PERMANENT EXHIBITION

THE REMEMBRANCE MUSEUM OF LAND OF OŚWIĘCIM RESIDENTS

Ul. MAKSYMILIANA KOLBEGO 2A

32-600 OŚWIĘCIM

phone: +48 33 447 40 84

e-mail: biuro@muzeumpamieci.pl

www.muzeumpamieci.pl

The exhibition entitled “Images of Memory – the Fate of the Inhabitants of the Land of Oświęcim” is intended not only to convey historical content, but also to encourage the visitor to reflect more deeply on our humanity, the right choices, and the value of helping our fellow man.

OPENING HOURS:

www.muzeumpamieci.pl

TICKET BOOKING:

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The Remembrance Museum of Land of Oświęcim Residents is a place where memory, both in its individual and collective dimensions, plays the leading role. The aim of the exhibition is to restore and keep the memory of the people who created the history of the Land of Oświęcim alive. The exhibition connects the past with the present, building a specific bond, an intergenerational community, and thus its identity.

The main concept of the museum exhibition is to focus on the fate of man within the context of important historical events, and to briefly present the history of the Oświęcim area. The central part of the exhibition concerns the period of the Second World War and presents the heroic actions of the inhabitants of this area, who risked their own lives and often those of their loved ones to render aid to KL Auschwitz prisoners.

The multimedia exhibition focuses on witnesses’ accounts. The memories of the inhabitants are extremely evocative, and the memory of daily life under the occupation is still alive despite the passage of many years. As they recount their stories, they relive the history in which they particip- ated, often moved by images from the past. The films are enriched with a historical narration, photographs and archival documents. The entire narrative is complemented by artefacts placed in modern showcases.

The exhibition is located on three levels of the building.

Zone I is located on the ground floor. In the main hall, the visitor is greeted by a unique sculpture by the world-famous artist Igor Mitoraj, who comes from nearby Grojec – the only sculpture of its kind in the area. Entitled “Asklepios”, the patron saint of doctors in Greek mythology, its symbolism fits in with the dominant idea of the exhibition and of doctors and pharmacists from the Oświęcim area who helped KL Auschwitz prisoners. In the adjacent space, on one of the first spherical screens in Poland, a film shows the beauty of the Oświęcim area. On the adjacent wall, there is a touch screen presenting the history of this region, its monuments and important historical figures.

In the same space there is a sculpture by Jan Staszak entitled “Family from Auschwitz”. The artist, who lives in the village of Harmęże, created his works from trees growing near the former KL Auschwitz II – Birkenau camp. In this way, he evoked the memory of the people who perished in KL Auschwitz. Remembrance is the key concept describing the permanent exhibition.

Walking up the staircase to the first floor, the visitor is accompanied by a projection of photographs of past and present residents of the Oświęcim area, those who were or are involved in helping others. The composition is an expression of the local community’s participation in creating the exhibition and museum.

Zone II, which comprises two parts, is located on the first floor. Visitor enter the smaller room through a steam screen, which, like a curtain, reveals images from the inter-war period. Thanks to period-inspired Kaiser panora-mas, visitors learn about the everyday life of the area’s inhabitants and towns. A film projected in this space shows the architectural and urban changes in Oświęcim and its surroundings. The historical message is enriched by exhibits relating to the various spheres of life and activities of local inhabitants.

The larger space of this zone contains the main part of the exhibition on the Second World War. The multimedia exhibition takes the form of a labyrinth, with walls separa-ting subsequent rooms. The visitor can “experience” the horror of the life of those who lived in the vicinity of the concentration and extermination camp as they listen and watch witness accounts. The labyrinthine space draws vistors’ attention to the various aspects of aid rendered to KL Auschwitz prisoners by the inhabitants of the Oświęcim area – help given in both spontaneous and organised ways, confronting the cruelty taking place in the camp. Exceptional aid was given regardless of the prisoners’ nationality; all that mattered were the people and their survival. Despite the hardships of everyday life and the prevailing poverty, locals risked their lives and the lives of their families to render aid to the prisoners.

Food, correspondence, hiding prisoners or assisting in escapes were not the only forms of aid. The provision and supply of medicine to prisoners was equally important. Local doctors and pharmacists were actively involved in this type of aid. Maria Bobrzecka, pseudonym “Marta”, known as the “Guardian Angel” from the pharmacy in Brzeszcze, was one of them.

Stone plaques engraved with the names of those who rendered aid to KL Auschwitz prisoners line the labyrinth walls. Today, after many years, it is difficult to unequivocally name all of those who were involved in this extraordinary work.The narrative of this exhibition space is supplemented by artefacts presenting the life of local inhabitants under the yoke of German occupation.

Zone III, consisting of two sections, is located in the attic. The first is a continuation of the narrative of the first-floor exhibition. Here accounts of locals tell of help provided by partisan units of the Peasant Battalions, the Polish Socialist Party, and the Union for Armed Struggle-Home Army, especially the Home Army partisan unit “Sosienki”.

The arrangement in the form of an attic in this part of the exhibition reminds the visitor of the shelter given by Polish families to escapees from KL Auschwitz. These escapes would not have been possible without the help of local people. Prisoners often expressed their gratitude with drawings, cards with words of thanks, or small hand-made gifts. The portrait of Wanda Żak née Jurczyk in the display case is an example of such appreciation.

In the final space of the exhibition, the narrative focuses on the first days and weeks after the liberation of Auschwitz in January 1945. “Liberation”, however, contrary to expecta-tions, did not bring complete freedom. Those who experienced the threat of the German occupier during WWII, now became the target of repressions by the communist authorities for their patriotic attitude.

For example, Piotr Szewczyk, a “Silent Unseen” from Babice, was arrested and sentenced to death by the communist authorities. Ultimately, the sentence was commuted to 15 years in prison. Major Szewczyk’s personal souvenirs can be viewed by visitors.

The nature of the stories presented in the museum is to make us think about the value of the things we surround ourselves with and the relativity of needs. Before entering the exhibition, visitors can indicate his or her values using an application (screen in Zone II). After walking through the exhibition, they will be able to confront their previous choices, also using the application (screen in Zone III). The aim of the application is to have an educational impact on visitors’ mindsets and to survey the implementation of the exhibition’s objectives.

A continuation of the permanent exhibition is the “Super-hero Trail” located outside the building, a unique place which takes younger visitors back in time. The trail consists of seven zones, each of which is dedicated to the “brave little ones” who helped KL Auschwitz prisoners during

World War II despite their age. Visitors can meet these exceptional heroes in witness accounts in the permanent exhibition. An educational path designed for children conveys the story of young helpers and their difficult wartime everyday life in a simple and suggestive way.

Discovering this difficult history through outdoor activities is an excellent idea, intended to make people aware that helping people must entail concrete action, often involving challenge or effort. An important aspect of the “Superhero Trail” is learning to cooperate and help one another, regardless of the times and circumstances in which we find ourselves.