On Friday, June 13th, 2025, a conference dedicated to the post-camp syndrome (KZ Syndrome) was held at the headquarters of the The Remembrance Museum of the Land of Oświęcim Residents. The event was organized on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the arrival of the first transport of Polish political prisoners to the just established Auschwitz concentration camp. The meeting addressed one of the most difficult and, at the same time, most important aspects of 20th-century history – the long-term psychological effects of imprisonment in concentration and extermination camps.
Premature aging, weight loss, depression, chronic anxiety, insomnia, recurring dreams and memories of a traumatic past, social withdrawal, emotions limited to sadness and anxiety – these are just some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to which, in the 1980s, KZ Syndrome was classified. This condition affected—and continues to affect—many former prisoners of German concentration camps, as well as their families, with trauma often transmitted intergenerationally.
The conference program included four presentations that explored the topic of KZ Syndrome from various perspectives: medical, artistic-therapeutic, personal, and historical.
The introductory lecture, titled “What is KZ Syndrome?”, was delivered by Professor Krzysztof Rutkowski, Md, DSc from the Department of Psychotherapy at the Jagiellonian University Medical College. Professor Rutkowski presented the historical background of research on war trauma and explained the key aspects of post-traumatic stress disorder. He highlighted the diagnostic challenges faced by doctors and therapists over the years and emphasized the need to further deepen our understanding of the long-term effects of trauma.
Next, Father Piotr Cuber, PhD OFMConv (?) took the floor and presented the figure of Marian Kołodziej – former Auschwitz prisoner from the first transport and an artist and stage designer. After decades of silence, Kołodziej expressed his camp experiences through poignant graphic works, which now comprise the exhibition “Klisze pamięci. Labirynty” at the St. Maximilian Center in Harmęże. As the speaker emphasized, this works served as a form of personal therapy for Kołodziej, and for viewers, it remains a deeply moving testimony to the suffering endured in the camp.
The third speaker was Barbara Wojnarowska-Gautier, who was deported to Auschwitz as a three and a half year old during the Warsaw Uprising. Her personal recollections—shared with great sensitivity—revealed how profoundly camp trauma imprints itself on the minds of the youngest victims and and the impact it has on their entire lives.
The final presentation was delivered by Piotr Hertig, a staff member of the museum, who shed light on the story of Ludwik Paprzyca—a resident of Oświęcim, prisoner of KL Auschwitz, victim of pseudomedical experiments and a post-camp syndrome. His story illustrates how complex and long-lasting the effects of camp experiences were for many members of the local community.
The conference was not only an opportunity for in-depth reflection on one of the most difficult topics related to the history of German concentration camps, but also a form of tribute to those who endured the hell of Auschwitz and other extermination sites. The touching presentations, diverse perspectives, and personal testimonies made the event memorable experience for all participants.
