17
The topic of sports and athletes within the German Nazi concentration and extermination camps has, from its inception, garnered substantial attention from visitors, media, and cultural organisations. The exhibition inspired press publications and documentaries. In response to the considerable public interest in this aspect of the camp's history, the Museum produced a travelling exhibition in Polish and English for broader dissemination, details of which can be found at website.
A collaborative partnership with Kazerne Dossin was initiated following a visit to the Auschwitz Memorial by its CEO, Mr Tomas Baum, in November 2021, during which he was profoundly impressed by the exhibition. The director recognised the relevance of the topics, particularly in light of his institution's commitment to combating racism and anti-Semitism in sports. This inspiration led to the idea of adapting the exhibition for the Belgian audience.
As part of this cooperation, Dutch and French versions of the exhibition were created and customised for the exhibition space at Kazerne Dossin. The original script by curator Renata Koszyk was condensed to ensure an optimal narrative flow and an effective arrangement of visual materials in the exhibition area. Additionally, the exhibition was enhanced with stories of Jewish athletes who were deported from occupied Belgium to KL Auschwitz, including Salomon (Sama) Meljado, Simon Borisewitz, and Sally Wijnschenck.
A new feature of the exhibition is a replica of a camp chess set, which consists of 35 cardboard pieces adorned with hand-drawn chess figures. This set was discovered in March 2024 in block 8 of the former Auschwitz I camp while preparing for the New Main Exhibition.
The ceremonial opening of the exhibition in March 2025 was attended by the granddaughter of Salomon 'Sama' Meljado, a Belgian footballer who perished in Auschwitz, as well as Katarzyna Czortek, the granddaughter of Antoni Czortek, a multiple Polish boxing champion and national representative, among others, at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The medal her grandfather won during a boxing match between Poland and Germany in 1938 is now on display at the exhibition, thanks to Katarzyna.
Renata Koszyk, the exhibition curator, was also present at the event. - The opportunity to showcase this exhibition in Belgium is a tremendous honour. The recognition from Kazerne Dossin means a lot to me. I receive numerous messages, including heartfelt notes from the athletes' families. These interactions not only expand my understanding but also assist me in preparing the publication I'm currently working on. Throughout this journey, I've felt immense support from ABSM, and I'm deeply grateful for that - she highlighted.
The exhibition reveals the complex nature of sport in Auschwitz, illustrating it as both a means of oppression and a form of mental and physical resilience, a space for preserving dignity and humanity. On the one hand, prisoners were brutally forced into hours of gruelling exercise. On the other hand, they found ways to be physically active, organising informal football matches or boxing bouts that provided a moment of respite and a semblance of normalcy.
Aleksandra Mausolf was responsible for the exhibition's graphic design. Though sport is often associated with vibrant and cheerful graphics, this exhibition uses lines as its central motif—symbolising movement and enslavement. The colour palette is rooted in dark blue and grey tones, echoing the look of prison uniforms, while each thematic segment draws inspiration from the Olympic colours. Graphic techniques such as text deletions and distortions have been intentionally employed to create a sense of unease and dissonance for viewers, underscoring the harsh reality of sports that unfold against a backdrop of suffering, humiliation, and the ever-present spectre of death—culminating in the exhibition's final chapter, aptly titled - in the shadow of extermination.
The exhibition at Kazerne Dossin will be open until December 10, 2025. This is a unique opportunity to explore the lives of camp prisoners from a different perspective—one that highlights their struggle for survival, the bonds of community, and the flicker of hope that persisted even in an environment that seemed utterly devoid of it.