83RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPORTATION OF THE FIRST POLES TO KL AUSCHWITZ. NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
The commemoration of the 83rd anniversary of this event took place under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. By a decision of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, 14 June is observed as the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camps.
The events commemorating the anniversary at the Memorial were attended by 13 Auschwitz survivors, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Prof. Piotr Gliński, Zofia Romaszewska, who represented the President of the Republic of Poland, the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, and representatives of state and local authorities, as well as the diplomatic corps, the clergy, organisers of the commemoration, various institutions and social organisations and all those wishing to honour the memory of the victims of the German Nazis.
Prof. Piotr Gliński began his address with a quote from Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki: “Like all the other newcomers to Auschwitz, I found myself in conditions that contradicted my preconceived notions. Within a few days, I felt dazed and as if I had been transported to another planet. The images I witnessed were more horrific than anything depicted in Dante's Inferno."
'The camp, established to exterminate Polish citizens, was soon incorporated into the German plan for the so-called "final solution to the Jewish question", i.e., the mass murder of European Jews, and became a worldwide symbol of the martyrdom of many nations. The enormity of the suffering, anguish, physical torture and harm inflicted on the human soul in the camp outstrips the ability to verbalise it - said Deputy Prime Minister Gliński.
Auschwitz Museum Director Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński, noted that today it is difficult to imagine the tragedy of that first transport, which left Tarnów not for Auschwitz but into the unknown.
'It could have been labour, another prison, or camps set up before the war on German territory, or it could have been the so-called death by firing squad. They had absolutely no idea. 729 people left, and one man escaped; he ran towards the forest, shots were fired, and to this day, we do not know if he made it. Probably the first victim of Auschwitz, even before arriving at the destination. Upon reaching Cracow, they pondered whether they were heading towards the General Government or Silesia. They learned at the platforms that Paris had just been overrun. Then, everything unfolded. They were transferred here,' said Piotr Cywinski.
'It is difficult to imagine today what those walking through the streets of Tarnów and boarding the train experienced. So far, we have seen only a few photos of the event. The Tarnów collector Marek Tomaszewski has discovered an entire album made by the Germans, which contains dozens of photographs from the first transport. The significance of this discovery is akin to the most renowned albums associated with the history of Auschwitz. Marek Tomaszewski donated digital copies of the photographs to the Archives so that they will be available to the whole world,' emphasised Director
The national anthem was played in front of Block 11. At the Death Wall in the courtyard of Block 11, participants laid wreaths and candles in memory of all the Auschwitz Nazi German concentration and extermination camp victims.
The anniversary commemoration were followed by the ceremonial opening of the new Museum Visitor Service Centre, which was built near the Auschwitz I site.
'Today, as we present the state-of-the-art new Visitor Services Center to all those wishing to pay tribute to the camp's victims, we feel a sense of duty well-accomplished. Thanks to funds from the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum's resources and the direct financial support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, it has been possible to incorporate the historic Schlachthaus and Molkerei buildings into the infrastructure supporting visitor services - bringing them 'back to life', so to speak,' said Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Piotr Gliński in his speech.
'These buildings, which served the smooth operation of the German terror and extermination machine, have a terrible past. However, they will now serve a new purpose. They will provide logistical facilities for millions of visitors and enable the expansion of the content message,' Prof. Gliński stated.
14 June 1940 is considered the beginning of the functioning of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. On that day, the Germans deported a group of 728 Poles from the Tarnów prison to Auschwitz. The group included soldiers who had fought against the German invasion in September 1939, members of underground independence organisations, secondary school and university students, and a small number of Polish Jews. They were given numbers from 31 to 758.
Paweł Sawicki