EXHIBITION ON THE HISTORY OF THE AUSCHWITZ CAMP OPENED IN GUERNICA, SPAIN
Paweł Sawicki
The exhibition "German Nazi Death Camp Konzentrationslager Auschwitz" opened on October 1 in Guernica, Spain, in the historical interior of the anti-aircraft shelter. The exhibition, prepared by the Museum and translated into Spanish, presents all the major issues of the history of Auschwitz, as well as the origins of the Nazi movement and the specific elements of the German terror system introduced in occupied Poland. The project in Spain is implemented in cooperation with Asociación Pro Tradición y Cultura Europea.
The official opening of the exhibition was attended by the Mayor of Guernica, Jose Maria Gorroño Etxebarrieta, the Polish Ambassador to Spain, Marzena Adamczyk, the President of APTCE Enrique de Villamor y Soraluce, and the Director of the Auschwitz Museum, Piotr M. A. Cywiński PhD, as well as representatives of the local authorities of Guernica and Oświęcim, among others.
- We welcome this exhibition with great gratitude because it is an expression of a mutual commemoration of Nazi crimes. It is also an expression of the respect Guernica wishes to express to the victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp who died in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Furthermore, the project is an important opposition to any intentions to renew and return to such practices in present-day Europe. The voices of hatred cannot return to today's reality," said the Mayor of Guernica, Jose Maria Gorroño Etxebarrieta.
The President of ACTPE, Enrique de Villamor, said that the entire educational project is intended primarily for young people, especially those who cannot visit the Auschwitz Memorial: - We very much hope that this exhibition will not only help visitors to learn about the history of Auschwitz but also to reflect on it. I hope that this reflection will be further extended. Acts of terror, hatred or barbarity, such as the bombing of Guernica or the establishment of the Auschwitz camp, must not recur.
- In today's unpredictable world and where problems such as racism (various forms), anti-Semitism, and populism are on the increase, our inability to react in times of evil is extremely disturbing," said Auschwitz Museum Director Piotr M. A. Cywiński, PhD.
- I hope that this exhibition will not only be an exhibition for young people, because this often repeated wish for young people to draw conclusions from the history of Auschwitz is also a psychological attempt to shift the responsibility from our adult, mature group of society that currently decides about the future of this world," Director Cywiński added.
Photos: Paweł Sawicki, Bartosz Bartyzel