The Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim Residents invites to another historical walk. This time it will be dedicated to the clergy who helped prisoners of the German concentration camp Auschwitz. It will begin on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10:00. Participation is free of charge.
The first outdoor event in the “Meeting with History” series, dedicated to the Barak Settlement and its residents, aroused great interest among the local community. Moreover, we expect that the topic of the second walk will also attract a wide circle of history enthusiasts.
A historical walk organized by the Remembrance Museum
Among the priests particularly involved in helping prisoners Władysław Grohs de Rosenburg has to be mentioned- the priest from the Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Oświęcim who actively took part in underground activities of the ZWZ/AK (Union of Armed Struggle/Home Army). It was him who in December 1940, together with another priest, Adam Schmidt, went to the commandant of KL Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, with a letter from the Archbishop of Kraków, Adam Stefan Sapieha. In the letter, the Archbishop requested permission to celebrate Holy Mass for the prisoners at Christmas. The commandant refused, but allowed the preparation of about 6,000 one-kilogram food parcels. Father Grohs immediately engaged, together with other clergymen, in organizing this aid.
Clergy helping prisoners of Auschwitz
He was taken into German custody first in 1942, then in 1944. Ultimately he was imprisoned in Auschwitz. In January 1945, he survived the “death march.” Later, in May 1945, he was liberated in Mauthausen concentration camp.
Another person particularly distinguished in helping prisoners was Fr. Canon Jan Skarbek, long-time parish priest of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, and honorary president of the Committee for Carrying Aid to the Political Prisoners of the Auschwitz Camp. There were also many Salesian priests, altar boys, as well as Seraphite Sisters engaged in those efforts. After the camp’s liberation, the Seraphic Sisters, together with the Polish Red Cross, helped to take care of former prisoners who, due to their health condition, had not been forced by the Germans into the “death marches.”
Walk program
10:00 – Meeting point: in front of the main entrance to the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Oświęcim
10:20–10:30 – Walk to the Salesian Sanctuary of Our Lady of Succor to the Faithful
11:00 a.m. – Visit to the Blessed Mother Małgorzata Łucja Szewczyk Museum at the Seraphic Sisters’ convent in Oświęcim
Registration for free participation in the walk is accepted by phone at: +48 33 447 40 84. The number of places is limited.
The Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim Residents 2A Maksymiliana Kolbego Street 32-600 Oświęcim www.muzeumpamieci.pl
