MEMORIAL SITES IN POLAND AFTER 1945 COMMEMORATION OF HOLOCAUST

– 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

FORGOTTEN CAMPS OF HOLOCAUST Chełmno nad Nerem, Bełżec, Sobibór and Treblinka – liquidated and forgotten death camps – 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

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

Bełżec Sobibór Majdanek

– discussions about commemoration of the forgotten camps of Holocaust and renovation existed memorial museums – 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

– 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 Hebrew inscription only from 2004

Sobibór – memorial from 1965 Lublin – memorial to the victims of Holocaust, 1963 Jewish cemetery in Izbica, memorial from 1962

– antisemitic campigne in Poland and total manipulisation of the historiography about Holocaust in Poland – antisemitic slogans during the ceremonies of the opening of new memorial sites – silent over former death camps Majdanek 1969 – opening ceremony of memorials Sobibór – memorial plaque where central place among the victims had Soviet POWs

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

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

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