2. 1944-1949
• 1944-1945 – liberation
of concentration camps
at Majdanek and in
Auschwitz-Birkenau
• Majdanek and Auschwitz
as two symbols of Polish
martyrdom
• „Polonisation” and
„internationalisation” of
the victims in official
propaganda
• Cooperation of Central
Jewish Committee in
Poland in the policy of
establishment of the
museums
Majdanek 1944 – ruins of the
crematorium
Auschwitz I - 1945
3. 1944-1949
FORGOTTEN CAMPS OF HOLOCAUST
• Chełmno nad Nerem,
Bełżec, Sobibór and
Treblinka – liquidated
and forgotten death
camps
• 1944-1949 – Proces of
devastation of the
territories of former
death camps
• Death camps (except
Treblinka) abandoned
even by Jewish
organisations in
Poland
Territory of Bełżec death camp in
1946
Treblinka in 1945 – desecrated
territory of the camp
4. 1944-1949
OFFICIAL MEMORY
• 1947 – Establishment of the states museums at Majdanek
and Auschwitz-Birkenau
• Auschwitz-Birkenau as main symbol of Polish martyrdom
• Plans to create Majdanek as central museum of Soviet
POWs and in Auschwitz-Birkenau the central exhibition
about Holocaust in Poland
Catholic service at Majdanek
1945 Jewish memorial in
Auschwitz-Birkenau 1948
6. 1956-1968
• 1956 – discussions about
commemoration of the
forgotten camps of
Holocaust and renovation
existed memorial
museums
• 1963-1965 – first
memorials in former death
camps as the answer on
the first German
investigations and trials
• Manipulisation connected
with identity of the victims
Bełżec – first memorial
1963
Chełmno – memorial from 1965 without
mention about Jews
7. 1956-1968
• 1958 – first museal
exhibition in Gross-Rosen
(official museum as
institution was established
in 1983)
• 1962 – establishment of
official museum in Stutthof
• 1964 – Treblinka as the
example of the one official
memorial with the
elements of Jewish
tradition
Gross-Rosen – memorial
from 1953
Treblinka – memorial from 1964. Hebrew
inscription only from 2004
8. 1956-1968
Sobibór – memorial from
1965
Lublin – memorial to the
victims of Holocaust, 1963
Jewish cemetery in Izbica, memorial
from 1962
9. 1968-1981
• 1968 – antisemitic
campigne in Poland and
total manipulisation of
the historiography
about Holocaust in
Poland
• 1968-1969 – antisemitic
slogans during the
ceremonies of the
opening of new
memorial sites
• 1968-1981 – silent over
former death camps
Majdanek 1969 – opening
ceremony of memorials
Sobibór – memorial plaque where
central place among the victims had
Soviet POWs
10. 1981-1989
• First discussions about
Polish-Jewish relations
during Holocaust
• First official and semi-
official
commemorations of the
events connected with
the fate of Polish Jews
during II World War
• Private intiatives
connected with
construction of the
memorials
Lublin Jewish cemetery – memorial
from 1987
Majdanek – first official ceremony
commemorated „Erntefest” execution was
organised in 1983
11. After 1989
Bełżec – new memorial since
2004 as the effect of Polish-
American cooperation
Chełmno – memorial to the
Jews deported from Łódź
Sobibór – Avenue of
Memory
Frampol – memorial on the
Jewish cemetery; effect of the
cooperation of Polish school and
Jewish survivors from Frampol
12. • Sources:
• Archive of Majdanek State Museum
• Archive of Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum
• Ghetto Fighters House
• Private collection of author
