MEMORIAL SITES IN POLAND AFTER 1945

1. MEMORIAL SITES IN POLAND AFTER 1945 COMMEMORATION OF HOLOCAUST

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 Catholic service at Majdanek 1945 • 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 Jewish memorial in Auschwitz-Birkenau 1948

5. 1949-1956 Bełżec Sobibór Majdanek

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 Lublin – memorial to the victims of Holocaust, 1963 Sobibór – memorial from 1965 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 Chełmno – memorial to the Jews deported from Łódź Bełżec – new memorial since 2004 as the effect of Polish-American cooperation Frampol – memorial on the Jewish cemetery; effect of the cooperation of Polish school and Jewish survivors from Frampol Sobibór – Avenue of Memory

12. Sources: • Archive of Majdanek State Museum • Archive of Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum • Ghetto Fighters House • Private collection of author