O Ś WIĘ CIM ISSN 1899-4407 PEOPLE

CULTURE HISTORY

no. 33 September 2011 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 33, September 2011

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

The last fi ve years at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Muse- number 11 (pictured on the cover), the building that pris- um have been a period of considerable changes: attendance oners named the “Death Block.” has constantly grown to new record highs, a new main We also recommend reading an article by the volunteers exhibition is under construction, the Auschwitz-Birkenau from abroad, who worked in the past year at the Interna- Foundation has been created for funding maintenance of tional Youth Meeting Center. It recounts how they view the authentic Memorial Site, and a new visitors center is the history of Auschwitz, as well as life in modern day Editor: being created. In this edition of Oś we publish an extensive Oświęcim. Paweł Sawicki interview with Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, who has directed On the pages of the Center for Dialogue and Prayer, you Editorial secretary: the Museum for the last fi ve years. can read about the commemoration of the death of Ed- Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka In the September edition, we also report on two round an- ith Stein, known today as Saint Teresia Benedicta of the Editorial board: niversaries, that took place in August and in September: Cross. We also invite you to take a walk down the path of Bartosz Bartyzel the murder of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, as well as the fi rst the Jewish History of Oświęcim. Wiktor Boberek experiment in mass killing through the use of Zyclone B. Paweł Sawicki Editor-in-chief Jarek Mensfelt Both of these events had their place in the cellar of Block Olga Onyszkiewicz [email protected] Jadwiga Pinderska-Lech Artur Szyndler Columnist: Mirosław Ganobis Design and layout: A GALLERY Agnieszka Matuła, Grafi kon Translations: OF THE 20TH CENTURY David R. Kennedy Proofreading: At this moment, our “Gallery of the tage photographs that were found in have been mainly taken inside photo- Beata Kłos Twentieth Century” is going… back in a small, one hundred-year-old trunk. graphic studios—rarely outdoors—but, Cover: time! There is no need to slight or mock The leather-bound albums, decorated in an astonishingly modern-looking Rebecca Lim this oxymoron, since there were mo- with metal hinges, as well as the pho- technological way. It is as if they had Photographer: ments in history of moving back… to tographs they contain, can be found at just been taken yesterday and given Paweł Sawicki the future! So, here we are going back our city museum located in the castle. a light bronze or sepia tone—you are to the second half of the nineteenth The pictures, presented on cardboard able to look at both sides of the pre- century, thanks to a collection of vin- backgrounds, are of various sizes, and sented photographs: on the front are the individuals who had been photo- PUBLISHER: graphed, while on the back there are delicate graphical lithographs—adver- Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum tisements of the given studio, with a list of the awards and medals that it had www.auschwitz.org.pl garnered at photography exhibitions as well as contests. The oldest of the pho- tographs that I admired was one with PARTNERS: a dedication from 1870! In most cases, those who were photographed were Jewish either standing or sitting in front of an Center artistic backdrop, that had the studio’s own specifi c trademark—posing in a www.ajcf.pl solemn and serious manner, conscious of the fact that they are taking part in a, still, rather secret amalgamation of art Center for Dialogue and technology that magically repro- and Prayer duces reality. Foundation The photographs present a variety of different individuals and their social www.centrum-dialogu.oswiecim.pl or working class: wealthy burghers, noble ladies of the manor, military men of various ranks “festooned with med- als,” offi cials of various levels—in this International Youth Meeting Center case Imperial Galician offi cials—while there is also a photo that was taken in www.mdsm.pl Kiev and two which come from Łódź. What astonishes and impresses is the chemical-optical technology that pro- duced these images; to this day they are IN COOPERATION still so vibrant and crisp! WITH: Photographic studios existed in many cities as well as towns and had vari- Kasztelania ous reputations, not to mention clients. Some crossed over into the history of www.kasztelania.pl photography’s beginnings as well as the world of art, such as the studio of State Higher Walery Rzewuski, who worked for dec- Vocational Schoolol ades in Cracow, or that of Józef Eder, in Oświęcim who also had a shop in Oświęcim. www.pwsz-oswiecim.pli i l Here, I present a reproduction, a photo of a photograph, which comes from my collection: a beautiful girl, whom Editorial address: I know nothing about except that her „Oś – Oświęcim, Ludzie, picture was found in our family album, Historia, Kultura” Państwowe Muzeum most probably, a century ago—and Auschwitz-Birkenau what connects the two of us is not only ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 20 the album, or the technological photo- 32-603 Oświęcim Photo: Andrzej Winogrodzki graphic process, but also… genetics! e-mail: [email protected] Photo from Andrzej Winogrodzki’ collections Andrzej Winogrodzki

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 33, September 2011 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF FATHER MAXIMILIAN KOLBE

ore than two thousand people, among them former inmates of Auschwitz, Polish pilgrims from all over the country, and the staff of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum attended a Mass, concelebrated by cardinals, Mbishops, priests and monks at the former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz. Auschwitz-Birkenau was pray and thank God for his The celebrations ended with to become a tool to create a love.” an appeal for peace in the world without God, a closed President of Poland Bronisław world from “the former con- world of superhumans who Komorowski sent a letter to centration camp Auschwitz, despised other man because the participants. “The pessi- site of the death of millions of of differences of race, nation- mism and bitterness, which innocent people and a symbol ality, culture and language. swell up in every person of totalitarianisms, which in Here on this earth, the sons who visits the former Ger- the fi rst half of the twentieth and daughters of the Jewish man death camps, can now century dominated Europe.” people, taking their origin —thanks to father Kolbe’s “World peace will reign when from Abraham, were anni- heroic deed—be contrasted love makes itself at home in hilated. Here Poles, Gypsies, with another, beautiful face our hearts and we fi nd our Russians, Germans, and in- of humanity, faith in the vic- own humanity,” the authors nocent people from all over tory of goodness and hope for of the appeal urged. Europe were murdered.” a better future for our world,” Dziwisz referred to the mem- the President wrote. jarmen orable words of John Paul II during his visit to the Me- morial in 1979: “I could not RAJMUND KOLBE fail to come here as Pope ... Photo: Tomasz Pielesz Seventieth anniversary of the death of Father Maksymilian Kolbe I come to join you, no mat- Rajmund Kolbe was born on October 8, 1894 in Zduńska ter what your faith is, in once Wola. In 1910 he joined the Franciscan Order in Lviv, Liturgy was celebrated near oners—hey placed fl owers again looking into human af- where he received the name Maximilian. In 1912 he began the cell in Block 11, where and lit candles. fairs in the eye.” The Cardi- his studies in Rome in philosophy and theology, obtain- Father Maximilian Kolbe The fi eld altar featured the nal stressed the importance ing doctorates in those disciplines, and was ordained a died and the ceremony was wooden rosary of St. Maxi- of mutual respect for human priest. He returned to Poland in 1919. In 1927 he founded the culmination of the sev- milian, donated by him to a dignity. “May the names of a monastery in Niepokalanów near Warsaw and a pub- entieth anniversary of the fellow prisoner, and the rose our love and our attitude be lishing house. He was also a missionary in Japan. death of the Franciscan, of Benedict XVI, which the the sensitivity of the heart, On May 28, 1941, he was imprisoned in the Auschwitz murdered in Auschwitz in Pope bestowed on the Me- solidarity, dialogue and re- concentration camp. Two months later he offered up his August 1941. morial during his pilgrimage spect for loved ones, but also life in exchange for that of a stranger, Franciszek Gajow- Before Mass, pilgrims reached in 2006. Unlike other papal for those who think differ- niczek, sentenced to death by starvation in reprisal for the the camp from the Franciscan roses, which are usually ently,” urged Dziwisz. escape of a prisoner. He died on August 14, 1941, killed by Center in Harmęże and the gold, this is the only one in Archbishop Ludwig Schick an injection of phenol in the cellars of the so-called Death St. Maximilian Kolbe Church the world that is black. of Bamberg in Germany said: Block. in Oświęcim. The faithful and Mass was presided over by “As Germans we infl icted He was beatifi ed by Pope Paul VI in 1971, and canonized the clergy walked to Block Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz. much injustice and suffer- by the Blessed John Paul II on October 10, 1982. In 1999 he 11, where at the Death Wall In his Homily, he said: “In ing on many people in this was proclaimed by the Pope the patron of blood donors. —the place where the Nazis the intentions of its crea- place. It is a miracle that—as He is also the patron of the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec. executed thousands of pris- tors, the concentration camp Germans—we can be here, to 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MASS GAS KILLING

he fi rst trial of the mass killing of prisoners with the use of Zyklon-B in the Auschwitz camp probably began seventy years Tago, on September 3, 1941, when 850 prisoners were killed. Im- mediately after evening roll call, the Germans locked about 600 So- viet POWs and 250 sick Polish prisoners selected from the camp hos- pital in 28 cells in the cellar of Block 11 (then Block 13). Ten prisoners from the penal company, who had been confi ned to the jail since September 1 following the escape by a prisoner, were also there. Sawicki ł In the volume of the Voices of used previously in the camp matorium furnaces proved Memory series devoted to the for sanitation purposes incapable of burning such

history of the crematoria and (pest control), were poured large numbers of corpses. Photo: Pawe gas chambers in the Ausch- through the cellar windows. Some bodies were stored for Zyclon B canister witz camp, the head of the The windows were cov- several days in the morgue Museum Research Depart- ered with earth. The follow- room, while other corpses administration offi ces, and which was then under con- ment, Dr. Piotr Setkiewicz, ing day, after determining were most probably buried the Oświęcim-Brzeszcze struction, in the spring of wrote that “About 600 So- that some of the POWs and in a mass grave.” road, the killing of people 1942. An additional farm- viet POWs and 250 patients prisoners were still betray- After this experiment, with gas was transferred to a house was adapted for this from the hospital were taken ing signs of life, the SS men the Germans adapted the place that was easier to iso- purpose a few months later, to the cellars of Block 11 on poured in another dose of morgue at the crematorium late. A provisional gas cham- and the construction of four orders from camp director gas and succeeded in rais- in the Auschwitz I camp ber was set up in the house crematoria with gas cham- SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl ing its concentration to le- as the fi rst gas chamber. In that had belonged to an ex- bers began at the Birkenau Fritzsch, after which pellets thal levels. This was the fi rst view of the proximity of the pelled Polish farmer near the camp in 1942. of Zyklon B, a preparation occasion on which the cre- prisoner blocks, the camp Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, Paweł Sawicki

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2300 hours we heard people screaming and dogs barking from the THE FIRST MASS GASSING IN ACCOUNTS direction of the camp gate. We sneaked looks out the window, from BY PRISONERS which we could see part of the camp street leading to Block 13. Before our eyes there soon appeared the outlines of several hundred people Former prisoner Kazimierz Hałgas gave an account in which he recalls the in uniform overcoats, escorted by rows of armed SS men on both sides selection in the camp hospital. “After entering, the SS physicians ordered of the street. Shouts of ‘Put him out of his misery!’ in Russian oriented all the patients to move to the left side of the room, set up a table in the us to the fact that the men under guard were Russian. The commotion center aisle, and sat down there. The patients passed by them single fi le died down inside the gate of Block 13. The SS men left and everything on their way to the other side of the room. The SS physicians evaluated was quiet.” the prisoners by sight without examining anyone, only asking a patient After the completion of the gassing, prisoners from the camp hospital an occasional question such as: Do you have pain in your lungs? Or: Do were ordered to carry the corpses out of the cellar and transport them you have pain in your kidneys? They ordered some of the prisoners, par- to the crematorium. One of them, an orderly from the surgical block ticularly the more worn-down ones, to stand off to the side. I stood next named Jan Wolny, described the event. “The whole group that I was in to them with the box full of the prisoners’ fi le cards, taking out and giving was marched on the run to the yard of Block 13,” says Wolny. “There them the appropriate ones, while an orderly standing beside me noted were several SS men there and one of them explained to us that we down or corrected the numbers that had previously been marked on the would carry the dead up out of the cellar and remove their clothing. patients’ chests with a chemical pencil. The patients were led out into the After undressing the corpses, we were supposed to lay them out in the little yard between the blocks, where patients were brought from the other middle of the yard. I will never forget what I saw on entering the cellar. departments in turn. Many of the patients lay down on the ground out of The dead bodies of prisoners and Soviet POWs lay scattered around, in- exhaustion and others shivered with cold because they were wearing only tertwined in confusion. Their eyes and mouths were wide open. While shirts. It was a woeful sight. Before evening roll call, the block bosses and carrying and undressing the corpses I noticed that many of those who SS men led the patients to the penal company block. In the evening we re- had been gassed had rags blocking their mouths and noses. The next ceived supplies, bread and extras, for the full patient population. I went to day, we were also forced to load the corpses on carts and take them infi rmary Oberkapo Bock and asked where to send the food for the patients. to the crematorium. No prisoners were allowed outside their blocks. He made a gesture as if I were crazy and told me to pass out the food to the Two orderlies took each corpse by the arms and legs and tossed it onto patients there because the others would no longer be eating.” the cart in a single movement. Orderlies on the cart arranged the cold Stanisław Suliborski recalled the moment when a group of Soviet dead bodies in several layers rising high above the sides of the cart. We POWs, who were later killed with gas, arrived in the camp. “At about pushed the loaded cart through the whole camp to the crematorium.”

ALREADY ONE MILLION VISITORS

million people have visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Mu- seum between January and the early days of September 2011. AA record number of 1,400,000 people visited the grounds of the former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Ausch- witz during the whole of 2010. There are many indications that the re- Photo: Daria Kutkiewicz cord will be broken this year. The Auschwitz Memorial has the highest Visitors in Auschwitz I visitor numbers of any Museum in Poland. Visitors are shown the try to reach the visitors in their about the history of the camp youth groups predominate in center. It will be built on a site grounds and buildings of the native languages. Therefore is an exceptionally positive the other months,” said Ka- of more than three hectares former camp by 270 guides we have a rise in the numbers development. “The greatest corzyk. adjacent to the Memorial, pro- who receive special informa- of guides who speak even the numbers of people visit the Just a few years ago, the site of viding the infrastructure and tional and linguistic training. less common languages. At Museum during the vaca- the camp had about half a mil- parking essential to meet the “We ensure professional ser- present we offer a choice of tion months. In August there lion visitors per year, a fi gure needs of the ever increasing vice to each and every person twenty languages.” were almost 200,000. They that has now nearly tripled. numbers of people who come who comes here,” said An- The steady rise in interest were mainly individual visi- For this reason, the Museum is to the Auschwitz Museum drzej Kacorzyk, head of the and increase in the number tors, families, or smaller or- engaged in an intense effort to each year. Visitor Service Section. “We of people who want to learn ganized groups. School and create a modern visitor service Bartosz Bartyzel WORKING TOGETHER FOR DEVELOPMENT

permanent Municipal-Museum Cooperative Group has been set up to coordinate joint development. Besides Mayor Janusz AChwierut of the city of Oświęcim and Auschwitz-Birkenau Mu- seum Director Piotr M. A. Cywiński, it includes specialists on invest- ment, promotion, and tourism. The group arose as a joint initiative of the Mayor and the Museum Director. “Until now, there has some- rector Cywiński gave Mayor lots of subjects that we should times been a lack of even the Chwierut one of the publica- talk about,” he added. “A lot most basic kind of coopera- tions of the Museum People can be done for the sake of tion that is vital to both the of Good Will. It is dedicated to development as long as that city and the Museum,” said people from Oświęcim region development is mutually un- Chwierut, adding that “coop- who during the German occu- derstood and accepted. There

eration between the city and pation helped the prisoners of has been a crying need for this Photo: Tomasz Pielesz the Museum on a partnership the Auschwitz concentration so far, and everyone has lost The fi rst meeting of the permanent Municipal-Museum Cooperative Group basis is not only possible, but camp. The discussions that out.” downright essential.” have begun offer the hope The fi rst meeting of the per- an analysis of tourism at fi rst August meeting of the During a meeting in the that things that were previ- manent working group took the Memorial. Afterwards, group, others will follow on Oświęcim town hall where ously diffi cult or unrealistic place at the Auschwitz Mu- those in attendance dis- a regular basis. the decision about establish- will now be different,” said seum. During the session, cussed the priorities for the ing the group were made, Di- Cywiński. “There really are Director Cywiński presented group’s work. Following this Bartosz Bartyzel

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THIS PLACE BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE WORLD

n September, it will be fi ve years since Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński has became the director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Paweł Sawicki recently interviewed him, not only about how the last fi ve years have passed, but also Iabout the plans for the future. are people who really Not long from now, the care about these chang- tourists who come to vis- es, who truly care about it this Site will see enor- professionalism and the mous changes. effects of their own work. The third level, the one That is true. The purchase that we have put a huge of the old PKS bus termi- amount of effort into and nal is a signifi cant sign of that seems to be bring- the changes. The visitors’ ing positive effects is parking lot has not been communication with the able to accommodate the world. I think the per- number of vehicles; and ception of the Museum the crowding that occurs abroad has also changed at the entrance each sea- to some extent, although son can only be described still much remains to be as nothing good. A new done. For example, there center for visitors will be are more and more good created, that will provide words that I hear from them with the services abroad about our guides. of a guide, our publica-

Sawicki All this does not only tions, and other services. ł positively affect memori- Please take note that this alization, but also the im- investment in the future age that people abroad has been met with un-

Photo: Pawe have of the Museum as derstanding of the local Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum well as of Poland. residents. I believe that we are entering an en- Five years is a long pe- Site offers things, which to the people here with The Auschwitz Muse- tirely new era, where the riod of time to form an you want to receive as whom I work. I have met um is the most visited Museum will be seen—in emotional bond with the well as those that you many very involved and museum in Poland. In a greater measure—as an institution that you di- don’t necessarily care to. sensitive individuals, recent years, attend- enormous opportunity rect, especially such an Auschwitz opens a very who have, in some sense, ance has steadily grown. for Oświęcim. extraordinary one, where wide perspective on hu- invested so much of their What does this mean? emotions play such an mankind. This vastness is lives to such a diffi cult The new Center for Visi- immense role. How do fi lled, from one end to the subject. Auschwitz has become tor Services is not the you feel after fi ve years next, with extraordinary a worldwide symbol. only large investment of this work? heroism, sacrifi ce, surviv- How has the Museum Of course as a symbol project being carried out al, as well as unimagina- changed in the last fi ve of the mass murder of by the Museum. Auschwitz-Birkenau can ble cruelty, heartlessness, years? European Jews, but also be very absorbing—that and inhumanity. With With Auschwitz, as well is true. Previously, there such a broad range of hu- Auschwitz is a very diffi cult place to work as with the history of the have only been three other man behavior, today our Holocaust, we are enter- directors, managing this everyday life often seems at, both because of the understandable emo- ing the twenty-fi rst cen- Museum, which shows to be covering a very nar- tional aspects, but also because this place tury full of hopes and how much you need to row part of this spectrum. belongs to the entire world. challenges. The increase contemplate in terms of Auschwitz mutes many in visitor numbers as well the institution’s long- emotions. But in turn, it This is certainly not for of the entire system of as consolidating Ausch- term evolution, not rapid allows one to view many me to assess. However, concentration camps. witz as a clear symbol is changes that are accom- of the normal, every- I think that, in particu- Moreover, it has become something that will be a plished by taking unnec- day things through the lar, we have managed a focal point in debates great challenge, but we essary shortcuts, or under whole prism of extremes to change the Museum relating to every geno- must also remember that the infl uence of our own of Auschwitz. It is some- on three different levels. cide, each extreme anti- the remnants of the for- fl eeting whims. Ausch- thing that is diffi cult, I First, it has widened the Semitic event, form of mer Camps are deterio- witz is a very diffi cult believe, for everyone who fi eld for dialogue within intolerance, as well as rating. Such a large num- place to work at, both be- works here. the Museum, now many hatred. Today many Eu- ber of visitors also has an cause of the understanda- more decisions are made ropean countries fi nance effect on the state of the ble emotional aspects, but What is satisfying about in the course of discus- the visits of high school original objects. We are of also because this place be- this work for you? sions, conversations, as students to this Memorial the opinion that we can longs to the entire world. well as through dialogue Site, in the hope that by work around these two This is a job that requires Above all, it is the daily on differing views. This experiencing this place, issues—fi nd an alterna- a tremendous amount of feeling that the work, is something that I very it will be easier for young tive that will increase the diplomacy and dialogue, which is being performed, much wanted right from people to refl ect upon this security of the historical and moreover, each move is very profound, in an the beginning. Secondly, personally. Auschwitz objects. But we must also must be well thought bear in mind the passing through in advance. There are many subjects that have potential for genuine develop- of generations. The clear- ment, so to realize these plans we must understand that the city has ly defi ned original site is What does—from your reinforced by the main perspective, in both the the opportunity to develop, not “despite of” but “because of” the exhibit which, after sixty professional and private existence of the Museum and other memorial institutions. years of existence, must spheres of life—the Me- be completely reevalu- morial Site give you and almost tangible sense. many new projects have has become its own lens, ated. At the moment, we what does it take away Sometimes, only this al- been introduced and are prism, through which we are coming to the fi nal from you? lows me to come back being conducted at their look upon the modern stage of its development. day after day to such a acceptable pace. Within world, trying to identify It is diffi cult to say cur- Auschwitz is able to give diffi cult job. I must also most of the Museum, it threats before they be- rently when work will very, very much. And this say, that I owe very much can be seen that there come unmanageable. begin on its installation,

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such meeting has already taken place in August. There are many subjects that have potential for genuine development, so to realize these plans we must understand that the city has the opportunity to develop, not “despite of” but “because of” the existence of the Museum and other memorial insti- tutions.

There is the continuous problem that individu- als who visit the Memo- rial Site, leave immedi- ately…

Oświęcim sees this as a problem and in fact this issue exists. But today, Sawicki

ł it depends only on one factor. The question is whether the education provided by the Museum Photo: Pawe is to last only four hours, Prof. Władysław Bartoszewski signing Remembrance Declaration on January 27, 2011. which includes just a ba- From the left: President of Germany, President of Poland, and Director of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum sic tour, or should it take on many more forms. but it will certainly be of students are no longer in the positive develop- The last fi ve years have Many groups are asking an entirely new quality children, nor the grand- ment of Polish-German been a diffi cult time in for educational projects in the realm of historical children of the individu- relations, and the Center terms of relations be- that last several days, and and memorial museums als who lived during the for Dialogue and Prayer tween the city and Mu- that would more fully il- in the world. The con- Second World War and is also institutionally seum. lustrate the tragedy of struction project to adapt the Shoah. These events rooted in the Diocese of European Jews as well as the Old Theater for edu- happened during the Cracow. These are the It was longer than fi ve the Nazi German policy cational use is coming lives of their great-grand- worldwide realities of years. However, it must of extermination. Unfor- to its fi nal stage. Well, parents. And, of course, Oświęcim, which are of- be remembered that these tunately, we are lacking and above all, expansive this is a history which on ten not valued by public issues were not about the necessary educational conservation works are the emotional level is be- opinion in Oświęcim, in- relationship between the infrastructure for the starting at the former coming more distant. cluding, sometimes, cer- citizens of Oświęcim and implementation of these Auschwitz II-Birkenau You cannot simply open tain local policy-makers. Museum. The residents programs today. This is Concentration Camp. In the doors and wait for Oświęcim ranks much were not the instigators to be created in the Old only a few years time, people to walk in. You larger than any city of of those problems, but a Theatre building. When the brick barracks will must come outside and similar or even slightly certain individual, who this happens, then the be opened and available welcome them inside. larger size in Poland. had and was implement- number of people who in completely different You must go there, where ing a very personal busi- will participate in multi- conditions—after their large groups of people One of the effects of ness plan. I have never day conferences, courses, foundations have been gather. Today, tools such this international view had a negative relation- projects will sharply in- restored, the entire build- as Facebook and Youtube of Auschwitz is the ship with the citizens crease. This will benefi t ing put through the pro- are available. The Mu- monthly magazine Oś. of Oświęcim. One can hoteliers, restaurateurs, cess of conservation, the seum has to be in these In May, the publication simply look at how re- as well as the tour guides protection of the fl oor places, if we are to seri- had its three-year anni- sistant they were against who will carry out the surface, and the exten- ously take into account versary, and in August the negative propaganda longer form guided sion of the content that what we want to com- the fortieth issue was that was being spread tours. A great deal still can be seen there. Tak- municate to individuals. published… about the Museum. Dur- depends on the future of ing all this into account, We have started the fi rst ing the last election, they the Old Theatre. For the we face a series of small e-learning courses as The fact that we have showed what kind of Museum that is only a revolutions. well as created traveling managed to print so leadership they do not practical question about exhibits that have been many issues is due fi rst want in Oświęcim. Still, the form of education—a All of these changes are translated into other lan- and foremost to coopera- it is a shame that this did to, above all, serve the guages. Commemoration tion, mainly with the Jew- not take place fi ve years purpose of education— is not only confi ned to the ish Center, the Center for earlier—so that the Mu- educating people from, Memorial Site. Dialogue and Prayer, and seum and city would not in reality, all around the the International Youth have lost those priceless world, who visit the Mu- Around the Museum Meeting Center. How- fi ve years. seum… In your opinion, there are many institu- ever, it is also due to the what are the new educa- tions connected with the enormous help from the However, it fi nally tional challenges? history and education. fi rm Agora, which prints seems that a change is How do you assess the all the issues at cost. In possible. What is the Today, it is most impor- importance of this diver- addition to the physical current situation in re- tant that young individu- sity of perspectives on copy of the paper, dis- lations between the city als feel more responsible Auschwitz? tributed in Oświęcim, and the Museum? How for the world that they there is an electronic do you see the coopera- inhabit. Only through the What is important here version available on the tion in the future? growth in one’s feelings is that these initiatives Internet—also translated of responsibility are they are only local on the into English, thanks to Mainly, everyone is hop- able to change things in surface—here, the en- the generous help of the ing for a simple normal- the long run. We attempt tire world is taking part. Ministry of Foreign Af- ity to arise. Together with

The Jewish Center has its fairs. It is interesting that Sawicki to base this on the foun- the new city authorities, ł dation of remembrance. deep roots in New York, this informative tool that we have agreed to hold It is not always that sim- the International Youth was specially created for regular meetings and ple, and it is necessary to Meeting Center is an in- Oświęcim, has found so speak about all the sub- be conscious that today’s stitution that was created many readers around the jects that connect the city Photo: Pawe crop of middle school because of the channels world. and Museum. The fi rst

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four-hour or several-day residents. For the peo- this initiative. Thanks to an enormous impact on When it comes to this visit. Both are possible— ple walking through the the work of several indi- local issues. After all, this distance, then let us not but for the city, this is a park, for the residents of viduals, after two years, money is not being spent overexaggerate; working dramatic question which new apartment blocks we already have commit- on the moon! Already, 300 kilometers away from includes developing an near the man made lakes ments and even signed the mayor of Chełmek home is nothing unusual, entire service sector. I am and ponds. If you want agreements for over 80 has decided on the crea- especially with a normal- astonished that the Old this to be a living space, million Euros, so until tion of the conservation- ly functioning railway Theater is not even men- why not integrate it in the end of this year we ist specialization within system. However, to be tioned in the fourth stage such a way that aestheti- should reach the sum of their school, and it will honest, there have been of the Oświęcim Strategic cally, it can be a play- around 100 million Eu- be a part of the technical certain problems in this Government Program, ground for mothers with ros. Several million Eu- lessons. In this area, you area. After fi ve years, I because it would be their young children. I ros have fl owed into the must catch the wind in have become accustomed much more sensible and dream of a people-friend- Fund, and in 2012, the the sails! to the constant travel. cost-effective for the city ly space, which will pri- fi rst million Złoty will be And when it comes to the than many of the other marily and naturally be used for conservations. On the other hand, emotional side of things, projects that are to be im- of use for the residents Ultimately, we think that thanks to these funds as it is actually better that I plemented in the fourth of Oświęcim. While at this fund will be able to well as the many conser- do not take many of the stage. the same time, it fulfi lls raise about 15 million vation works performed issues I deal with at the its greatest role. And in Złoty. No other Memo- at the Museum it is pos- Museum back home with The project to build the the case of the mound? rial Site in the world has sible that it will become me, to my family, to my memorial mound, which It is better to let that rest such a fi nancial tool. I an important place, in private life. was to directly neighbor in peace. It is unfortunate don’t know of any other the development of the the Museum, has slowly that the late Józef Szajna historical monument… different fi elds within Have you ever thought been enveloped in an was exploited in such a However, there are cer- the realm of conserva- about moving here? atmosphere of a scan- fashion—and he was not tain areas that are still in tion around the world. dal. There are those who the only one. need of more fi nancing, There are certain things say that there should be and as in any govern- In general, conservation- that would certainly a different way to com- In recent years at the Mu- ment institution, in cul- ists learn to work with make it easier this way, memorate the victims, seum there is—some- ture—that is how it is. items from antiquity, the but the Museum would perhaps the creation of thing that is completely We are carrying out dis- Middle Ages, as well as actually lose out on this. gardens by the Soła Riv- not uncommon—a battle cussions at various levels, the centuries of old. Our Many of the issues con- er. Is this a project worth for fi nances associated above all, so that there is laboratories are among nected to the Auschwitz considering? with the funding for the more funding, taking the few anywhere in Museum take place in conservation of the Me- into account that the Mu- the world, which work Warsaw, at the minis- The project to create the morial Site, but also the seum does not charge for exclusively on artifacts tries, in the shadow of di- memorial gardens on simple existence of the admission. Today, how- from the fi rst half of the plomacy. I do not believe the opposite side of the institution. How do you ever, the funds that are twentieth century. These that it would have been Soła River is one that I assess the situation at provided only cover half challenges will become possible, for example, truly support. First of all, this moment in time? of the Museum’s acti- interesting to classical to form such a success- it creates a place where vates, which creates diffi - conservation schools ful Auschwitz-Birkenau life fl ourishes, opposite Above all, the greatest fi - culties in the functioning only in the future. For Foundation at such a dis- the former Camp’s area nancial needs have to do of the institution. this reason, many of indi- tance from all the embas- associated with death. with lack of funds for ex- viduals come as trainees, sies. This requires having However, this project, pansive as well as essen- Are the funds that will volunteers, and students many contacts and con- which was once pro- tial conservation works. be obtained through of conservation from var- nections, so I would also posed by the individu- In the troubled budget of the Auschwitz-Birkenau ious countries. Professors have to travel, however, als from Cracow, in my the Ministry of Culture, Foundation to have any working in these fi elds this time it would be in opinion, would require we have not been able effect on local issues? also come here. It is here the other direction. fundamental changes. to fi nd such funds. This that the methods that will Those areas are a natu- is why two years ago we Of course—in fact, most be used in the future are What do you like about ral extension of the city formed the Auschwitz- of this money remains being created today. Oświęcim and how is it park, leading from the Birkenau Foundation. Its in the region, through to live here? edge of Old Town. And purpose is to manage the services, items ordered, In many ways you we must not only con- enormous pool of money, and through contracts. have had to divide My favorite thing is to sider individual visitors, up to 120 million Euros, The Museum’s budget your life into two sepa- take my bicycle for a ride to the Camp, who would and use the gains it is able today, which is