EXHIBITION OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE EISS ARCHIVE
IN BERN
Paweł Sawicki, Memoria editor-in-chief
The exhibition presenting the Eiss Archive was opened at the residence of the ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Bern. The unique collection of documents was acquired in August by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum thanks to the considerable involvement of the Polish diplomacy and support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Ambassador Jakub Kumoch in his welcome speech addressed to the numerous guests stressed the cooperation of diplomats, museum workers, archivists, conservators and exhibitors from various institutions, which led to the acquisition of the valuable archival sets, documenting the huge effort of Polish diplomats and activists of Jewish organisations during the war to save as many Jews as possible from the Holocaust. The network created by Polish diplomats issued many passports of some South American countries. With these documents, at least several hundred people were saved from death.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Culture and National Heritage Prof. Piotr Gliński mentioned the leading figures who founded during the war the so-called Bern Group - i.e. the then ambassador of the Republic of Poland Aleksander Ładoś, consul Konstanty Rokicki and Jewish activists Chaim Eiss and Abraham Silberschein.
The exhibition of the Eiss Archive in Bern. All photos in this article: Jacek Kastelaniec