Memoria [EN] No 49 (10/2021) | Page 31

The expanded museum also houses a library with a collection of more than eight thousand books donated by Kurt Wick, an 82-year-old former refugee who arrived in Shanghai in 1939 with his family, aged just one year.

Another unique place in the museum is the Memorial Wall, which contains some 19,000 names of people identified as Jewish refugees of Shanghai. At this point, it is important to highlight the tremendous effort of those involved in compiling this impressive list. These are just a few of the many examples that illustrate the interesting history of the Hongkou district and its residents. The museum is undertaking numerous activities to expand its current collection, so there is a good chance that visitors will discover something new with each subsequent visit.

In the past, the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum presented Polish exhibitions, including. "The German Nazi Death Camp. Konzentrationslager Auschwitz" (2012) and "Samaritans from Markowa" (2016). Discussions are currently ongoing on further joint projects. It should also be noted that in the 1940s, a group of about one thousand refugees of Polish nationality stayed in Shanghai. Therefore, it is likely that there will be new exhibits and exhibitions related to the history of both Jewish and Polish refugees in the near future.

I wish to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to Mr Chen Jian, Curator of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, for his cooperation to date and for providing material and photographs for this study. I trust that the above article will encourage readers and history enthusiasts to undertake further exciting explorations.