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C u l t u r e Y r o t S i H THiRD inTERnaTiOnaL biEnniaL Of SOciO-POLiTicaL POSTER in OŚWiĘ ciM no. 22 october 2010 oś—oświęcim, People, history, culture magazine, no. 22, october 2010

EDITORIAL BOARD: oś—oświęcim, People, history, culture magazine editoriAl

“Confrontation and Refl ection” is the It is accompanied by a brief conversa- meeting was the tenth anniversary of title of the winning poster in the Third tion with Zofi a Posmysz, whose novel this institution. The last page includes Biennial of Socio-Political Poster in was the inspiration for the composer. a series of photos from the anniversary Oświęcim, which adorns the cover. Its In this month’s issue you will fi nd celebrations. author Bangqian Zheng is from China. two interviews. For four years Dr. We also invite you to read the text of The 74 best posters of the contest can Piotr M.A. Cywiński has led the work an extraordinary collection of decorat- editor: be viewed at the International Youth of the Auschwitz Memorial Site. He ed greeting cards made by Auschwitz Paweł Sawicki Meeting Center until the end of the talks about, among other things, why prisoners. Helena Datoń-Szpak has editorial secretary: year. In this month’s Oś you will fi nd he agreed to accept a job offer at that made a precious donation to the Mu- Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka a review of the exhibit and a report point and if he regrets that decision, seum. During the war, while working editorial board: about the awards ceremony. the most important challenges as a young girl in the canteen she as- Bartosz Bartyzel This is not the only cultural element currently facing the Museum, as sisted prisoners—this included the Wiktor Boberek in the October issue. On the cultural well as the contemporary European smuggling of illegal correspondence. Jarek Mensfelt side, you can read the review of the meaning of the history of the camp. Olga Onyszkiewicz Jadwiga Pinderska-Lech opera The Passenger by Mieczysław Our second interviewee was Tomasz Paweł Sawicki Artur Szyndler Weinberg that premiered on October 8 Kuncewicz, director of the Jewish Editor-in-chief columnist: at the Grand Theatre -National Opera. Center in Oświęcim. The reason for the [email protected] Mirosław Ganobis design and layout: Agnieszka Matuła, Grafi kon translations: David R. Kennedy A gAllerY of tHe 20tH CenturY Proofreading: Beata Kłos Everyone—perhaps almost Galicia and later, and his few pieces of unimportant doctor’s wife’s ballroom cover: Paweł Sawicki everyone—has his own his- wife Maria, from their villa furniture. To decorate the dresses—that gave every- tory, historic, commemora- on Jagiełły Street that is still home and live more com- thing a scent of lavender Photographer: Paweł Sawicki tive... cabinet! And if it is not warmly and affectionately fortably and “humanly,” we and withered fl owers from a a cabinet, then it is a dresser, called the small palace! needed to have everything: nearby garden. bookcase, desk, or a bed, a cabinets, chairs, beds, tables, trunk or suitcase! And how did we acquire etc. The large and beautiful This piece of furniture served PuBlIsher: it? When we made our way wardrobe with delicately us, as valuable and useful I have a suitcase from the here—it was indeed a long, carved Art Nouveau orna- gift for over fi ve decades. Auschwitz-Birkenau 1880s in which I store pho- cumbersome and winding, ments, perhaps made in Vi- We parted with it out of ne- State Museum tos from those years, but but also at times an exciting enna, inlaid in some places, cessity, because of its excess let’s not get into this now, journey—from beyond the with a drawer handle styl- size when moving to a hous- www.auschwitz.org.pl maybe some other time... Bug River, the so-called Kre- ized like a twisted branch, ing block; upon leaving the Mirosław Ganobis has Hab- sy [Borderlands], though not was given to us by the own- apartment and townhouse, erfeld’s priceless wardrobe, the most remote, because it er of the building where we its ownership passed to the Partners: full of history and memo- was from around Lvov that lived as well as the adjacent city. We put the wardrobe ries. I had—but no longer we were repatriated by train villa, Maria Ślosarczyk, who in good hands, to someone Jewish do—the wardrobe of the to Oświęcim. Our personal I will soon write about soon, outside of Oświęcim. What Center Ślosarczyk family: Dr. An- and household property was in a… literary context! The do these “hands” have done toni Ślosarczyk, renown modest and poor, well actu- wardrobe was a sizeable, with it and whether it still www.ajcf.pl Oświęcim doctor, social ally, there wasn’t any! It con- once fi lled with clothes of exists—I do not know! worker and independence sisted of a few trunks and the Ślosarczyk family: coats, activist from the days of crates, bundles, as well as a winter jackets, furs, and the Andrzej Winogrodzki Center for Dialogue and Prayer Foundation www.centrum-dialogu.oswiecim.pl

International Youth 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] Dr. Antoni Ślosarczyk prewar villa, now Civil Registry Offi ce

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

MEMORY RESTORED

lmost 60 years ago, in October and November 1941, and in February 1942 Soviet prisoners of war were deported to Auschwitz in transports from the POW camps in Lamsdorf (Łambinowice), Neuhammer A(Świętoszów), and Jarosław. As part of the preserved records of prisoners that are stored in the Ausch- witz-Birkenau State Museum archives, we can learn basic personal information of most of these individuals.

While thanks to research ers of war in Auschwitz. conducted by Borys Shmy- Nonetheless, earlier this rov, a Russian historian liv- year, a completed version Feodosiy Grigoryevich ing in Uzbekistan, we learn of the chapter was printed Dzurinskiy more information about regularly in the journal their family life and the Zolotaya Dolina, published Feodosiy Grigoryevich Dzurinskiy was born on Novem- course of their military serv- in Zarafshan. A series of ice. Some of this research articles was entitled Miesto ber 20, 1920 in the village Obzyloye, in the area of Odessa, was already reported on gibyeli Konclagier Auschwitz Ukraine. Feodosiy’s father was Grigory Yemyelianovich in Oś (Number 6, 2008 and (Extermination Center, the Dzurinskiy. The boy was the second child in the family Number 17, 2009); as well Auschwitz Concentration and was named in honor of his mother, Feodosiya Hari- as, in his articles that were Camp); more informa- tonovna. After graduation he worked in a kolkhoz (farm); printed in the bulletin Pro tion about the prisoners he was interested in horses and was assigned to care for Memoria (Number 28, 2008 brought to Auschwitz in them in the kolkhoz. In 1939, the young man was called and Number 29, 2009). those transports, including into the ranks of the Red Army. In the section of the ques- Last year, Borys Shmyrov their photographs, are pub- tionnaire about “civil status,” he indicated that he was published a book Stran- lished in this way. They are a “bachelor.” In the course of the fighting on the Soviet- itsy istorii, in which one very valuable, because the German front, Feodosiy Grigoryevich was captured. It of the chapters deals with Archive of the Auschwitz- is known that in the last place of imprisonment before the fate of Soviet prison- Birkenau State Museum Auschwitz, he was given the number 2525. In captivity the young man turned down the offer to collaborate with the enemy; he did not hide his beliefs and faith in the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Along with the other Vano/Ivan YasonoVich Soviet prisoners who shared the same beliefs, November Gongadze 15, 1941, he was shipped to Auschwitz, where, during registration, he was given the number R-9965, and on his registration card [a record of prisoners] there is a symbol, Vano/Ivan Yasonow- “59.” The Red Army soldier Feodosiy Grigoryevich died ich Gongadze was born in Auschwitz before February 8, 1942. On the same day, a March 13, 1917 in the transport of Soviet POWs from Stalag No. 327 [Jarosław] village of Kortaniety, in was transported to Auschwitz. Camp number R-9965, the Borzomski region of previously given to the Red Army soldier Feodosiy Georgia. Vano’s parents Dzurinskiy is given to Hasan Mamyed. were Yason Dimitryevich Gongadze and Marta Gongadze, nee Koba- did not have photos of the of one, also provided by families with whom the hidze. The family of Ya- prisoners of war, from their B. Shmyrov). Detailed bio- Russian historian corre- son Gongadze had five period of service in the Red graphical information and sponded. sons, Nikolai, Partyena, Army (with the exception photographs come from Edit. JL Vano, Dimitri, Grigory. When he finished school, he worked as a metal worker. He failed to start Naskida Kyerashvili a family and he remained Davidovich a bachelor. In 1939, Ivan Yasonovich was drafted Naskida Kyerashvili Davidovich was born on June 5,1920 into the Red Army. The in the village of Tiba in the Signagski district of Geor- last letter Vano sent his gia. Naskida and his brother Josif’s parents were David parents was from Sev- astopol in July 1941. It Josifovich and Nina Nadaryevna, née Gvyedashvili. The was only in 1942 that the young man had a good ear and played the accordion and Yason Gongadze family mandolin. In addition to music, he had a passion for draw- received a notice that in- ing. After graduation he started to work for a company [?]. formed them that Private Ivan Gongadze disappeared In 1939 Naskida Davidovich was drafted into the ranks of without a trace on July 16, 1941. It is possible that on the Red Army. His civil status before the appointment— this day while manning a machine gun in the 15th mo- “bachelor.” The last letter that N. Kyerashvili’s parents tor regiment, the enemy in the Bila Tserkva area of the received was in 1941 from Lvov, Ukraine [sic! – JL]. At Ukraine surrounded Ivan Gongadze, with a group of his the beginning of combat activities, Sergeant Naskida Ky- compatriots. On July 22, a week after being surrounded, erashvili was captured. Finding himself in Stalag No. 327 he was taken prisoner. Later in life, Ivan’s path led him [Jarosław], where he received the number 14568, Naskida into western Poland [within its current borders – JL], to refused a proposal by the enemy to join the specially creat- a POW camp, Stalag No. 318 [Lamsdorf]. There he re- ed Georgian SS Legion. Naskida Davidovich was shipped ceived the number 10379, and remained until his thir- to Auschwitz in the transport of Soviet prisoners of war tieth birthday in October. Then, in the transport of the on February 8, 1942. During the registration, he was given Soviet POWs, Vano was sent to Auschwitz. Arriving at camp number R-9916, which previously had belonged to the camp, October 25, 1941, Ivan Yasonovich passed reg- another prisoner, Piotr Makarovich Somov. In “The Death istration. He was assigned the camp number R-8098. On Book,” whose records end on February 28, 1942, there is November 7, because of the inhuman treatment by the no record of Naskida Kyerashvili’s death. This allows us guards and supervisors, meager food rations, and the unsanitary living conditions, 140 Soviet POWs lost their to come to the conclusion that, together with other prison- lives. Among those who died, was also the Red Army ers, he was transferred to Birkenau in mid-March. There, Soldier Ivan Yasonovich Gongadze. unfortunately, all traces of him disappear.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010

A Sign of Gratitude

highly interesting collection of decorated greeting cards made by Auschwitz prison- ers has been added to the Museum collections. Helena Datoń-Szpak, who worked Ain the SS canteen as a young girl during the war, donated the priceless items to the Museum. Datoń-Szpak aided prisoners in various ways and acted as an intermediary in their illegal correspondence. The prisoners gave her the handwritten, hand-painted cards to mark holidays and name days. The collection consists of Roman Jaszczyński, and oth- a total of eleven decorated ers who lived and worked cards. Datoń-Szpak gave in the block. The name-day two of them to the Museum cards feature bouquets of in 1990, and has now donat- wildflowers or rose branches. ed the remaining nine. Each There are pussy willows and of them is painstakingly chicks on the Easter cards, made, dated, and features and a Christmas card de- color decorations. The cards picts a rubicund St. Nicholas are signed by prisoners who with a sack full of sausage. were in contact with Datoń- Szpak. Most of them were The Auschwitz Memorial employed in the camp can- holds a large collection of

teen in block 25, which now greeting cards made in se- Photo: C ollections D epartment A -B S M houses the Collections De- cret by prisoners for their partment: Wincenty Gawli- friends in the camp or for Along with the cards, the

Photo: C ollections D epartment A -B S M czek, Jan Cyprych, Roman people from the Oświęcim Museum obtained two oc- Nawrot, Michał Majewski, area who helped the prison- cupation-era identity cards ers. The inmates used hard- and a secret message smug- Let us build memory! Donate any documents to-get materials from the SS gled to Helena Datoń-Szpak offices and camp storehous- by prisoner Wilhelm Gawli- and other historical items in your possession es, as well as reused wrap- czek. The Museum obtained to the Auschwitz Memorial ping paper, and worked in these valuable gifts thanks to an atmosphere of continual Józef Jaskółka, a relative of Memory is not something that is acquired once and stays on forever. The moment that endangerment. The cards Datoń-Szpak, and Dr. Adam the last eyewitnesses and survivors pass away, we have to work together to build on that are proof that, despite the Cyra of the Museum Re- which remains: the testimonies of those former prisoners and the authentic artifacts con- injustice surrounding them, search Department. . nected with Auschwitz. Each item can have its own enormous meaning and should find its the imprisoned people were place in the collection of the Auschwitz Memorial. Here, it will be preserved, studied, and aware of the needs of oth- Agnieszka Sieradzka displayed. Its place is here. ers and appreciated the Collections Department Contact: Elżbieta Brzózka great sacrifices made by Collections Department (+48) 33 844 8017 those in the outside world.

Save from Destruction

n August, conservators have completed work on a wooden barrack, inventory number B-171, at the Ausch- witz II-Birkenau Camp. The barrack served as the washrooms and latrines in the BIIa sector. Its preservation Iwas possible thanks to the project of restoration co-financed by the European Union that also includes five other wooden historical buildings.

Recent work carried out in- securing the foundation, the barracks was cleaned cluded, among others, the as well as the replacement and restored to its original partial leveling of the con- of damaged structural ele- state. At the former Ausch- crete floor as well as restor- ments. The historical la- witz II-Birkenau site, work ing it to the condition it was trines were cleansed, and on three other barracks in during the operation of the whole was protected continues. In barrack B-210, the camp; and the creation from adverse weather con- the only surviving building of a drainage system for ditions. The area around within sector BIIb, the pri- mary task is to protect the unique original paintings found on the chimney. Further conservation work Photo: Preservation D epartment A -B S M was, however, hampered in August, all elements of parts of the barrack have by the rainfall that caused the building were re-assem- already been transported to flooding in the barrack and bled. The roof covering and the Conservation Depart- delayed the start of the con- lightning protection system ment. The project to restore servation works to the floor. are yet to be finished on five wooden barracks of the In July, in the hospital bar- this barrack. Restoration former Auschwitz II-Birk- rack, B-80, in sector BIa that work on barrack B-166, enau camp is co-financed housed the women’s infir- in section BIIb, have just by the European Union mary admissions office, the begun. In July, the entire through the European Re- foundation was restored structure was dismantled, gional Development Fund and the building’s elements and archaeological work under the Operational Pro- were placed in a fumigation was carried out within the gramme Infrastructure and compartment. Nonetheless, barrack. The dismantled Environment 2007-2013. Photo: Preservation D epartment A -B S M

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010 International Youth Meeting Center

An EXAMPLE of courage: IRENA SENDLER—Saving JEWISH CHILDREN from the Warsaw Ghetto

A workshop for young individuals on study visits to the IYMC

rena Sendler described as Korczak walked with the children from his orphanage to their death: ... And what about the world? Powerful Empires? The world was silent! And silence is sometimes ac- Iquiescence to what is happening. portant stages in the life of ing in Warsaw. Irena Send- Irena Sendler, which reflect ler was a member of one of both important historical the underground organi- events (the Warsaw Ghet- zations Żegota (Council to, and the Uprising there for Aid to Jews), that in the in 1943, and the Warsaw period from 1942 to 1945 Uprising in 1944), which in saved 75,000 Polish Jews. turn will be presented be- Irena Sendler was, at that fore the entire group. Ad- time, the organizer of the dressing the biography of section for children. Af- Irena Sendler, the partici- ter presentations during a pants will independently summarizing discussion, acquire knowledge about participants reflect on what the Polish Underground had enabled and motivat- State, of Irena Sendler in ed Irena Sendler to act and the underground, as well how this example leads us as consider the topic of to think about everyday courage together. Poland situations in our world, in had the largest resist- which human rights are ance movement in occu- violated and how we, to- pied Europe, which was day, can demonstrate civil commanded, just like the courage. Polish Home Army was, Anna Meier Photo: IYM C by the Government in Ex- ile based in London, which Irena Sendler was born in person was punishable by a unique example of civil was responsible for organ- 1910 and died in 2008 at death. Irena Sendler repre- courage and independent izing the courts, „flying” Age of participants: the age of 98, in a modest sents the fate of individu- action. clandestine schools and Young individuals from 16 room in a Catholic home in als in subordination to the In eight small groups, universities, underground years and up Warsaw. During her life- crude German politics in workshop participants press, publications, and Time: 2-3 hours time, few people remem- occupied Poland and she is will develop the most im- preparing an armed upris- Led by: Anna Meier bered about Irena Sendler because like most members of the Polish underground and the resistance that had an anti-German and anti- Soviet stance, she was per- secuted under the watch- ful eye of the Soviet Union that dictated the actions of the Polish state in the post- War period. Commemo- rating people like her, was made a taboo by the Polish state. Only in 1965, Irena Sendler was honored by the Yad Vashem as Right- eous Among the Nations. In 2003, she received Po- land’s highest honor, the White Eagle medal for courage and bravery. Since 2007, Irena Sendler was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Shortly before her death, the Polish journalist Anna Miesz- kowska together with Irena Sendler wrote down her biography, which is the basis for the workshop. Irena Sendler saved 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto. Only in occupied Poland, saving a Jewish Photo: IYM C

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. 22, October 2010

Creatively, for human rights

Third International Biennial of Socio-Political Poster in Oświęcim

ctober 1, 2010, the official ceremony was held for the opening of the Third International Biennial of Socio-Political Poster Oin Oświęcim under the motto Creatively, for human rights. Honorary guests at the who have personally expe- ing of the exhibition, but ceremony were longtime rienced the unprecedented wrote in a letter to partici- friends who have supported violation of fundamental pants of the ceremony: the activities of the IYMC human rights, is a symbol of “This prize is an honor for and former prisoners of steadfastness, dignity in in- me. I want to share it with my Auschwitz-Birkenau: Zofia humane conditions. It is the children, because it was their Posmysz, Zofia Łyś, August voice of respect for the rights birth that made me think Kowalczyk, Wilhelm Brasse, of every human to be able to about history. I contemplate Tadeusz Sobolewicz, Józef live in dignity,” said Leszek what the past means for new Paczyński, and Tadeusz Szuster, the director of the generations. What will they Smreczyński. “Thank you, IYMC, in his greeting. think of history? Will they dear friends, that you are During the ceremony, discover the real history? ... I truly regret that I am not here today. ... The Interna- tional Biennial of Socio-Po- litical Poster in Oświęcim is not only a platform for designers who are able to show their ideas, but also an opportunity to spread de- mocracy and initiate artistic friendships with those from around the world.” “The power of pictures and the symbolism contained in the image, have not for the first nor the last time shaken the world and transformed human thinking,” said the President of the Board of the Foundation for International Youth Meeting Center, Dr. Alicja Bartuś, evoking the fa- mous photograph from 1972 human rights is most clearly who recalled the words of by Nick Ut showing a 9-year- heard. This was clearly un- the Chairman of the Euro- old Vietnamese girl fleeing derlined by the President of pean Parliament, Prof. Jerzy from her native village be- the Foundation Civic Space Buzek, said during a sympo- fore a raid. “In the poster art, Pro Publico Bono, a repre- sium of the Academy at the especially political posters, sentative of the Oświęcim IYMC in January this year, the symbolism of the image Academy, Waldemar Rataj, the words also quoted in the is of paramount importance. We can see this HERE and NOW. But this is not the only symbolism which we have to deal with today. It is impossible not to mention the symbolism of this place,” she added, noting that to- day we are often told that to speak about Auschwitz and with us here today. Your awards and prizes were pre- the Holocaust, we do not presence at today’s opening sented, awarded by an inter- need to come to Oświęcim. ceremony is not only the en- national jury chaired by Prof. But Oświęcim remains not noblement of our work: it is Michał Kliś of the Katowice only the best place to learn above all a confirmation of Academy of Fine Arts. The about the tragic past and for- the importance of human laureate of the first prize, mulate a warning for the fu- rights. Your biographies, Bangqian Zheng of China, ture, but also the place from your witness—individuals was absent during the open- which the voice in defense of

The jury, which met on June 14: the chairman, Prof. Michał Kliś, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland; Milan Mazur, Považská Galéria Umienia in Žilina, Slovakia; Eric Mayen, University of Bonn, Germany; Krzysztof Dydo, Dydo Poster Gallery Krakow, Poland; Paweł Warchoł, graphic artist, Oświęcim, Poland; the director of the IYMC, Leszek Szuster, and Joanna Klęczar, awarded the following prizes:

First prize BANGQIAN ZHENG (China) for the poster “Confrontation & Reflection” Second prize WŁADYSŁAW PLUTA (Poland) for the poster of “Coexistence” Third prize DMITRY ZAKHAROV (Russia) for the poster “No Title”

Honors received: ERIN WRIGHT (USA) for the poster “Where is my Voice?”, SEBAS- TIAN KUBICA (Poland) for the poster “Elaphe longissima”, YAN-TING CHEN (Tai- wan) for the series “Letter-cutting”, and DALIDA KARIC-HADZIAHMETOVIC (Bos- nia and Herzegovina) for the poster “Terrorism”.

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ing the idea of the Interna- year. This is the third edition tional Youth Meeting Center of the event, organized by the as a special place for discus- Foundation for International sions on human rights,” said Youth Meeting Center in co- Dr. Aleksandra Wentkows- operation with the Interna- ka, a representative of the tional Auschwitz Committee Ombudsman. She also re- and the Oświęcim Academy. called the words of Prof. The originator and spiritus Aharon Barak, former Presi- movens of the whole project dent of the Supreme Court is Paweł Warchoł, Oświęcim of Israel: “The rights enu- resident, graphic artist, illus- merated in the Declaration trator, graduate of the Acad- of Human Rights and other emy of Fine Arts in Krakow, United Nations Conventions winner of many national and have been incorporated into international awards. Paweł the constitution and legal Warchoł also serves as cura- Photo: Jakub S enkowski norms in many countries. tor of the Biennial. projects of the IYMC. Since the U.S. Consulate General The Polish Constitution also This year the competition its first edition, it has proven in Krakow; Consulate Gen- reflects their influence. A cry included 101 artists from 17 to be very popular among eral of Germany in Krakow, arose from Auschwitz. Reg- countries (Belarus, Bosnia the participating artists and as well as companies such ulations regarding human and Herzegovina, China, audience. As in previous as: ENION SA; HP Poland, rights, the Universal Decla- the Czech Republic, Esto- editions, the exhibition is ac- Würth Ltd.; EnCo Engi- ration as their core, are the nia, Germany, Great Brit- companied by a catalog in neering, Plant Engineering answer to that cry.” ain, Iran, Lithuania, Mexico, Polish-German-English, fea- and Equipment Company “We should commemorate South Korea, Poland, Russia, turing all the current posters OMAG; Kęty SA; Plantpol the countless tragedies in or- Serbia, Taiwan, Ukraine, and on display. Zaborze; Mini-Max; Pierrot; der to continue the dialogue between people and create a standard which is recog- introduction to the catalog nized as a canon of widely of the Biennial: “Civilization respected human rights. needs the support of human This dialogue is the common rights in a culture created in good of people of different respect for human dignity, nationalities, religions, and its inherent freedoms, in the beliefs,” Dr. Wentkowska public space—civil and in- stressed. ternational—with the princi- Important words were ut- ple of solidarity.” tered by the Małopolska Among the guests that vis- Governor, Stanisław Kracik, ited the Center that day, who declared his commit- were, among others: the ment in helping consolidate Governor of Małopolska, the IYMC as a center for hu- Stanisław Kracik; German man rights education, espe- Consul General in Krakow, cially for the young people of Dr. Heinz Peters; U.S. Con- Małopolska. Plans for study sul for Press and Culture in visits by secondary school the U.S.A.). Of the 226 post- The organization of the Third Florists Bronisław Ligęza, Krakow, Benjamin Ousley students are being prepared ers submitted for participa- Biennale was made possi- Marbet, Ptyś Confectioner- Naseman; Representative by the Meeting Center and tion in the exhibition, sev- ble thanks to the support of: ies, Vitamina, Bożena and of the Ombudsman for Hu- the Oświęcim Academy, so enty-four qualified. Rosa Luxemburg Founda- Janusz Rogalscy. man Rights, Dr. Aleksandra that they can be carried out Held since 2006 the com- tion in Poland; Auschwitz- Wentkowska; Director Kry- the next year, forming an petition is one of the most Birkenau Death Camp Vic- Joanna Klęczar styna Oleksy, representing important part of cultural re- important and prestigious tims Memorial Foundation; the Auschwitz-Birkenau membrance. Death Camp Victims Me- Awards and prizes present- morial Foundation. Also ed by the international jury The world on posters present were representa- were given by the chairman, tives of the project partners: Prof. Michał Kliś, together the International Auschwitz with the curator and origi- or the third time at the International Youth Meeting Center Committee, Helmut Morlok; nator of the Biennial, Paweł in Oświęcim, the Third Biennial of Socio-Political Poster Oświęcim Academy, Walde- Warchoł, as well as by the was held. This is an extraordinary analysis and summary mar Rataj; Rosa Luxemburg director of the International F of the most pressing problems facing the world today. Foundation, Susanne Kram- Center for Education about er Drużycka and Krzysztof Auschwitz and the Holo- Each edition of the event has aroused great interest among artists, the media, and the Kwater; sponsors and artists caust, Krystyna Oleksy. At whose works were present- the end of the evening guests public. It was no different this time. The works exhibited at the IYMC showed a broader ed in the exhibition, among listened to a concert of jazz concern for human rights, ethical, as well as socio-political issues. Artists, through their them the winner of second standards, a cappella and posters, asked us questions about the condition of modern human beings and the so- prize, Prof. Władysław Pluta guitar, performed by Maria ciety in which they operate. An entire spectrum of issues was touched upon: slavery, of the Academy of Fine Arts and Piotr Kudełka. intolerance and discrimination on various grounds, the social, political corruption, the in Krakow. The Third International Bien- problem of inadequate humanitarian assistance, armed conflicts and aggression. “The Ombudsman for Civil nial of Socio-Political Poster The authors also focus our attention on the ecology, inadequate use of natural resources Rights, Prof. Irena Lipowicz, exhibition can be viewed at and pollution, and not forgetting the difficult issues, such as pedophilia, sexual and for years has been support- the IYMC until the end of the domestic violence, gender equality, objectification of women, alcoholism, illiteracy, eu- thanasia, the expansion of religion, and economic migration. Reflected in the posters were also very timely topics such as the Smolensk plane crash, terrorism, censorship of information in China, and the problem of pedophilia in the Catholic Church. All the works present a high artistic level. Among the works you can see posters that are “strong,” vividly illustrating the problem, in which the artist asks the recipient directly, without unnecessary metaphors; as well as completely abstract, not directly relating to issues, where the invocation of the current or historical phenomenon is subtly outlined and requires intellectual engagement of each viewer. Biennial once again gives us the possibility of seeing phenomena, previously known to us, from a different perspective—through the eyes of artists who are often from a differ- ent culture. This is a fantastic opportunity to compare your own views with the visual commentary of the artist. The strength of the message on the posters and their universal significance can be seen for yourself by simply visiting the exhibition. Ilona Stanek

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010

You NEED TO FIT THIS PlACE INTO YOUR IDENTITY

r. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, a historian born in 1972, has been director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum since September 1, 2006. Below, we publish an interview with him. The majority of the subjects we touch on are based on Dquestions posted on the official Auschwitz Memorial Facebook page by people from all over the world. so big, such a symbol, seemed most important world, of the way people and so sensitive that it’s to me: preserving the react and refer to this hard to find any com- Memorial and making it place? parison. This is why you more comprehensible— Only now is the impor- keep coming up against in other words, educa- tance of this place being the necessity of thinking tion. The turning point discovered and felt. Even through certain things in terms of the former a few years ago, you from zero. You can’t find issue was explaining to could often hear voices the whole world, to vari- ready answers in other saying: “We don’t talk ous decision-makers, the places or experiences. about Auschwitz and necessity of changing the Holocaust any more, W hat motivated you to the mechanism for un- that’s over, we’re in the say yes to the offer of derwriting conservation twenty-first century and taking up this position? work. That was in 2009, Europe’s united.” I have an exceptionally difficult At first, I did everything the impression that these year. In terms of educa- to say no, because it real- voices have fallen almost tion, I think above all of ly intimidated me. Previ- entirely silent and that we starting work on the new ously, I was secretary to are on the threshold of a main exhibition, which the International Ausch- profound understand- is the basic educational witz Council for six years, ing that Auschwitz is tool because the largest so I knew the subject well. fundamental to our new numbers of people pass All the more so I found a postwar Europe, and that through it. In this place, multitude of reasons to the efforts of Monnet, however, you discover reject the proposal. The Adenauer, Schumann, de something new every harder I tried to convince Gasperi, and others were day: people come here, myself to say no, the more rooted precisely in that you talk to them, and they I saw that I wasn’t con- experience of World War can add a lot. Of course, vinced. The offer came II. The idea was to create there are meetings with from both former direc- a new, different Europe. It tor Jerzy Wróblewski and former prisoners, which Photo: Mikołaj Grynberg seems to me in this sense unfortunately are increas- the chairman of the IAC, that our world today, es- You have been in charge ingly a rarity these days. the decisions belong to Professor Władysław pecially in Europe, cannot There are the anniversa- of the work of the me. Even if the Museum Bartoszewski, who en- be understood without ries of events, and discus- Auschwitz-Birkenau is subordinated formally trusted me with a place understanding the trag- sions that immediately State Museum for four to the Polish ministry of that was everything to edy of Auschwitz. I have move from banal logisti- years. Members of the culture and the Polish him, and to which he had the impression that fewer cal problems to very pro- staff at the Memorial are government, in its very dedicated decades of his and fewer people are found issues for which often asked: “How can essence this space be- life. Among the former questioning the essence there is often no solution. you work here at all?” longs to the whole world. prisoners, he was one of of Auschwitz. Of course, In the course of these four Someone might ask you Every decision must be the most committed to many things remain to years, the Museum has how you can run such a explained and defended, the place itself, and above be said and explained. also gone through certain specific place. including, and at times all to the remembrance of It’s not as if the passing administrative changes above all, in moral terms. it. At a certain moment of the former prisoners It’s a very strange expe- that might seem trivial This is, of course, a dif- you can’t keep saying closes these subjects. The rience, because in a cer- but that, among other ficult place in terms of no if you expect to sleep writings of Primo Levi, tain sense I’m a manager things, have permitted us work. No one can pre- at night. Little by little I Imre Kertész, Shlomo who’s responsible for a to communicate far bet- dict which day will be came to understand what Venezia, Zofia Posmysz, space that cannot be fully ter with the entire world. the hardest. I feel that the it means to carry that Władysław Bartoszewski comprehended. After As I see it, in a place that people who come to work weight, in the positive or any other prisoner are all, you’d assume that in is so hard to talk about, here either get out after a meaning of the word. It is a basis for understand- general someone who’s communication is fun- couple of months or stay a great obligation, a trust, ing the fundamental role given responsibility for damental. This has been practically for their whole accompanied by the of Auschwitz, but we are a very important expe- a certain place should lives. It’s no accident that chance to do something only at the threshold of rience for me because first of all be able to un- I am the fourth director truly good. this process. When I trav- quite different opinions, derstand it and immerse named here since the end el around, I am struck by Many important things perspectives, and world- himself in it, analyze it of World War II. a certain dawning of this have surely happened views about the essence fully, in order to do his comprehension. Ausch- And the second who was over these four years, in of Auschwitz come into job. With Auschwitz, this witz is becoming a sym- is impossible. not a former prisoner. both professional and contact and have an im- personal terms. Are there bol, pars pro toto, of the It’s also a unique place pact on each other at the In that case, what does any events that remain entire history of the Hol- that’s hard to run to the Memorial. responsibility for this particularly fixed in your ocaust, Nazism, World degree that there are place involve? memory? Through your job, you War II, the concentration absolutely no points of frequently meet many camps, and that whole Above all, it’s a matter of reference in normal life. I spent my first few people from around the maniacal attempt at an- listening to various voic- This cannot be compared months observing, learn- world and give lectures. nihilating humanity. To- es and sensitivities from to any other museum, ing, and listening both to In a certain sense you day, we can talk about all over the world. I’m cultural institution, or the place and the people are the “physical emana- the subject of Auschwitz responsible for Ausch- educational space, and who have worked here tion” of the Memorial. on very different levels. witz but I cannot say that it’s even hard to com- far longer than me. I be- W hat’s your sense of the A few years ago, that I am only implementing pare it to any other site gan bouncing my vision approach to the history could lead to controver- my own program, that of a former camp. It is off them. Two priorities of Auschwitz around the sies about what was less

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010

important and what was more events or stretch important. the timetable for certain invest- W hy is this becoming significant ments, but there’s today, 65 years after liberation, no way we can put and why wasn’t it spoken about off conservation, ten or thirty years after the war? because if we lose It was essential to go through the authenticity of certain stages. After the war, the place, we will everyone was immensely trau- never be able to matized. In a traumatic situation get it back in better there is a moment when people times. That’s why are stunned. They do not react, we’re appealing to try not to say anything, and re- so many countries ject certain realities. That’s what around the world. the first twenty years after the Two-thirds of the war looked like, when the sub- needed total has ject of the Jewish Holocaust was been pledged in completely sidelined. Only the a year and a half. Eichmann trial and Claude Lanz- It’s a very posi- mann’s film Shoah restored a cer- tive development tain stage of memory. Then the to see countries communist system collapsed here going through cri- and these various faces of memo- ses of their own, ry collided powerfully right here or governments in this Memorial. After all, no one grappling with was embroiled in similar contro- the structure of versies about what happened in their own budg- ets, which never- Dachau, Mauthausen, or Gross- Photo: Paweł S awicki Rosen. The conflicts centered on theless make the this main symbol, Auschwitz. decision to help I am convinced that there are shoes, or hair can understand and They were very difficult and with this fund. It demonstrates three stages to education at the remember more. However, it’s painful, but that’s probably what the importance of this work and Memorial. The first level is pure plain that the point comes where it’s like when you’re recovering is evidence of great collective re- facts and historical knowledge— change is necessary. We can’t tell from a trauma. The whole value sponsibility. the level of memory. Things are the story of the war today the way system is reshuffled and a new getting better in Europe at this Can you imagine at all a situa- it was told to people who remem- order and rationalization of what level. A lot has changed in re- tion in which this place would bered the war. I count on finish- happened emerges. Those were cent years. Holocaust denial is be left to itself to deteriorate, ing the work on the scenario for the troubling years of the 1990s becoming a rarity and general and then be replaced after some the new exhibition this year—it’s when there was a collision of historical knowledge has entered time by, for instance, a replica? in the final stages now. It’s very different perspectives—nation- the schools and schoolbooks. The hard working on the new exhibi- alistic, cultural, religious, and Preservation is like medicine. second level, which should grow tion, because we must be careful political. They had to learn about The patient dies in the end, but out of the first, is consciousness. not to lose any of the present clar- each other. Today, we are in a the role of the physician is to pro- Here, things are a little worse. ity of the Memorial. That is why a completely different situation be- long life and maintain the vital We still have trouble with under- large group of people, including cause we have all learned to pay functions. It’s similar with a con- standing the significance of the specialists from many countries, attention to each other, to under- servationist, although of course killing of millions of Jews and the is working on this and debating stand our views, to talk about this there is a greater distance because death of millions of other civil- about it. We must be mindful subject and acknowledge the val- we are talking about material ob- ians during World War II. And that the exhibition will have an ues attributed to various words. jects. Nevertheless, nothing is that is only the start of the jour- impact on the Auschwitz narra- Several processes could not be eternal. Our role is to prolong ney, because we should aspire tive around the world, which is accelerated, because that would their life to the maximum degree to the third level, which is our why we have already put almost have been artificial and ineffec- possible, while minimizing the responsibility today. If we have three years into the work on the tive. That was such a trauma for process of the destruction of the learned the facts and understood scenario. The subsequent stages civilization and the world that it authentic substance. Today, this their significance, something in will depend on financing, which had to take time. Additionally, is taking on new meaning. The us should be changed. We have a is why it’s hard to speak of a firm the bipolar decades in Europe, descriptions left behind by survi- lot of trouble with this around the schedule at this point. One thing with the freezing of real relations vors provoke and arouse our im- world. If we come out of a visit is certain—it will be an exhibi- between many societies, further agining of those dramatic events, to the Memorial with guns blaz- tion that’s profoundly different intensified that stage with its lack but the authentic place roots ing and denounce the society of from present-day museum prac- of common debate. them in a very real world. That is the 1940s for having done too lit- tice around the world. It will be why these two mutually comple- tle—those who functioned under There’s a lot of talk today far more ascetic and there will mentary elements are essential German occupation, the moral about the economic crisis, budg- be far fewer visually attractive to locate memory not only in the authorities of the time, the Allied et cuts, and financial difficulties interactive elements because the sphere of imagination, but also in armies, the partisans, and in gen- in places including cultural in- central element is the authentic- the tangible world. After all, we eral all the neighbors who did too stitutions. How is the Museum ity of the Memorial, and not the can walk down these roads. Eve- little to defend their neighbors— getting by at this awkward mo- kinds of special effects that are ry generation can be won over, if we are astounded that there ment? essential in places that try to re- which is why we work so hard at were so few Righteous among produce something that’s not Funding is one of the main brakes preserving the Memorial. the Nations in those years, then there. Things are different here. on our development. It’s a very we should ask ourselves why we Another challenge facing the I think that a somewhat differ- difficult situation. The Museum do absolutely nothing when in- Memorial is the new main exhi- ent kind of narration will make it receives continual appropria- nocent people, whole families, bition. possible to achieve an exhibition tions almost exclusively from the are murdered somewhere in Af- that will not leave anything out Polish government, and the level The exhibition is a part of a cer- rica. We calmly watch it live on of the general history, but that of appropriations is insufficient— tain ritual of passing through this television without reacting at all, will make people aware in a bet- not only for us. However, there’s place, since it elucidates and ex- and yet we live in times when ter way of the significance of this one thing we can’t put off, and plains it. Over a million people no one threatens us. We feel ex- place, and that this will lead to a that’s the preservation and pro- a year see the exhibition. Some empt from the responsibility to greater feeling of the responsibil- tection of authenticity. This led things are more comprehensible be Righteous among the Nations ity we bear for the world today. to the idea of an emergency fund thanks to the exhibition. The cur- today. This is disturbing, because that works for the preservation rent exhibition is very old, but W hat then is the sense of visit- it’s easy for us to pass judgment of this place. At various times it still serves its purpose. People ing the Memorial, from a strictly on those bygone times, easy for we might have fewer educational who have seen those suitcases, educational point of view? us to pass judgment on people’s

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 T lines. Perhaps the world’s head newspaper the in and television on tioned men be even wouldn’t even genocide be Perhaps worse. years, might sixty things of course the over arisen not remembrance had and educa tion for space that if and existed, not had sites memorial the if that, ble to possi is hard it but speculate, is it course Of optimistic… world. the around with trouble having we’re what is this and to, aspire should we responsibilityof level the is This individuals. cific spe other help must ple peo individual Specific enough. been never has This peacekeepers? UN the or pressure political international to up all it leave to supposed really or we Are Sławik? Henryk Wallenberg, Raoul Schindler,OskarSendler, Irena like people the are where Today, tel evision?” on this all watched they while Euro doing peans the were “What ask: will They of Rwanda. and Darfur in museumsgenocide generations visiting future by criticized be well might normthatsivity.a Thisis pas of attitude an rational izing and au thorizing also but ourselves, deluding only not we’re then ourselves, on ment judg passing from tion isola total in this do we as long as but behavior, his doesn’t sound very sound doesn’t his ------A os number. mous hr i i demarcated, is shocking it where of a regardless boundary be al ways will killing and life between boundary The eat here. to places are there that of Gate the in bookstore a there’s that strange as people some strikes It exhibition. the and conservation on ing Museum, and has a bear the to challenge a surely is itself level tendance year. per Memorial the to tors visi million a over are have an allergic reaction. they that or slogans, list popu to react shouldn’t they that aware making people is problem the early, react to is problem The type. this of conflicts all in events of chain this find We killing. to leads what is This hatred. the up stir and enemy mon com the out point They of. advantage take lists popu which general, in frustration,have we ning begin the At acts. such to lead that mechanisms social are there after that all, know, we Today aware. weren’t realize, we that didn’t we that know, didn’t we that say cannot we because cence, never inno original that will have we Shoah, the and Auschwitz after However, exists. already point reference this that fact the from ed—result belat or off-target, soft, too often reactions—so s you mentioned,youthere s 1 T i i a enor an is his 2 D T eath, or eath, 3 e at he ------4 Photo: Paweł Sawicki

traveling here from ek in week each of part spend You dren behind. it will be something that something be will it boundary strange, seem will it lies that where stress of regardless that me again Let morial. Me the services—from and buses, lots, parking tourism—the of burdensome aspects the sense, certain a order in separate, to in Brzezinka, in lot parking new a Auschwitz and I near center service visitor design new a for the is case, this in compromise, certain A helps. all, after for ing look are people which literature, The visit. hour four- a in themes portant im the all on touch can’t you all, After them. for We harder things make visit. can’t their than during information more acquire can they that so visitorsthe for help some is idea The idea. the not “souve that’s because here, nirs” typical any be all books, sell and there won’t not will bookstores the course Of this. with whole connected life the of sphere with come here, that generations oriented towards the new strongly place a is it but victims, the of cemetery a obviously is Memorial The is, it? with deal to how question The sions. impres and reactions of terms in spaces exclusive existence of two mutually co- a always is it because was no sense in moving, in sense no was when I realized that there was That month. a times three, and sometimes five saidit was aminimum of he he Warsaw, in oftenbe to had how ecessor pred my asked I When history. this with contact the ily fam your spares it least view as well, although at of point private a from difficult job the makes leave you your wife and three chil where saw involve discomfort. always will life everyday the to death of from history tragic returning moment of The on. going is life Death of from Gate the away far how ter mat doesn’t it In case this dissonance. the feel always will they and on, on the other side, life goes that, see they chambers, gas the to next and ramp the on being after enau Birk of out come people When place. of out feels 5 6 T O his surely 7 święcim, W ar 8 Oś—święcim, People,History,Culturemagazine,no.22,ctober2010 ------A 9 O in so. Fortunately, soon. tions ques asking start they’ll but small, still are dren chil My point. some at questions serious some how definitely face will I terms,ever, family In tor and the Museum staff. a direc deputy have team—the to important it makeswhichperson, one for much too is job this case, any In train. the on letters writing or reports I reading on up catch because can work, quiet means that and time, ing work also It’s problem. a big no is ways both week km 600 covering and traveling, have loved I always Anyway, way. right theplace this run to of affairs it would be hard state this of derstanding un thorough a Without reference. of point whom a it’s for people everywhere are there be cause experience global a is Auschwitz York. New well or Paris, Jerusalem, as in as here be to and need this to respond to to be in many places. I try necessary it’s Oświęcim. why That’s in than saw is more accessible in War this of all and media, the and delegations, foreign institutions, government various for profile high a has also Auschwitz of subjectdirection.siteThe making the same trip in the beoppo I’d because tutr wr added. The war also changed the were structure and infra railroad whole the plants, industrial and city, districts, new whole then small a was Oświęcim war, the Be fore everywhere. really They’re stigmata. these of free anything build to practicallyit’simpossible because for inhabitants, the hard things makes this that know I present. these stigmata are always plants left their mark, and industrial the and camp city. the both of this building The on scar erful pow a left home.II War World figuratively, second your it’s and ally liter sense, certain a In you work. where about child your tell to point—how some at ask must Me morial the at guide or ent par every that question a is this However, does. adult’s an way same the events dramatic such regis ter first, imagination at not, does child’s a d o d yu like you do how nd święcim as a city? 10 11 12 ------13

away from it. get to impossible proves usually it because world, this outside yourself ine imagtohardvery it’sin, fits everything once turn, In impossible. it be would Otherwise, your into identity. it fit to have you and mind own your in straight Auschwitz of subject the have to need you here, work To it. do couldn’t I decision. that regret and this like place four years ago? made you cision local public opinion. incredibility lose quickly they day, this the Memorial around tension ate gener to tries someone were ten years ago. theyWhen as discourse litical po local the to crucial longer as no are Museum the surrounding tensions the instance, For normal. things are becoming more many that think I life. on problems with the impact of history expected the other the on and brance, hand working for remem one the community—on determined the in levels two these by is of city this character The around here. active are that rialand other institutions Memo the supporting to committed very are They people. random just not are this these Often, mind. in bear must we and present, at Memorial with the connected very closely is area whole The guides. or war, the after Museum the at work to went who people or ers, tive in helping the prison ac were who people or Germans, the by homes old their from gunpoint after at expelled been having frequently war, the during Oświęcim to moved who people are those whether identity, their in an place important holds camp former the people whom for here living many are there the hand, other of the On life city. the in prob lems real causes That after. and tories—before his two has that city a is This war. the after here moved residents many greatcommunity.local A Translation: William Brand

o cnt ok n a in work can’t You D Interview: Paweł Sawicki yu ert h de the regret you o 14 15 ------

Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010 Center for Dialogue and Prayer Foundation

Exhibit about individuals opposed to military service and deserters of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War n September, the exhibition Deserters in the German Wehrmacht was held at the Center for Dialogue and Prayer in Oświęcim, dedicated to deserters and the people who were opposed to military service in the Third Reich. The ex- hibition is the result of long-term search by Jochen Schmidt, an employee of “Libraries for Peace” at the Anti-War MuseumI of Berlin-Brandenburg. ing because of my unified jects. This exhibition raises entity,” noted well-known an interesting and extensive writer Heinrich Böll. range of subjects. The issue Among those refusing to do of deserters and those who military service were not refused military service has only Catholics and Evan- for years been marginal- gelical clergy. Even ordi- ized. For a long time, the nary people acted against deserters were not consid- the system, and refrained ered to be victims of the from wearing the German war. In the eyes of public Wehrmacht uniform. opinion, they were referred The subject of the exhibi- to as “freeloaders.” tion is not only the war- The exhibition aims to com- time period. According to memorate victims of Nazi Jochen Schmidt it also has justice and attempts to show a warning for the future: this issue to the wider public “The violence, which took in order to draw attention to place then, can always hap- the subject. The exhibit’s pen again... but always in author has achieved this the proportions possible goal thanks to the selection during a given era. Mo- of photographic materials rality no longer has much as well as appropriately se- strength; the authorities lected texts. Photo: CD P must also become so much On May 17, 2002, the Ger- During World War II clergy refused to wear For the Führer and Fatherland less human, less if a man is man Bundestag abolished the German justice sys- Nazi uniforms in the Wehr- is the title of the third part still man... In this reality... the sentences handed out tem gave 30,000 verdicts macht, justifying this in of the exhibition, which a Christian should practice by the Nazi justice system. against deserters, while various ways. “You must deals with the last period of peace.” For most of the victims, the 20,000 sentences were car- not go to war, at least to the war. In this part, much Why is this exhibition at the exoneration that simultane- ried out. However, very this, because it is not a emphasis is placed on tes- Center for Dialogue and ously restored their honor little archival material has defensive war…” they ar- timonies dealing with the Prayer? The Center wants was too late. However, this survived. Jochen Schmidt gued. However, there were sentences passed against to honor the victims and is a big step toward realiz- could only use 40 docu- also other motives, “be- deserters, but also some shape a world of mutual ing the true nature of Nazi ments. “This subject is cause National Socialism quotes from the newspa- respect, reconciliation, and justice and its history. heavily suppressed, so it is is set against Christianity, pers: “Every second I get peace. To do so it must also quickly forgotten,” Schmidt you must refuse to serve as the immensity of suffer- deal with such delicate sub- Sebastian Schlegel told a German newspaper. a soldier in the Nazi state.” The fact that until 2002 the Regardless of the soldiers’ National Socialist justice motivation that refused system’s judgments were military service, one aspect upheld, people who were concerned them all: “for convicted during the war our views we must suffer.” were regarded as guilty, Deserters agreed that it was shows how delicate is the better to remain faithful to problem we face. their spirit and humanity, The main part of the exhibi- than to become part of the tion consists of the desert- crime and move their be- ers’ testimonies. The exhibit liefs aside. is divided into three parts. The second part of the exhi- The first, titled The Next bition The German Victory, War, deals with the period shows the years 1942-43. between 1939-41. With the Soldiers tell of the cruel help of photos, clippings experiences of war and the from newspapers, letters, motives that inclined them and the testimonies from to desert. “People who have the invasion of Poland no face ... . Gradually, I am and France, the author ad- beginning to understand dressed the suffering of the German victory,” is the occupied nations. A how a German soldier de- quote from Heinrich Mann scribed the war and related completes the picture and atrocities in 1941. Testimo- shows how cruel the Na- nies about deserting as well zis’ march through Europe as excerpts from diaries was: “When the rulers deal accompany Camus’ quote: with it as the victor with a “The rebellion is to refuse defenseless country, then to be treated as an object it is easy for unofficial -ob and to show him only on servers to say, what this is the background history. about…” In his revolt, an individual Already at this point in puts certain limits on his- the war, mostly Christian tory.” Photo: CD P

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Jewish Center Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010

A step forward

n Oświęcim on September 5 and 12, we had the opportunity to par- ticipate in another important cultural event, carried out within the Iframework of the European Day of Jewish Culture 2010 and this year’s Oświęcim Days Festival. The event that I refer to, is a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Jewish Center—an educational institution teach- ing history, humility, and above all respect and tolerance towards others.

The city of Oświęcim, and Chevra Lomdei Mishnay- infecting today’s world is in a particular way Fr. Jan ot, and Education Center. the base of the work the Skarbek Square, is a place The main objective of this staff, interns, apprentices where for years fates of two institution is to cultivate and volunteers do.“ Lack communities intertwined— and teach local Jewish his- of knowledge and lack of the Polish and Jewish. tory. And what is the role contact with ‘others’ un- Because of its history, the of this place in the minds doubtedly give rise to prej- consequences of the events of the inhabitants of the udice. A new program run that took place here, it is city of Oświęcim? Does it by the Center, Why do we inscribed in the annals of matter that before the war need tolerance?, for which our history in various col- a Jewish community inhab- anti-discrimination work- ors. But in all these shades, ited a large part of the city? shops have been organized we can find positive colors “I can only assume and for teachers from Śląsk and such as the color of warm hope that a large part of the Małopolska, is worth men- yellow sun, shining on the population start to iden- tioning here. This program streets of Oświęcim, where tify with this place. Some has enjoyed great success, the quiet life of Poles and people simply see the need we hope that the effects Jews took place. There are and wisdom of this place. will also be measurable,” also the gray, dark, almost People are pleased and added Artur Szyndler. black moments which most proud that such a place ex- The program for the 10th we would throw out of our ists. In fact, for the past 10 anniversary celebrations of Photo: D ominik S molarek memory. years, the Jewish Center in the Jewish Center was in- Father Jan Skarbek, a man Oświęcim has been well teresting. It is worth noting by young artists from Israel “Our goal was to break out with a “crystal clear per- hosted. When saying ‘Jew- that the organizers were and Poland were carried of the context that makes sonality” also constitutes a ish,’ I mean the history of mindful of each age group, out in the framework of the our place seem very ste- kind of common denomi- a Jewish Oświęcim, that and most importantly, pro- European Day of Jewish reotypical,” Szyndler said. nator for these two nations. existed before the war as vided workshops and gave Culture 2010. This kind of “This also applies to Jewish Today this place once again an example of a city of two the opportunity to actively art is certainly still some- music, usually associated unites us, this time in com- cultures, a place of coexis- participate in them. It was thing new, but acknowl- with only the traditional mon celebration. Let us not tence of Poles and Jews,” here, at Fr. Jan Skarbek edged most positively. klezmer music.” During let anything stand in the said Dr. Artur Szyndler of Square 5, where the build- Performance art is consid- his performance you could way of this common step the Jewish Center. ing of the Center is located ered to be alive, however hear the traditional Jew- forward. The Center, in its work, that we had the opportuni- not long lasting. This kind ish and Israeli rhythms The Jewish Center in places a great emphasis on ty to participate in most of of creativity should be un- (but not only) in modern Oświęcim, a non-govern- using various forms of ed- the scheduled events. derstood in two ways. On dance arrangements, which mental cultural institution, ucational programs. Preju- The celebration was divid- the one hand, as something young people dance to in has been in existence since dice, intolerance, stereo- ed into two parts. The proj- personal—personal dem- clubs around the world. 2000, and operate: the Jew- types, and generalization— ects presented on Septem- onstration by the artist in This type of ethnic musi- ish Museum, Synagogue “fighting” these illnesses ber 5—the performances front of the audience who cal “mix” is very popular has a direct contact with nowadays. DJ Jungle Feel- it, on the other hand, it is a ings was a good starting protest against what’s con- point to engage in dialogue ventional. and show that the Center September 12, the Center’s has something to offer the staff, together with invited younger generation that guests, gave participants does not necessarily have the opportunity to enrich an interest in Jewish cul- not only the soul but also ture and history. the mind with: workshops The special guest of the for children, teaching sen- event was a band from sitivity, openness and cre- Krakow, which performs ativity, as well as lectures, in almost all countries increasing the knowledge in the world. Magiczne of Jewish culture, an Israeli Trio [Magical Trio] has dance workshop, the possi- been playing together for bility of visiting the Muse- 15 years already and can um and the Synagogue. All clearly satisfy every con- this is to build a bridge of noisseur of good music. understanding and agree- The band Kroke combines ment. For the most de- several types of music. manding part of the public, It definitely includes ele- namely young people, DJ ments of klezmer, as well Jungle Feelings was invit- as shades of other cultures. ed. Personally, I have the This event ended the cel- impression that this young ebration of the 10th anni- artist changed the point versary of the Oświęcim of view of Polish youth Jewish Center. on some elements of Jew- Monika Bernacka ish culture, such as music. Photo: D ominik S molarek

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PROcESS Of cOnnEcTing THE ciTY anD THE MEMORY iS STiLL gOing On

An interview with the author Miriam Akavia, history. People who guests from Israel are Poland, but we’re in a director of the Jewish an Israeli writer. At the take part in the anti- mainly youth. exceptional place—a Center in Oświęcim, To- time, many came to see discrimination sessions do you have any sig- place that evokes strong masz Kuncewicz the newly opened place. should visit Auschwitz. nals, or examples, that emotions through its At the outset, we created This should be motiva- show the knowledge tragic history. This what were the begin- a list of people interested tion to build anti-dis- gained at the center small town has to cope nings of the Jewish in our work, which was crimination today. It is or workshops direct- with the unique stigma. center in oświęcim? constantly growing: the crucial to present the ly contribute to the It takes time, but the we know that in 1997 participants of classes history of the Holo- growth of tolerance? process of connecting the synagogue was and meetings could caust in school as a set For example, do partici- the city and the memory handed over to the write themselves in on of mechanisms that oc- pants come up with in- is still ongoing. Jewish community in it and thus be informed curred in the context of dependent initiatives? Bielsko-Biała... about our future events. discrimination against during that time, were Initially, we worked certain groups, because Often, the participants there some key mo- The Center was opened through traditional I believe that there is no of our workshops ments for the existence September 12, 2000 after mail; e-mails were not consciousness without contribute to the work of of the center? a complete renovation so commonly used. a merger of history with the Center as volunteers. of the Synagogue and This is how we created the present. A common These are people who The opening itself was partial renovation of a database of people mistake is to disregard are writing papers on very important to us. At the building next door. interested in our events. the situation of those the topic or are planning the church next to the At the time there was facing discrimination, to study the topic at an Center, Bishop Rakoczy the exhibition, and was there, or is there, and we should remem- institution of higher led a Holy Mass for the to a large extent the any distinction between ber how ignoring this learning. There have success of the Center opening related mainly “us” and “them”? could end. Education been no independent project. It was a beautiful to the Synagogue, and is a bit detached from initiatives as of yet, gesture. Of course, the that was very solemn: For us, there was never reality. Today we have but I think this is a partnership with the with the participation such a division. The the European Union, broader issue of low Museum of Jewish of Polish authorities, Center is in the city and we have peace and it civic participation in our Heritage in New York guests from Israel, the it is for its residents. Our seems to us that it is im- country. in 2006 was important. United States embassy, initiatives and openness possible to repeat such I think it is a very fruitful there was also Fr. Bp. to the city created a a disaster. But let’s not the placement of the cooperation, since they Rakoczy, and the Prince situation that more and forget that for people center in town is im- also focus on Jewish of Jordan. There was a more people identify back then it also seemed portant because of its heritage and history. ceremonial placing of with the Center, and see impossible, but it hap- closeness to the city and There are plans there the mezuzah as well it as a place that is worth pened. In the past, we its inhabitants. for an exhibition about as a prayer that was showing your friends had an anti-discrimina- the Jewish community held in the Synagogue. who come to Oświęcim. tion workshop, under From the very of Oświęcim. There On the second day of September 12, during the program My old beginning, our idea was was also an exhibition the ceremony, at the the evening concert, neighbor. Currently, we that this place was to devoted to John Paul Presidential Palace, many of its participants have a separate pro- be friendly for people II and his relationship President Aleksander with the Jews. This Kwaśniewski awarded shows that we operate Fred Schwarz the in two directions: we Commander’s Cross of help to open Oświęcim the Order of Merit of to its own history, and the Polish Republic for through the Museum in his efforts in improving New York we open the Polish-Jewish dialogue world to Oświęcim. and for his work in this fi eld in Poland. The goal what plans are there for for the Center, which the center for the com- we set immediately, ing years? was education. Already in the autumn of 2000, We are currently school groups from working on the project Oświęcim and the Oszpicin. This will be surrounding area came a website and guide. to us with requests for The website—a virtual educational sessions, tour around Oświęcim:

and so did groups of Photo: Piotr Gajek a multimedia and visitors coming to the interactive site. To Auschwitz Museum. visited the Center until gram for anti-discrimi- from out of town as supplement this, a We were surprised that late into the evening; it nation, entitled Why do well as for its residents. guide about the history interest was so high resembled a “museum we need tolerance? To be a place that of Oświęcim will be from the outset. night,” but happened are the participants connects residents with released. In the near spontaneously. mainly Poles? people who are visiting future, these two projects how would you de- Oświęcim, helping to will be completed. In scribe the interest to- the center has pro- Half are Poles and modify any prejudice. the meantime we are day? You said that at grams focused on his- among them are A place that presents working on a new the beginning groups tory, but there are also p r e d o m i n a t e l y the Jewish history of exhibition, which is coming to the Jewish activities, that through students. In addition Oświęcim and also adapted to today’s center consisted of the use of history, are to cultural events, shows its ordinariness is standards of showing young people. focused to have an involving mainly the important for education artifacts, representing impact today; for ex- older individuals, about Auschwitz. history—we would like Older individuals, ample, such a series adults. The other half to complete these plans residents of Oświęcim, of classes on anti-dis- are individuals from You could say that you in the next few years. came when the cultural crimination... abroad—Germans and are making up for the program stared. Our fi rst Jews from the United 60 years of the forgotten Interview: event had its opening Indeed these are two States and Israel. As Jewish inhabitants... Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka after a few months of branches of our educa- for the Germans, they our operation—it was tional activities which are both adults and Not only do we. This a meeting with the are closely linked with students, and the is happening all over

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 History Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010

pecially during the fall-win- 1962. ter period. Aside from mate- After the war, she went back PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL rial aid, she also acted as an to teaching at the school in intermediary in correspond- Bieruń Nowy. She retired in ence between prisoners and 1959, but continued teach- Janina Kajtoch their families, and sometimes ing on a part-time basis for even arranged secret meet- a further nine years. Active (1904-1986) ings in places close to where in cultural and community taining a fulltime position the prisoners of Auschwitz the prisoners labored. She activities, she organized a at the elementary school in Concentration Camp as one helped escapees from the children’s song-and-dance Bieruń Nowy in 1931 was a of the founders and leaders camp. She even helped or- troupe at the elementary key moment in her career. of the relief effort. As early as ganize escapes: on December school in Bieruń, and cho- Aside from teaching, she de- the summer of 1940, she was 29, 1942, four prisoners-–Jan reographed and made folk voted herself to extracurricu- making contact with prison- Komski (registered in Ausch- costumes for a stage produc- lar and voluntary cultural ers who labored outside the witz under the false name tion under the title “Pszc- and educational work there. camp. Mostly, she helped Baraś), Bolesław Kuczbara, zyna Wedding.” The chil- She encouraged patriotism them by giving them food. Mieczysław Januszewski, dren’s troupe was successful and a sense of national iden- In the second half of the year, and the German Otto Kü- throughout the local area, tity among the residents of she became a member of the sel—escaped with her help. and the songs for “Pszczyna Bieruń, and especially the clandestine Committee to She was active for the sake of Wedding” were recorded young people. She prepared Aid the Political Prisoners of the prisoners until the end of by Polish radio and bought programs of words and music the Auschwitz Camp. This 1942. Under threat of arrest by UNESCO. She died in for public holidays, including committee functioned under by the Gestapo, she fled to Oświęcim on July 28, 1986, Born in Babice near Oświęcim the annual procession in local the aegis of the Oświęcim the General Government on and is buried in the parish on August 6, 1904, she was costume to the monument District ZWZ (afterwards, New Year’s Eve 1942/1943. cemetery there. She received the daughter of Franciszek to the fallen Silesian insur- AK). In 1941, she recruited The Archives of the Ausch- many decorations for her ac- and Paulina, née Riecher. rectionists on November 11, a number of residents of witz-Birkenau State Museum tivities, including the Com- Her father ran a restaurant, Polish Independence Day. the Land of Oświęcim for in Oświęcim contain numer- mander’s Cross of the Order and served as wójt (elected She founded the Association a group of “people of good ous secret messages in which of Poland Reborn, the Of- mayor) of Babice for a time. of Young Polish Women, will” (sometimes referred to prisoners thank her for her ficer’s Cross of the Order of After attending the four-class which offered cultural-educa- as “Janina Lacheta’s Group”), help and request further aid Poland Reborn, the Victory country school in her home- tional programs and practical for the Auschwitz relief ef- in the form of food, medicine, and Freedom Medal, and the town, she continued her courses in domestic economy fort. She became the leader and so on. She described her Gold Cross for Services to the schooling at the gimnazjum and vocational skills to young of this group. Within the actions on behalf of the pris- Development of the wojew- in Chrzanów, before enroll- women. framework of the ZWZ/AK oners in a postwar memoir ti- ództwo of Katowice. ing in the Słowacki Teach- She worked in the resist- and the “people of good tled “I Knew People of Good ers’ College for Women in ance movement during the will,” she conducted a large- Will,” published in Polish in Ingrid Biolik Mysłowice. She graduated occupation period. A mem- scale action to feed the pris- in 1924, obtaining her matura ber of the Union of Armed oners who labored outside and teacher’s certificate. She Struggle (ZWZ) and later the the camp. Additionally, she FROM GANOBIS’S CABINET took her first job the follow- Home Army (AK), she used supplied medicine, including ing year, and worked un- the pseudonym “Skała.” She valuable anti-typhus drugs, interrupted as a teacher in also took part in clandestine to the camp through secret Metal plate from Auschwitz Silesia until the beginning of teaching, and played a spe- channels. She collected warm the Second World War. Ob- cial role in delivering aid to clothing for the prisoners, es- few years ago while searching the in- ternet looking for items related to my VESTIGES OF HISTORY Ainterests, I came across an auction for a small lead or aluminum plate, that was FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM 17x25cm in size. Its description read: “Brought from AUSCHWITZ, an old and original item. cigarette holder, in the shape of a pipe with carved head Recommended.” of a man in a typical striped prisoner’s cap and with I realized that on the inter- thing and we do not attach horizontal stripes on the pipe’s stem, was a gift given to net you can find many fake much importance to it, but A items, but I took a chance. I think it is my duty to dis- Auschwitz prisoner Jerzy Bielecki by a fellow camp prisoner on When I asked the seller cover all the facts relating to the occasion of his 22nd birthday. about the origin of the item, the items in my collection, so they replied: “Unfortunately that I can authenticate their I do not know exactly when origin. this was found, but it was about 10-15 years ago. It was Mirosław Ganobis nailed to a piece of wood, and the person from whom I bought it, ripped it off and sold me the plate.” The item was in very good condition. The piece of metal bears Photo: C ollections D epatment, A -B S M three workers and below The head of the cigarette SS man, and acted as if he numbers, prisoner triangles, them is a symbol of the swas- holder is a carved portrait of was escorting her to an inter- or elements of barbed wire, tika as well as an inscription Bielecki, which confirms the rogation. However, this time left by prisoners on rings, in German: “Respect work number engraved on pipe’s the escape was successful. spoons, walls, or decorated and respect the worker.” striped stem, 243. This is the After the war, Cyla went into cigarette holder—shows the Just below this are also the number that marked 19-year- hiding with a Polish family overwhelming desire to leave words “Adolf Hitler.” I was old Jerzy, who was still a in the area near Racławice, a trace behind, with a great very much interested in the high school student, brought while he joined the AK awareness of the symbolism fate of the piece of metal and from Tarnów on June 14, (Polish Home Army). After of these motifs, already in the I tried to establish something 1940 in the first transport to the war he was awarded the middle of the tragedy taking more, but as it happens, the Auschwitz. Righteous Among the Na- place. After the war, these lack of time and the influx Four years later, in July 1944, tions. In 1961, Jerzy Bielecki symbols became one of the of new items sometimes he escaped from the camp donated the cigarette holder most recognizable symbols prevent the completion of with a female Jewish pris- to the Museum. of suffering, humiliation, and a complete investigation. oner, Cyla Cybulska (alias The symbol of the striped dehumanization—the indi- Knowing my own character, in the camp Stawicka). They uniform that was used here, vidual’s fate in the world of I am convinced that some escaped in a similar way often appears in art after the the concentration camps. time I will find a moment to like Mala and Edek, the so- War as a symbol of the con- try to establish something called Romeo and Juliet from centration camp prisoner. Agnieszka Sieradzka more about it. Sometimes it Auschwitz. He dressed as an This symbol—like the camp Collections Department, A-BSM happens that we have some- Photo: Mirosław Ganobis

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 22, October 2010 Photographer

PHOTO YOURNAL

On September 5 and 12 in Oświęcim, on the European Day of Jewish Culture 2010, celebrations were held in commemoration of the 10th an- niversary of the Jewish Center. The event included, among others: work- shops for children, lectures and lessons in Israeli dance, as well as a con- cert—a performance by young artists from Israel and Poland. Dominik Smolarek’s photos are shown here. More about the celebrations can be found on pages 12-13.

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