O Ś WIĘ CIM ISSN 1899-4407 PEOPLE CULTURE HISTORY 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE AUSCHWITZ CAMP no. 14 February 2010 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 14, February 2010 EDITORIAL BOARD: Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine EDITORIAL Most of this issue of Oś is dedicated to as they have the strength, they share youth to IYMC for the workshop Hu- the commemoration of the 65th anni- their experiences with us, as well as man rights begin with rights of children versary of the liberation of Auschwitz. young people with whom they share and the young. Inside, you will fi nd reports of the the truth about Auschwitz. In this Oś you will also fi nd an invita- commemorations, as well as the words In addition, this edition of Oś includes tion to view fi lms dealing with Jewish of former prisoners and politicians a report on the inauguration of the topics at the Jewish Center, which are Editor: that were said during the ceremony Forum Pro Publico Bono “Citizens organized together with the Jewish Paweł Sawicki at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau for European Solidarity” at the Inter- Motifs Association. In addition, on the Editorial secretary: camp. On the last page there is a pho- national Youth Meeting Center. We pages of the Center for Dialogue and Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka tomontage that includes portraits of also congratulate the Center for the Prayer we recommend an extraordi- Editorial board: former prisoners, the most important Polish-German Youth Prize “Keep narily interesting and moving history Bartosz Bartyzel Wiktor Boberek guests of the annual commemoration. Remembrance”, which is given by the of a missionary Bartholomäa from Jarek Mensfelt We are incredibly thankful to the wit- Polish-German Youth Cooperation for Münster, who has searched her family Olga Onyszkiewicz nesses of history from over 65 years the workshop project Language of the in Poland for many years. Jadwiga Pinderska-Lech ago that even though it was incredibly perpetrators—language of the victims, Paweł Sawicki Artur Szyndler cold they came to the commemoration. which has been written about in pre- Editor-in-chief Columnist: We thank them for the fact that as long vious issues. We invite Oświęcim’s [email protected] Mirosław Ganobis Design and layout: Agnieszka Matuła, Grafi kon Translations: David R. Kennedy A GALLERY OF THE 20TH CENTURY Proofreading: Beata Kłos Cover: ARCHIVAL PHOTOGRAPHS Paweł Sawicki OF THE LIBERATION COMMEMORATIONS Photographer: Paweł Sawicki PUBLISHER: Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum www.auschwitz.org.pl PARTNERS: Jewish Center Photo: A-BSM Archive Photo: A-BSM Archive www.ajcf.pl 1966 1970 Center for Dialogue and Prayer Foundation www.centrum-dialogu.oswiecim.pl International Youth Meeting Center www.mdsm.pl IN COOPERATION Photo: A-BSM Archive Photo: A-BSM Archive WITH: 1960 1965 Kasztelania www.kasztelania.pl State Higher Vocational School in Oświęcim www.pwsz-oswiecim.pl Editorial address: „Oś – Oświęcim, Ludzie, Historia, Kultura” Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau ul. Więźniów Oświęcimia 20 32-603 Oświęcim e-mail: [email protected] Photo: A-BSM Archive Photo: A-BSM Archive 1963 1971 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oś—Oświęcim, People, History, Culture magazine, no. 14, February 2010 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum be aware that the time when In a speech addressed to the the witnesses will be gone is participants in the observanc- 65TH ANNIVERSARY not far off. What remain are es, Russian Federation Presi- the memories that are written dent Dmitry Medvedev wrote down, taught, and spoken. that “We should clearly realize OF THE LIBERATION These memories are needed so that indifference and apathy, that everything is done that the as well as disregard for the les- crimes that were committed at sons of history, ultimately lead n January 27, 2010, 65 years passed since the liberation of the Nazi Birkenau and Auschwitz, and to tragedy and crime, while OGerman Auschwitz Concentration and Extermination Camp. also in Treblinka, Chełmno trust and mutual assistance on the Ner, Majdanek, Maut- help us to withstand the most Early in the morning, staff Prime Minister of Poland, the moral condition of every hausen, and Buchenwald, will dangerous threats.” The mes- members from the Ausch- the Prime Minister of Israel, one of us. Today, each of us never be repeated,” said Polish sage was read out in his name witz Memorial paid tribute government delegations from has access to knowledge about President Lech Kaczyński. by Andrey Fursenko, the min- to the victims and the Soviet more than 40 countries, the the contemporary spread of Prime Minister Donald Tusk ister of education and science soldiers who died fi ghting for President and members of hatred and racism, disdain stressed the need to discover of the Russian Federation. the city and the camp. They the European Parliament, and anti-Semitism, about gen- even a trace of hope in this At the conclusion of the fi rst placed candles and fl ow- members of the Polish Par- ocidal practices and the sen- place so as not to go away part of the ceremonies, Presi- ers at the Death Wall in the liament, a delegation from tencing of innocent people to feeling that humanity, cul- dent Kaczyński awarded dec- courtyard of block 11 at the the Knesset, members of the death in different parts of the ture, and European civiliza- orations to Auschwitz-Birk- Auschwitz I site, at the monu- diplomatic corps, clergy, lo- world. The question is wheth- tion were complete failures. enau State Museum Director ment to the extermination of cal offi cials, invited guests, er we are doing anything with “It is our duty to continue to Dr. Piotr M.A. Cywiński, the Roma in Auschwitz II- and everyone desirous of this knowledge. Can we take return here to give testimony United States Holocaust Me- Birkenau, at the monument to honoring the memory of the the side of the victims? Or do to our memory of this time of morial Museum Director Sara the victims of the Auschwitz victims of Nazi Germany. we rather stand on the side of the deepest despair and the Bloomfi eld, and Yad Vashem III-Monowitz camp, at the Former Auschwitz prisoners all these who knew, but did utmost lawlessness, to give Institute Director Avner Sha- grave in the Oświęcim cem- August Kowalczyk, who also nothing to help?” he asked. testimony to our emphatic lev. They were decorated for etery that holds the remains acted as master of ceremonies, Marian Turski said that “If revolt against the organized their “eminent services in ed- of Soviet soldiers who died Prof. Władysław Bartoszew- then, in those days, there had hatred that herded millions ucational and museum work liberating the camp, and at the ski, and Marian Turski spoke been more empathy for the of people into gas chambers, commemorating the victims mass grave of approximately fi rst. “The 65th anniversary Jews in the United States, against everything of which of the Nazi German labor 700 prisoners who died in of liberation is now more Great Britain, in occupied Eu- the Auschwitz-Birkenau ex- camps, concentration camps, the fi nal days of the camp. than a mere historical real- rope, in Poland, if there had termination camp has be- and extermination centers, Mass for the intention of the ity. Faithful to memory, we been more empathy among come a symbol,” he said. and for their accomplish- victims and former prison- turn our hearts and minds to those who could decide if Prime Minister Benjamin ments in the development of ers was said at the Oświęcim those who never returned to they bomb the crematoria and Netanyahu of Israel said that the Polish-Jewish dialogue.” church of the Divine Mercy by freedom,” said Kowalczyk. gas chambers, we would not his country would never for- The Director of the Museum local deacon Krzysztof Straub. In his speech, International have avoided the Holocaust get these events or allow them received the Offi cer’s Cross of About 300 people, including Auschwitz Council Chairman but the size of the Holocaust to be forgotten. He felt that the Order of Poland Reborn many former prisoners, at- Władysław Bartoszewski could have been smaller. If we the rebirth of anti-Semitism and the foreign guests were tended. asked how much of the truth want to live in a world with was possible, and should not decorated with the Offi cer’s The anniversary was accom- about the horrible experiences less intense hatred, we must be permitted. He character- Cross of the Order of Merit panied by a conference organ- of totalitarianism we have try to show compassion, un- ized Auschwitz as the great- of the Republic of Poland. ized by the Polish Ministry of managed to convey to the derstanding and empathy.” est tragedy in the history of National Education for min- younger generation. “Plenty, After the former prisoners, it the Jews and the worst case The observances concluded at isters of education from more I believe, but not enough. was time for the politicians to of genocide in the world. He the Monument to the Victims than 30 countries, and by the Knowledge about what is speak. “For me, it is a matter thanked the Polish govern- of the Camp, where the par- opening of the Russian exhi- going on never has, and still of great satisfaction that we ment for its efforts to com- ticipants placed candles com- bition at the Auschwitz I site does not automatically result have more then 30 ministers memorate the tragedy. He memorating the victims of dedicated to the liberation. in a reaction by the world.