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It was established in Marysin, in the north-eastern part of the city, in an area carved out of the Litzmannstadt ghetto. It operated within existing single-family housing supplemented by additional makeshift barracks. Initially intended for several hundred young prisoners, some two to three thousand children passed through the camp during its operation, of whom around one hundred died or were murdered. Like the entire area of the former ghetto, after the war it returned to its original civilian function. Most of the camp buildings were demolished. Physical traces disappeared, and with them, human memory. In the early 1960s, a housing estate and a major thoroughfare were constructed on the site, destroying many historical remains. The decisions made at that time completely obliterated the layout and appearance of the former camp. One of the few reminders was a monument erected in 1971, which, however, was not located within the actual camp grounds.
Among the few preserved structures associated with the camp, one is of particular importance. It is a small, two-story building at 34 Przemysłowa Street, located right next to the former main gate, which housed the camp administration (Verwaltung). For many years, it was the only address clearly identified with its wartime role. It has drawn both individuals and organized groups visiting this historical space. The memory of the camp and its victims has been cultivated by several local institutions, including the Museum of Independence Traditions, the Marek Edelman Dialogue Center, and the local branch of the Institute of National Remembrance. However, it was only the establishment in 2021 of a new, independent institution—the Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism. German Nazi Camp for Polish Children in Łódź (1942–1945)—that allowed the dynamics of commemoration to change.
After many efforts, the former commandant’s office building was acquired. It was secured for public use with the intention of incorporating it into a newly planned museum complex. Due to its small size and location within dense residential development, it is nor suited to serve as the primary museum facility. The revitalization project aims to preserve this surviving camp structure, restore its original prewar appearance, and assign it a new museum function. In 2025, thanks to a targeted grant from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, it became possible to implement the project of its reconstruction and adaptation. The priority is to carry out conservation and construction work on the commandant’s office building and a small pavilion of the former camp post office located on the same plot. Simultaneously, the project involves the creation of
a permanent exhibition within its interiors. Upon completion, scheduled for late 2027, it will become a new museum and memorial site on the Bałuty Remembrance Trail. In this way, it will join institutions commemorating the victims of the Litzmannstadt ghetto and its Survivors, the Roma victims of the Samudaripen, and the fate of Polish residents of the city during the occupation.
Excavations conducted last spring and summer revealed numerous artifacts related to the camp’s operation and the function of the building itself. The significance of these finds is further evidenced by the fact that they received conservation funding this year under the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage program “Protection of Archaeological Monuments.” The acquired historical documentation, combined with archaeological sources, served as the basis for the exhibition concept. It will present the history and legacy of the camp, with original material traces acting as a key narrative and visual element. This approach addresses the need to highlight the uniqueness of the site itself. The project’s implementation will be an integral part of the museum’s overall development. The exhibition will also become part of a larger permanent display planned for a new pavilion to be constructed in the coming years.
The revitalization of this historic building, alongside the creation of an exhibition and educational space, will enable broader educational activities within the authentic site of the former camp. Following years of dedicated efforts by numerous institutions, foundations, and private individuals to restore the memory of the camp for Polish children, a site will emerge that bears witness to history and, through its educational mission, conveys the historical truth about the difficult legacy of the Second World War.