block 2 was a single-story and 22-24) became a unit that jection to the heart, and their secured. Some of the door vironment Program for the years building. Prisoners added a was separated from the Main bodies were stored in cellars. carpentry has been disman- 2007- 2013. story to the structure in 1942. Camp. The camp authorities At the turn of 1942/43, on tled and secured, which has Both of the detached build- made the nine blocks located the upper floor of the block, already been put through Monika Bernacka

Conservation work CONTINUES on FIVE wooden barracks

he Museum is implementing a project at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau site that involves the conserva- tion of five wooden barracks. Two of these structures were hospital barracks, two others served as housing Tbarracks in the quarantine section of the camp, and the last was a sanitary barrack, which housed the latrines and washrooms. The goal of this project is to carry out comprehensive maintenance of the barracks’ wooden structure, as well as their equipment. The sequence of renovation with the project guidelines and are in the conservation work- Concentration Camp is co-fi- the Operational Infrastructure and preservation work car- schedule. Work continues on shop. Work on the renovation nanced by the European Union and Environment Program ried out will be similar. In the barracks B-210 and B-166. Bar- and conservation of the struc- through the European Region- 2007-2013. first phase, all elements of the rack B-210, is the only surviv- tural elements continues there, al Development Fund under Iga Bunalska wooden barracks are labeled ing wooden building within and consists of the addition of using specially marked sign sector BIIb and the condition missing and damaged parts that will facilitate the reassem- of paint on the shafts of the as well as the fabrication of bly. Next, they are transported chimney was inspected, thus new replacement components to the maintenance workshop, work was done to protect the based on the design of the orig- and there they shall be sub- chimney shafts along with the inal. The wall’s wood panel jected to special conservation heating system for the winter. surfaces are being cleaned and as well as carpentry work in or- The sequence of the current subjected to appropriate treat- der to strengthen the structural work will be carried out in the ments. Portions of the original components of the wood, and same way as it has been on the floor inside the barracks have to add protection against the previous barracks. been safeguarded for the win- fire and the natural elements. In barracks B-166 in sector BIIa, ter. In 2010, work was success- all excavations and foundation The maintenance project of the fully completed on barracks work has been completed, and five wooden barracks at the B-171 and B-80, in accordance the wooden barrack’s elements former Auschwitz II-Birkenau Photo: A -BSM Conservation works on a wooden barracks

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

EDUCATION ABOUT AUSCHWITZ THROUGH THE INTERNET A pilot program for education utilizing the internet

he Auschwitz Museum was the first facility of its kind in Poland to launch a pilot internet education project. The International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust endeavor has been met with Tgreat interest by internet users. Although the course is currently only available in Polish, individuals from abroad have also voiced their willingness to participate in the online course.

exercises. The authors of learning platform. Through the course are specialists it, the student is able to in- from the Auschwitz-Birk- dependently take part in les- enau State Museum and the sons, participate in discus- Pedagogical University in sion forums, and work on Cracow. homework assignments. On The first block contains four the other hand, the teacher lessons: “The development monitors the progress of the of Auschwitz in the years student’s work and has the 1940-44”, “Living conditions ability to communicate with in Auschwitz”, “Groups of them through, among oth- prisoners in Auschwitz”, ers, a forum or chat. Discus- and “The SS garrison”. The sions on topics suggested by second is devoted to the participants are also possible Holocaust and includes and the moderators are his- two topics: “The Holo- torians and educators from caust: problems of termi- the Auschwitz Museum. nology and interpretation” and “Anti-Judaism and Anti-Semitism: the indirect The project is being implemented causes of the Holocaust.” with the support and under aus- In the upcoming year, it is pices of the “Education Plus” planned to launch the sec- project of the Ministry of Culture The e-learning platform Causes of the Holocaust.” ments of accounts by former ond part of the course web- and National Heritage, as well as includes two multimedia Each of these thematic prisoners, photographs and site dealing with the history with the use of the Museum’s own courses: “The History of blocks is made up of sev- archival documents, ex- of the Holocaust. resources. Auschwitz” and “The Road eral lessons. They contain a amples of art made in the Distance education via the to Genocide. The Indirect historical introduction, frag- camp, as well as teaching internet utilizes a special e- jarmen Technology helps conservators

ry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide. During the cleaning process, its impact creates a micro- thermal shock that destroys the connection between contamination and the surface that it is Don. The high pressure removes the contaminant from the surface, while the granules of dry ice evaporate and escape into the atmosphere.

In May of last year, the Mu- abrasives; moreover, it is this new method will allow es, among others; as well as by the prisoners in the con- seum signed an agreement highly accurate, economi- for more effective work as the bowls, eating utensils, centration camp. for financial support with cal, and ecological (by not well as enable the accelera- and other metal items used Aleksandra Papis the Minister of Culture and leaving behind any sort of tion and increase in effec- National Heritage for the cleaning solution). Cleaning tiveness of the preservation program: Cultural Herit- compounds and traditional process, which in relation age: “Promotion of Muse- abrasive materials alter to the difficult, and indeed, um Activities.” Funds were the state of most surfaces, dramatic state of some arte- earmarked for the purchase something that conserva- facts seems to be the most of equipment used in clean- tionists want to preserve. appropriate. ing with dry ice for the In the case of dry ice, this Museum’s conservations problem is eliminated. The result of using the dry workshop. This purchase ice technology will be a was preceded by a series of The device selected by the more effective way to pro- experiments and trials that Museum has proven to be tect the legacy of Ausch- helped to determine the effective on a variety of witz, both in the context of suitability and desirability materials as well as items smaller, movable objects, as of having this type of spe- that are heterogeneous in well as specific architectur- cialized equipment. The structure (dry ice does not al elements of the camp. use of this method for the damage surfaces sensitive treatment of Museum arti- to abrasion). It is suitable Currently, the device is facts has proved to be very for cleaning metal objects, mainly used in the main- effective. ceramics, or compound el- tenance of everyday items Using dry ice allows for a ements of mineral mortar. that are directly linked to decreased negative impact An additional advantage is the victims of the Holo- on the artefact during the that the device can be used caust. This includes spoons, preservation process, with- both in the laboratory and forks, knives, vegetable out using chemicals and in the field. Application of peelers, scissors, thermos- Photo: A -BSM Presentation of dry ice cleaning equipment

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 International Youth Meeting Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011

Human rights yesterday—human rights today Polish-German Youth Exchange

n December the first meeting of secondary school students from Weil der Stadt in Germany and students of German studies from the State Higher Vocational School in Oświęcim took place in the framework of the Ithe project Human Rights Yesterday—Human Rights Today. It is part of the Polish-German youth exchange organized annually by the International Youth Meeting Center in cooperation with the International Forum Burg Liebenzell.

the term “moral courage” were gray paper and plas- is associated by many tic wrap, which on the stage with an armed struggle in de- turned into a scarf on the fense of the homeland. head of the perpetrator, a vic- The main purpose of the meet- tim’s stolen bag, or blanket ing was to juxtapose courage that was used to cover the and resistance with various victim. This awakened the situations in everyday life, to imagination of not only play- personal experiences of the ers, but also spectators, while participants and to the re- introducing the subject of the spect of human rights. “What group’s second meeting that should my attitude be like?”, takes place in the Spring in “How should I respond when Bad Liebenzell, during which human rights are violated?”. the resistance movement and During the drama workshops civil courage will be dealt run by Monika Kuska and with in a contemporary con- Joanna Górna, actors from text. the theater “Imaginarium” Cooperation with the Interna- in Bieruń Stary, the young tional Forum Burg Liebenzell individuals could show what as well as the projects initiat- moral courage means to them, ed by Gertrud Gandenberger both in the historical aspect and Teresa Miłoń-Czepiec as well as in modern times. have been an important ele- With the help of body move- ment in the IYMC education- ments, facial expressions, and al program. The fact that once inarticulate sounds, the par- again the participants of the ticipants performed sketches seminar were students of an

Photo: IYMC that expressed their position Oświęcim Alma Mater is also Participants of the Polish-German youth exchange on violence, lack of respect fulfilling. for human rights, and threats The subject of the five meet- achieved through the use of of the seminar. to human life. The only props Olga Onyszkiewicz ings between the young Poles workshops that included the An interesting and valu- and Germans in Oświęcim use of materials provided by able experience for the par- was the resistance movement the Museum Archives, which ticipants of the meeting was a and moral courage in a histor- showed many examples of visit to the site of the former ical context, especially during courageous actions taken up Cracow Ghetto. The group’s the Second World War. by inmates as well as those tour guide not only presented During the first workshop the individuals who were help- the history of the creation and young people had the task ing them. With great inter- functioning of the Ghetto, but of answering the question: est, the participants read the also highlighted the various “What is moral courage for accounts of former prisoners, forms of resistance, among you?” To the great astonish- examined the original Ger- others, Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s ment of the participants and man camp documents, and activity and the role of the coordinators of the meeting, reviewed literature devoted “Pod Orłem” [Under the Ea- a fundamental difference in to the subject of resistance gle] pharmacy as well as the understanding of this con- within Auschwitz Concentra- activities of the Jewish Com- cept was revealed by the tion Camp. bat Organization. Poles and Germans. For the The highlight of the ses- The analysis of the resistance Polish participants, moral sion devoted to themes of movement in Poland during Photo: IYMC courage is mainly associated camp was the meeting with World War II was culminated Workshops at the Museum’s Archives with an armed struggle for Wilhelm Brasse, a former with a lecture by Dr. Marcin the homeland, while young prisoner of the Auschwitz- Kwiecień of the Institute of Germans combined this with Birkenau Nazi German Con- History at the Jagiellonian the attitude of contemporary centration and Death Camp, University, that was devoted citizenship, a commitment which not only provided the to the Nazi occupation of to defend the weak and the young people with knowl- Polish territory from 1939 to courage to voice their own edge about life in the camp, 1945, with particular empha- opinions. but was also a very deeply sis on forms of opposition by The visit to the Auschwitz emotional experience. “Mr. the civilian population and Memorial Site gave the meet- Brasse made us, young peo- the armed struggle that was ing participants the opportu- ple, aware that regardless of led by Union of Armed Strug- nity to get acquainted with which nation we come from, gle [ZWZ], which was subse- forms of resistance as well we feel the pain and humili- quently changed to the Home as acts of civil courage of ation the same way, and we Army. Some of the German the concentration camp pris- also experience the tragic mo- participants said after the lec- oners. Developing greater ments in the same manner,” ture that they are only now knowledge of this subject was wrote one of the participants beginning to understand why Photo: IYMC Drama workshops

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011 International Youth Meeting Center

The December meetings with Poetry at the IYMC

n December of last year, the IYMC twice hosted meetings in the framework of the Cracow Poetry Salon. On December 5, we hosted August Kowalczyk, who starred in a “double” role of the interpreter and the author. IDuring that evening, lovers of poetry had a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the poetic creations of this great actor.

he was only warming up for by the extremely fastidious even harder and more chal- French critics for the title role lenging work. In 1980, Sew- in H. Hofmannsthal’s The Dif- eryn’s international career be- ficult Man at the Théâtre de la gan in , where he starred Colline. At the same time, he in Witkiewicz’s They, directed continued to act in films (in- by A. Wajda—a feminine cluding: Danton, The French role that led to a number of Revolution, and the Oscar- proposals. But the artist took winning Indochine). up another challenge: in the Ever since 1988, he has vis- years 1984 to 1988, he began ited Poland more and more working with a living legend often, first appearing in TV of contemporary theater, Pe- (including Richard III ter Brook. Virtually the entire by Shakespeare, directed by world admired Seweryn in F. Falk and Moiler’s Don Juan the monumental play Mahab- directed by J. Wosiewicz) and harata, based on an ancient In- later he also appeared in cin- dian epic. This was just a step ema (as J. Wiśniowiecki in Fire away from the next chapter and Sword, directed by J. Hoff- in the stage life of Seweryn: mann; the judge in Pan Tadeusz as probably only the third [Sir Thaddeus] and Rejent foreigner in the history to be- Milczek in ’s come a member of the most The Revenge; the phenomenal- elite theater ensemble, Co- ly played Cardinal Wyszyński médie Française. He charmed in T. Kotlarczyk’s filmPrimate ;

Photo: Jakub Senkowski Paris with Molière’s creations, and more recently, A. Warc- The 37th Poetry Salon which after all was not small zewski in J. Kidawa-Błoński’s accomplishment (Don Juan, Little Rose). Despite the enor- The Imposter, The Bourgeois mity of his accomplishments As August Kowalczyk wrote: Auschwitz, he adds: “The states that ‘the most difficult Gentleman), as well as Shake- Mr. Seweryn will take on “Poetry is my element, in unique heroism of this po- thing is to be with myself.’ spear’s (Claudius in Hamlet another challenge—starting which I have always searched etry is based on the fact that Maybe that is why for us, the and Shylock in The Merchant with the current season, he is for myself. Whole. For me, it although he takes on difficult audience, connecting with the of Venice), Czechoslovakian directing the Polish Theatre in was often a source of emo- topics and issues, he always artist and the man is a real (Gayev in The Cherry Or- .” tions on the ‘scale of Phidias,’ relates to the side of a clearly pleasure. And an honor!” chard), and he also introduced At the end of the evening, for but also an alibi for that, who defined value system. And That evening, Beata and the French to Gombrowicz over an hour Andrzej Seweryn I am. Not who, but how.” after all, we know this is a Adam Musiał, piano and (Henry in The Wedding) as signed Salon programs which “It is precisely this attempt to difficult task. In this context, violin virtuosos, well known well as many others. Among was received with joy and define and establish himself the poet’s dialogue with God to the Oświęcim audience, the many awards bestowed gratitude by the Oświęcim in this volume, bearing the el- becomes more poignant in the accompanied August Kowal- upon him, one that certainly audience treating this artistic oquent title Najtrudniej z sobą series entitled Zakład asekura- czyk. When the meeting con- had a particular importance gesture as a Christmas gift. [The Most Difficult Thing Is to cyjny [Insurance Agency], cluded, it was possible to get to him was being selected as Be with Myself], that is so fas- especially in the poems dedi- the author’s signature on the Actor of the Season in 1996 Joanna Klęczar cinating. And this statement cated to the Ten Command- volume of his poetry. would probably be a truism, if ments—how aptly he asks The 37th Salon of Poetry, not for the fact that this poetry questions and expresses con- which was held on December was created by an individual, cerns about oldest moral code 12, had an absolutely wonder- who was a witness and par- for us—the people of today. ful atmosphere. That day we ticipant of the times during How revealing and simulta- had the honor to welcome one which enemies of poetry and, neously clear, in their own of Europe’s greatest actors, in general, those hostile to way, do Gry [Games], that we Andrzej Seweryn, who pre- everything human allowed play with others, become evi- sented the “Treatise on Theol- savagery to reach such fright- dent... How moving Ćwiczenia ogy” by Czesław Miłosz. Gui- ening and enormous propor- z samotności [Exercises on tarist Piotr Kudełka provided tions,” wrote Janusz Toczek Solitude] are, a condition the musical accompaniment. in the Salon program. that we all experience, but in Janusz Toczek wrote about Referring to the dramatic Mr. Kowalczyk’s perspective Andrzej Seweryn in the Salon past of August Kowalczyk, revealing yet other aspects program: “From the time he marked with the imprint of which we can barely perceive. completed his studies at the

What various dimensions of Warsaw Academy of Dramat- Photo: Jakub Senkowski love and friendship we dis- ic Arts in 1968, and from the The 36th Poetry Salon cover while reading poems first great work in Rittner’s from the cycle Ad personam Głupi Jakub [Dumb Jacob], [To the Character], or Dialogi directed by J. Świderski at z tapczanu [Dialogues from the Athenaeum Theatre, An- the Couch]. Poetry—seem- drzej Seweryn was hailed as ingly simple, yet of course de- one of the most talented ac- manding, because at its basis tors of post-War years. But lies not just knowledge, but each successive theatrical tri- a profound wisdom of a man umph (among others: Shatov who has learned and experi- in The Possessed, directed by enced so much and continues J. Warmiński; the title role of to ask himself and the world Don Carlos in Schiller’s dra- courageous questions. He is ma, directed by M. Prus) or in an individual who astonishes film (the phenomenally acted others with his talent, attitude, Maks Baum in 1974’s The and fortitude, having success- Promised Land; Rościszewski fully passed the most difficult in Without Anasthesia; and Photo: Jakub Senkowski of tests, and yet with humility the title role of The Conductor, Photo: Jakub Senkowski Andrzej Seweryn and a disarming frankness directed by Andrzej Wajda) August Kowalczyk

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In a place, where tolerance ends, being a human ends n October last year we completed an essay competition for secondary schools, entitled Why do we need toler- ance? As we have previously written in Oś, we will publish the best works—this issue includes two essays Iby students from the Marcin Wadowita High School in Wadowice, written under the supervision of Mr. Henryk Odrozek. Photo: JC Participants of Why do we need tolerance? workshops in a high school in Chrzanów

DIFFERENCE BRINGS something that differs from ligious beliefs, skin color, it seems to me that you are a conversation, just because ABOUT RESENTMENT the status quo and charac- customs, or habits. This tol- wrong, insulting me, but this behavior is intolerant. Timid, a quick glance from teristic of minority com- erance implies respect for I respect your opinion.” Is From this, it is quite clear under lowered eyelids, then munities? If we accept this everything that originates this being tolerance? Does that tolerance in certain sit- right, then left. A very low, definition, than pathology from a person, including this not sound like ridicu- uations creates intolerance, almost silent grunt, I check is tolerance. What exactly is for example, their feelings. lous lack of self-respect, for so there is an intolerance of whether my voice will not tolerance? It is supposedly But these things are not one’s values, for the “me”? intolerance. fail me. One more look. the social attitude, which always positive. So, how Is this not a sign of extreme Could the situation in which Take a deep breath. I slow- is characterized by respect should the tolerant man be- naiveté, ignorance in terms Mr. X finds himself, with his ly straighten up, lift my for other people and their have in a situation when his of oneself, and being overly obscenity-spewing perpe- head shyly, and raise eyes. behaviors, characteristics, “brother” is in the grip of sweet? So does this mean trator, arise if tolerance did Exhale. I open my mouth: or views. rage, negative emotions and that tolerance is the rejec- not exist? Does building any “Hi, my name is Anne, I’m First of all, there is a social tossing every kind of offen- tion of certain values, and sort, even the most shallow, 18 years old and I am a vic- attitude, meaning being sive epithet right and left, that tolerance may create of relationships have to be tim of intolerance.” Yes, prone to a particular type while showing disregard intolerance? It seems to me based on the above basis? you heard me correctly, of reaction in response to for his own beliefs, ideas, that this is the case. Mr. X, When buying a newspaper intolerance. Not domestic running into people, socie- plans, or experiences? How even though he is a very from a kiosk are we required violence, alcoholism, or ties that are different. Thus, must our civilized Mr. X be- tolerant man does not toler- to have tolerance? Many some other pathological tolerance is to respect all have, when showered with ate the behavior of the per- say that we do not. But, if behavior. Actually... Who the makings of the different a set of phrases not fit to son with whom he is speak- the woman in the kiosk, of said that intolerance is not individual, whether these repeat because these would ing, if the one-sided list course, ignoring the laws of something pathological? things are their drawings, all have to be censored? of obscenities said by the economics—which are un- Is pathological behavior songs, ideas, thoughts, re- Should he answer: “Friend, other person can be called fortunately something that

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more and more often gov- ance. Respect for the indi- hemlock,” or “My name ever, those, after all, are of their freedom. That is ern human attitudes—de- vidual does not mean that is Mozart, I was hailed a easier to respect than our why so many escape. They cided that this man looks we accept their way of see- child genius. But why can loved ones because the oth- run away from rejection be- boorish and will most cer- ing things, that we agree nobody find the location of ers are strangers to us. As cause of their strong beliefs, tainly not read the news- with them. It appears that my bones?”. In this situa- a Romantic period Polish opinions, decisions that paper; just throw it away, it is most difficult to respect tion, we could confident- poet, Stefan Garczyński, they have made, the con- but not in the trash, only our enemies, people who ly repeat the words of a once said, “it is most dif- tents of their wallets; from under a bench in the park, we do not like, with whom bard, “What did you do to ficult to be tolerant toward the intolerance of the sur- then she would, as if it was we disagree, who make Athens, Socrates?”. There your loved ones.” The most rounding environment due the most normal thing on us furious, or cause us to would certainly be a dead difficult thing for us is to to their chosen way of life, earth, not sell it to him. Are despair. It seems that this silence. Why? The lack of respect someone whose the friends and partners we able to become friends is where you need a large tolerance flows from differ- small or larger slip-ups, they have; they escape due with somebody, love some- amount of tolerance, in or- ent sources: it often comes shortcomings, failures we to racial, religious, ethnic body without accepting this der to extinguish the flames from insufficient knowl- can see every day; someone intolerance. So many individual? Acceptance, or of discord, patch things up, edge or from jealousy. Of- who does not hide from us granting permission for that and not allow the open ex- ten it is otherness that cre- their weaknesses, flaws, Escape there, where nobody asks someone to have human- change of views to lead to ates animosity. Humans are an individual we know About where you’re from ity, the kind that it really is. an all out war. How many free and are not forced to and just how often they And what’s your name We are not able to fully ac- times before in history have love every other member of make mistakes. However, Escape there, where it’s not cept the other person, there disrespect and a lack of tol- the Homo sapiens species it is precisely those people important is always something, even erance changed the course that they meet. The other- with whom we are so close What color our faces are within the relationship clos- of events? ness of certain individuals, that deserve our greatest Where you can love whom you est to the ideal that annoys World history is a histori- their differences, foster the respect, recognition, toler- desire us, a small, insignificant tri- cal pattern of intolerance. emergence of various forms ance; and it is difficult for As much you like “Polowanie na wielbłąda” fle, a small flaw, and some- Nations for centuries have of relationships. There are us to accept another, in our [translated lyrics: “Hunting for the times greater imperfection. attacked one another, vio- people to whom we offer opinion, wrong decision Camel”]– a song by the band Myslovitz We can bestow great feel- lated each other’s borders, special feelings. They are made by the person we ings for the other person, denied the sovereignty of our friends, parents, and love, who we would like to For everyone, that “there” and yet be irritated that they neighboring countries, and our loved ones. Every day save from worries, disap- is a different place. How- have not done the dishes, have lost mutual respect for we also have encounters pointments, failures, they ever, will they truly feel watered the flowers, or that each other. Starting with with others: colleagues from are the person we want to happy, fulfilled, and joyful they have once again made the biblical brothers, Cain school or work, acquaint- protect. Nevertheless, we “there”? Will they finally a mess. We can get angry and Abel, through Jesus of ances, neighbors, and the cannot do this while fully be tolerated there? Will that they once again turned Nazareth, up to the entire lady working at the green respecting their independ- they be able to come to a out not to be resourceful, to Jewish nation during the grocers or the mechanic ence, hence comes our an- group meeting and boldly, be impractical, or not with times of National Socialism. in the workshop. Depend- ger, our lack of respect, and loudly, and clearly say, the times. We do this, but Maybe they and many oth- ing on the given person, lack of tolerance. Therefore, “Hi, my name is Anna. At it does not disqualify our ers would show up at the our feelings towards them it often happens that peo- the age of 18 I was a victim feelings for that person, our inter-dimensional Victims probably range from an or- ple run away from love, of intolerance. I was miser- commitment, our desire for of Intolerance Commu- dinary like to an emotion- from friendship, as well as able. But you know what, it their well-being. Accept- nity meetings? Maybe we less acceptance. There are from their family. In the will pass.” ance comes from tolerance, would hear: “I am Socrates, also people who obviously name of their well-being, but tolerance is not accept- I was forced to drink poison get on our nerves. How- this is what deprives them Anna Wróbel Photo: JC Participants of an antidiscrimination seminar for teachers

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ALLOW THE BLACK to Cracow, moved to the in reality not suggest any- a person, or persons, be- joyful May Day parade of side more or less willingly. thing? longing to a certain group is liberty for ourselves and for GENTLEMAN TO PASS The previously mentioned Well-worn patterns of lan- through intolerance. others, where at the head of “Allow the black gentleman mom remained the excep- guage hurt, though, as it What is it? Indeed, one the parade, like the portrait to pass”—is the epitome of tion, and with a practiced seems, are losing their im- more often reads, hears, and of Comrade Stalin, we can one of the last of my vaca- motion pulled the child be- portance. Indeed today, speaks of tolerance. “Being see the most radical social tion memories. At the air- hind her. a politically incorrect re- tolerant” has actually be- movements, demanding port in Tunis in a queue for What is wrong in letting sponse is to associate the come quite fashionable to- (because, after all it is in- customs clearance before another person pass? Eti- word “black” with someone day. Tolerating someone— appropriate to “ask”) to be me was a young, attrac- quette tells us that there worse, who is beneath peo- because it is appropriate, tolerated. In contemporary tive woman with blood is nothing. Indeed, it even ple with white skin. At the because it proves someone Poland there are, among red fingernails and a four, requires it. But this is not word “apartheid,” my friend to be open-minded, because other things, homosexuals, maximum five-year-old boy about the situation alone, from (and by it makes us feel superior to atheists, advocates of abor- that she was holding by his but the accompanying com- the way, white-skinned) re- those who are “limited,” tion, supporters of in vitro hand. The little one, as usu- ment. Maybe it is just sen- acts with a flood of words, unable to understand an- fertilization... But is allow- ally very lively children sitivity, maybe touchiness, giving at least thirty-seven other human being, because ing all this truly tolerance? are in the habit, was trying and maybe I should look in arguments about the sense- it is the key to reaching a Is compliance with the to get to know everything the mirror and say: “come lessness of such a policy. Of- compromise (“consensus demands of each of these, that was within a range of down to earth for once in ficially, people of every skin building”), because... Well, ever louder, blaring groups thirty meters; this including your life and stop making a color have the same rights, exactly, “because.” There result in tolerance to them? me, the airport’s security, tragedy of trivialities,” but obligations, and privileges. are hundreds of arguments. Risking my life, health, and luggage handlers, and the I was struck by the word However, even though it Latin tells me that the word reputation, I declare: for me fire emergency instructions “black.” Out of the mouth of is disgraceful, it must be “tolerance” is derived from this is not. Tolerance means written in proper French. this woman it did not even acknowledged that even the verb “tolerate”—to perseverance in accepting Fortune, providence, fate, or have the sound of contempt, in such liberal countries as “withstand,” “endure,” and another person. Accept- another force that watches however, it was irritatingly America, dark-skinned indi- “suffer through.” None of ing—but not allowing eve- over people using low-cost ordinary. I asked myself one viduals and African Ameri- the three translations reflects rything. It is inextricably airlines made it that right question: if such a situation cans are “the last to be hired the present atmosphere of linked with the concept of next to us gathered a queue had occurred at the War- and the first to be fired.” tolerance, and especially in “individual liberty” at issue of people waiting for a flight saw airport, and the person Racism? No, that is extinct. its extreme form—of liber- in the context of the general to Casablanca. One of the breaking through the crowd The twenty-first century is alism. After all, the three public. I accept you—that is, passengers, trying to join was a person of Polish ori- a bit too diplomatic, you’d verbs cited here rather sug- I respect your opinion, but this group, politely “par- gin, would the child have say—too correct for public gest giving up something, I do not necessarily agree doning,” persistently made heard the words: “allow the oppression. But to oppress, showing patience, and self- with it. I accept, or see your his way through “our” (oh, white-skinned gentleman it does not only have to be control in the face of some- reasons and arguments, but that Polish solidarity...) to pass”? Does the adjective physical and it does not only one or something different. they are the opposite of my queue. The passengers, “white-skinned,” as well have to be public. A quiet Meanwhile, the media cre- own. I accept—I allow you mostly waiting for a flight as the term “black person,” and effective way to destroy ate an image of a hopelessly to be yourself, provided that Photo: JC Amin, Aga and Asma — Muslim guests of multicultural meetings

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als. The second—demon- strates the superiority by the use of irrational arguments and the ability to persuade. Extreme tolerance often also leads to the extreme free- dom—anarchy. We tolerate not only the difference in personality, style, or subculture. It is im- portant to also remember tolerating the human rights of others, including those who have disabilities. Excel- lent examples of tolerance (that is constantly with us but, unfortunately, little popular) are facilities for disabled people in public places. Wheelchair ramps, designated parking spaces, competitions in which the disabled can compete on an equal footing with people in full health—it builds respect for the other individual, even if his body is frail. For what, in any case, is tol- erance useful in everyday life? The answer is quite simple: to build a society. A healthy society. To prevent conflicts between nations and social groups. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past—murdering peo- ple for belonging to a certain state, because of their skin color or professed beliefs. To learn that my freedom Photo: JC Antidiscrimination workshop Why do we need tolerance? for high school students cannot infringe upon the freedom of another person. you will let me do the same. sion, one of the girls said to of a Roma family living in individuals or even among To prevent violence, conflict There is no such thing as a the other that she is stupid, the area. The priest asked if whole social groups. In the and misunderstanding. To “one-sided tolerance.” If a because her backpack does it was certain that this was first case, it destroys normal remember that where toler- person accepts the freedom not have what is fashion- “for the Gypsies.” Volun- social impulses—solidarity, ance ends, being a human of the other, but is being dis- able on it. teers confirmed that yes, it willingness to cooperate, ends. criminated against, they are This is an example of overt was. and helping other individu- Karina Polak causing harm to themselves intolerance, even if it can be Imagine my surprise when and to the other person. In viewed in this context—a the priest quietly said good- the name of tolerance, para- better one. Overt intoler- bye and walked out. doxically—I do not believe ance can be overcome; try Tolerance is also giving an- in this. to talk to about it, and reach other person a chance to But intolerance is manifest- an agreement with the other see their humanity. Trust- ed not only in such textbook person. The reasons can of- ing them. Permission to ex- examples, such as skin color ten be more drastic than the press themselves, but not or a difference in religion. In embroidery on a schoolbag, hurt others. This becomes the latter case, the mutual but this can be resolved a struggle with stereotypes: tension is often the result of through peaceful means. it shows that a blonde does misperception. Discrimina- Veiled intolerance is much not always have to be fool- tion can be observed even in worse. ish, the Russian is not al- such mundane places as... I experienced it during one ways drinking himself into primary school. of the events for which I a stupor, and that a boy On my way home, I had the was volunteering. A certain wearing a pink shirt is gay. I opportunity to listen to the foundation organized col- tolerate, or look at your oth- conversation of two girls. lection of things for poor erness as well as the differ- One of them had a backpack families during the holiday ences between you and me, Winnie the Pooh embroi- season. The place desig- but this does not disqualify dered on it, the other—the nated as the donation drop you because of these things. current teen idol, Hannah off location was a Catho- I do not create a divide be- Montana. Their conversa- lic household near the lo- tween us. Rather, I match tion was concerned with cal parish. It did not seem the elements of our per- these fictional characters. strange to anybody that one sonalities, behavior, style, The girls wrangled about of the priests was present— trying to create something which of them is “the best.” because the Church had, of in common. Together—and The decision was made that course, always assisted the beautiful. it was Hannah. It would not poor. The priest was assist- Tolerance, however, cannot have moved me, though I ing the volunteers organize reach extreme dimensions, admit frankly that my ad- and pack the items, until he namely indifference and miration and love for this turned his attention to the liberalism. Both, the first star does not exist, if not for inscription on one of the and second, lead to inap- Photo: JC one fact: after the discus- boxes. This was the address propriate behavior between Antidiscrimination workshop Why do we need tolerance? in high school in Chrzanów

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Ending the Silence: REtreat at the threshold of Auschwitz

or seven years already we have been meeting at threshold of Auschwitz, at the doorsteps of a New Year, to Freflect and pray together with an international group of guests for world peace. Photo: I.Haurand Strolling around Oświęcim

The idea came after the peace, along with a meet- Jubilee Year of 2000, be- ing and prayer to better IN 2010, FOR THE DAYS OF RECOLLECTION, SPEAKERS fore which Pope John understand the respon- FROM POLAND AND GERMANY WERE INVITED: Paul II had called for in- sibilities and hopes that FR. DR LUCJAN BIELAS las also considered the subject presented his published al- trospection and reflection give us strength. During Is a lecturer on ancient history of interpersonal relationships, bum, entitled Auschwitz—what on key values with which course of these days, we at the Department of History which existed to a great degree am I doing here? The book is a we wanted to enter a new visited the Memorial Site, and Cultural Heritage of the within and around the concen- record of conversations with era. Pope writes a letter listened to the testimony Pope John Paul II Univer- tration camp, and endeavored visitors at the Auschwitz-Birk- every year on the topic of of people touched by as sity in Cracow. He was born to give them meaning in our enau Memorial Site. By asking, and grew up in the shadow peaceful reality. why they came, he tries to find peace for the 1st of Janu- well as involved in the of a concentration camp that and come closer to finding the ary, which is celebrat- various forms of recon- belonged to two totalitarian MIKOŁAJ GRYNBERG answer. ed within the Catholic ciliation. We contemplate systems in Jaworzno. Both the Mikołaj’s father and his par- Church as a worldwide the Pope’s letter about nature of this place and the ex- ents, survived the Warsaw DR. LAURIDS HÖLSCHER traordinary fate of his family Ghetto, his mother was in an As a retired member of the day of prayer for world peace, and begin the led him to reflect about indi- orphanage in France, because German Ministry of Foreign peace. Oświęcim is a City New Year with a Holy viduals, who were enslaved as her parents were deported Affairs, Consul to Poland, of Peace, and Pope John Mass for peace. This year, well as those who are capable to Auschwitz. In the camp, Slovenia, and Croatia, Laurids Paul II is an honorary citi- guests attending the re- of enslaving while benefiting Mikołaj’s grandmother worked Hölscher shared his experi- zen of Oświęcim. treat came from Germa- from these systems; as well as at the Hygiene Institute, where ences and thoughts with those about people who look at evil, she transcribed paramedical gathered concerning coming to We want to cross the ny, Ireland, and Poland. but are unable to see it. During studies. She survived the camp. terms with the past in today’s threshold of the New Below are the testimonies the Days of Recollection Fr. Bie- Grynberg, a photographer, contexts. Year while reflecting on of some participants.

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PARTICIPANTS ON THE DAYS OF RECOLLECTION IN OŚWIĘCIM

During these days of recol- an attempt to learn this con- the farewell handshake by ated the fact that I could be monument in Birkenau there lection, there were many cept that I came to Oświęcim volunteer from Germany. in such an international en- are memorial plaques in the moving moments. Poignant for the International Days of Mother Teresa of Calcutta vironment this time. I could languages that were spoken were the thoughtful con- Recollection. So that I could once said: “We ourselves identify with what was said by the prisoners. There are versations with participants learn together, in the com- feel that what we are doing by Mikołaj Grynberg—one 22 such inscriptions. They from various countries. The pany of different people, is just a drop in the ocean. of the speakers. The ritual [the prisoners], remembered words of the participants who had come here from But the ocean would be of breaking bread on the that to have a greater chance from Germany were par- various parts of the world, less because of that missing New Year’s Eve was some- of survival, one had to be ticularly stirring. Truth and with their own experiences, drop.” thing very special. Jewish able to quickly communi- honesty actually unleash thoughts, and, sometimes, Piotr music, which can be heard cate with the Kapo as well as trust as well as a greater wounds. At a time when the in Auschwitz I, in a Jewish other prisoners. Language understanding of the dif- whole world was beginning This year, for the first time Block, continues to echo in also helped in surviving, i.e. ficult past. The past casts a to celebrate, the participants, I was a guest at the Center my ears. The whole philoso- in giving an opportunity to shadow on the present day. each in their own language, for Dialogue and Prayer for phy of the Center for Dia- share their pain and, for ex- A perfect example of this in silence, read the message New Year’s Eve. New Year’s logue and Prayer has a great ample, communication al- was the meeting with Fr. of Benedict XVI for World Eve in Oświęcim? This is importance for our service. lowed one to obtain a better Lucjan Bielas, whose fam- Peace Day, so that they could certainly quite a personal When I returned home to portion of soup or a posting ily was displaced from their then share their words and decision. But it is also one Ireland, my friends had just to a job that offered better home so that the comman- thoughts, so that all these that I can recommend. After finished watching the film chances of survival. Today a dant of the Jaworzno con- things could be brought to all, it was at the end of the “The Boy in the Striped Pa- foreign language also helps. centration camp could live the altar from which the an- year that I had the oppor- jamas” and, therefore, inter- Thanks to foreign languages there during the War. The gels could bring them before tunity to meet new people est in the topic is still alive in Oświęcim, I am learn- books that were left in his the throne of God. But I was who were from different in our teacher’s room. This ing to open. I am acquiring home from the Wartime pe- still haunted by an over- countries and whose age is a challenge for the New a sensitivity that does not riod led him to the descen- whelming idea: Why here? difference was very large. I Year. speak Polish. It also saves. It dants of the commander, for Why in this place? Why had the opportunity to wel- Delia saves me from being closed whom it was an enormous have the speakers added come the New Year with in my own space of living help in bearing their diffi- more fuel to the fire, by re- them. The lectures that were A window open to the world and thinking, believing that cult family history. His story minding us about other acts given by the guests urged what I experience is unique. makes it clear to me how of injustice? Even the prayer us to discuss and exchange This year there are just 12 I think of a fragment of the important it is to deal with reminded of another crime, ideas. Personally, I most en- people—the participants of poem “Prayer of the Travel- past problems within a fam- one that occurred 2 thou- joyed the lecture by the for- the international retreat days. er” by Zbigniew Herbert: “let ily. This is important; since sand years ago, when an in- mer consul, Lauris Hölscher The number brings about me understand other people, these unresolved issues do nocent individual was taken about the current situation connotations. We all came other languages, other suf- not allow one to well live to be crucified. But the Way in Croatia. The three days for different reasons. They ferings, and above all, let me within the present. The past of the Cross in Oświęcim did until December 31, passed were also chosen for reasons be humble, that is to say one endlessly calls for closure. not end with the contempla- very quickly. The New Year, unknown. To be chosen is a who longs for the source.” Freedom from the burden tion of the final Station be- itself, was celebrated in a duty. You do not come here For me this too is one of the of the past is achieved only tween the wires in Birkenau, mood of reflection during to only New Year’s Eve. dimensions of good, which by stepping into the realm of it ended with the Fourteenth the Mass and later as we sat Departing Oświęcim is not we can experience there. truth and forgiveness. The Station; the end took place in down to a meal. The days equivalent with letting go of One of the reasons for the lecture by Fr. Bielas showed the hearts of those present at before New Year’s Eve and all those thoughts that enter decision to set up a camp that the best cure for today’s the Center for Dialogue and New Year’s night passed the mind when you touch the in Oświęcim was its geo- tempestuousness, unscru- Prayer, where, not by words, very calmly and gave us the secret of Auschwitz. When graphical location that kept pulous race to catch up with but by the act of being there, opportunity to rethink the we allow them to enter, they it far from the eyes of those the materialistic world, is to the contemplation of the Fif- past year. Anyway, there never leave us. who would protest. A small return to God. Father’s ad- teenth Station took place— were four nice days and a This year, participants came town—one that nobody dress was interwoven with the Resurrection of Christ. successful start into the New from three countries, as did would worry about. Today, the idea that the closer we On the site of the greatest Year. the speakers. When I listened this city lives and the world are to God, the further away injustice, in the desert of Ida to these different languages, come here. I am getting to we are from materialism. suffering a spring emerges, the image of the ramp in know this part of it this year. In accordance to the sanc- and if there is no shortage of This was my second visit to Birkenau uncontrollably re- Auschwitz—the window tified monastic tradition, those courageous and will- Auschwitz, for which I was turned, and the testimony open to the world, to use the every Tuesday morning, in ing hearts, it will turn into a a little better prepared than of prisoners came to mind. words of Emmanuel Levi- an extremely sleepy voice, sea of love, which is likely to the last time when I went They also came from dif- nas. I recite the famous Francis- change the face of the world, home in shock after what I ferent countries and spoke can prayer: “O Lord, make from the ground up. This had seen. I greatly appreci- different languages. On the Marta me an instrument of your is the place that people of peace…”. Time goes on, we various ages, from different mature, and these words backgrounds met together carry more and more obliga- to pray, think, talk, and en- tions. Being an instrument joy their time. One may ask, of peace is a duty, is some- why do all this? What will thing that must be learned change? Jesus taught that and used every day. Peace we should be “the salt of is probably one of those the earth and the light of the concepts where between the world” (Matthew 5:13). Just verbal reality and the one in a pinch of salt in a dish al- which we truly live, there ready changes its taste. Each exists an enormous gap. It of the participants went back is easy to talk about peace, home, enriched by what had but it is something com- taken place during those pletely different to “to sow days: standing, in tears in love where there is hatred ... front of Block 11, reflections not only seek to be consoled, at the Stations of the Cross but to console, not so much in Birkenau, the words of to seek understanding, but speakers, smiling sisters to understand, not so much from Ireland, the artist from to seek love, as to love.” It is Warsaw with the intelligent

probably for this reason, in face, and the warmth of Photo: I. Haurand Participants reflecting upon the message of the Pope Benedict XVI for the New Year

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 History Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011

PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL FROM GANOBIS’S CABINET

JAN NOSAL uring the glory days of the largest manu- (1883-1944) facturing plant that existed in Oświęcim, of Polish Socialists. He was coal miner Piotr Hałoń, he Dthe Oświęcim Chemical Works, nearly a member of the Executive organized a group of peo- 12 thousand employees worked there. The his- Council of the PPS in the ple, including whole fami- tory of the plant, however, dates back to the 1930s. He also served as the lies, who joined the relief period of the German occupation, when the IG socialist mayor of Jaworzno effort. They were the core of from March to September the specialized local group, Farben Plant was built using the slave labor of 1939, when the German the “Brzeszcze Group,” that prisoners from Auschwitz. It was for them that occupation authorities re- emerged within the social- the Monowitz Camp was indeed created. moved him from office. ist underground for the Under the occupation, he sole purpose of helping the Until recently, the plant continued his political ac- Auschwitz prisoners. still used the technologi- Born on February 10, 1883 tivity in the underground Nosal cooperated with other cal infrastructure from the in Wola Batorska near organization known as the underground organizations, German times. Almost eve- Niepołomice, he was the son Polish Socialist Party—Free- mostly the local Peasant ry part of it recalled those of Wojciech and Marianna, dom, Equality, Independ- Battalions (BCh) group, in terrible times, but people née Pustuła. He attended the ence (PPS-WRN), using the relief effort. Through walked by them with in- village school and then did the pseudonyms “Boruta,” the middle of 1943, he was difference. Securing the his military service in Wad- “Jan,” and “Stary.” In the active and indefatigable site was difficult, because owice. Afterwards, he went spring of 1940, he set about in his work for the sake of the facility was closed to work as a miner at the creating an underground so- the prisoners, and enjoyed to outsiders. When the coal mine in Przywóz near cialist network in Brzeszcze, the support of his wife. The present chemical works, Ostrava, where he joined with himself as its leader. Gestapo arrested both of operating under another the socialist movement. He Aside from Brzeszcze, the them in Brzeszcze on the name—SYNTHOS—be- married Gabriela Šustek network extended into night of August 9/10 for gan to reduce the area of in 1910, and they had two Jawiszowice, Przecieszyn, their work in the relief ef- the plant, I decided to lo- daughters. He was called up Skidziń, and other parts of fort and involvement in the cate any trace of history. It to the army during the First the Land of Oświęcim. It socialist underground. They was very difficult because World War and served as a maintained contacts with first took them to Bielsko, many of the buildings are non-commissioned officer, the Polish Socialist Party and then transferred them damaged and prepared for fought on the eastern front, Regional Workers’ Commit- to the investigative prison demolition. Many have al- and was wounded. After the tee in Cracow (OKR-PPS), in Mysłowice. After three ready vanished from the war, he returned to Brzeszc- which sent a representa- months there, Jan Nosal was face of the earth. How- ze, and campaigned for the tive, Adam Rysiewicz, to sent to Auschwitz (as pris- ever, my attention was Cieszyn Silesia region to Brzeszcze to help organize oner no. 161832), and died drawn to the places, which be included in Poland. He underground activity. there on January 13, 1944. will surely remember the moved to Brzeszcze in 1920 When Auschwitz Concen- His wife Gabriela was sent tragedy of the war years. and went to work in the coal tration Camp was estab- earlier to Auschwitz II-Birk- Walking through and ac- Photo: Mirosław Ganobis mine there. In Brzeszcze, he lished in the suburbs of enau (as prisoner no. 54728), curately photographing A switch was active in the miners’ Oświęcim, Nosal joined the where she died on Decem- the remains of plant, I was union, the Polish Socialist effort to help the prisoners. ber 22, 1943. After the war, wondering what I could many people died here. It Party (PPS), and the cooper- With his wife Gabriela (born Jan and Gabriela Nosal were take from this place so that is impossible to describe ative and community health 1887), he supplied food and posthumously awarded the what I felt when I started service movements. In 1922, medicine to the camp, and Order of the Cross of Grun- I could show its history, thinking about those peo- he ran for a seat in the Polish received secret correspond- wald Third Class. A street in once it will be completely sejm (parliament) on the ence which he passed on to Brzeszcze and Jaworzno is forgotten and razed to ple. Today, I want to show PPS ticket, but lost. Only the underground centers in named after Jan Nosal. the ground... The ground, one of several elements, or in 1928 did he win election, Cracow. Working together that has been soaked with artifacts from my collec- and served as a member of with Rysiewicz and another Henryk Świebocki the blood of people forced tion, that tell the history of the Parliamentary Union local socialist activist, the into slave labor in a bes- that place. tial way. I wondered how Mirosław Ganobis VESTIGES OF HISTORY FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM

his knife was discovered following the War at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. It is less than 10 cm Tin length and has been made from an ordinary nail.

Preserved within the it a prisoner could also therefore, to have a knife Photo: Collections Depatment, A -BSM Museum collections are cut a rope and a blan- was very rare. The SS, only a few knives that ket and “sew” together armed to the teeth, were A knife made from a nail have been crafted by a garment that saved afraid of even a small prisoners, out of a variety them from freezing, or knife in the hands of a pocketknife that she do- took from the SS kitchen, often unavailable. As of suitable materials that to make a crude bandage prisoner. However, for nated to the Museum in since it has the SS sym- Ms. Jezierska explains: included: metal, wood, for their injured leg. Ma- my colleagues and me, 1965. bol and swastika on the “There are no scissors? and even a piece of a ria Jezierska, a former within the Birkenau Sometimes a prisoner handle, and she took it You could replace them gutter pipe. These items prisoner of Auschwitz women’s camp, a knife was able to “organize” a with her when trans- with a knife, pocketknife, were true treasures for and Ravensbrück Con- was helpful and there- knife from the so-called ported from the Ausch- razorblade, straight ra- prisoners, as evidenced centration Camps, wrote fore had a great value. “Canada” warehouses, witz camp. zor... of course, but these by the fact that some of in her memoirs: “there I smuggled this knife in or from a camp office. It is hard to imagine how items were also absent. the knives were found are items that are simply spite of the great dan- Last year, the Museum a person could live with- So what to do? Well, for- after the War hidden in unattainable, like stars ger that existed because received a knife, donated out a spoon, knife, and tunately, you still had... the deep recesses of at- from heaven.” Knives of the numerous selec- by the family of Maria fork. But the prisoner had your own teeth.” tics, together with other certainly belonged to tions as well as the so- Czernek, a former pris- to learn to exist without items of equal value. The them. called delousing,” wrote oner of Auschwitz and them and come to terms Agnieszka Sieradzka knife made it easier to “Having a knife was former prisoner Rita Ravensbrück. This is a with the idea that these Collections Department, eat a meal, and thanks to strictly prohibited and, Zocher-Meyer about a knife that she probably things were simply very A-BSM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 25, January 2011 Photographer

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