The consequences of Nazi ideology were the loss of freedom and fundamental human rights for millions of individuals.
Concentration camps like KL Stutthof symbolised the profound loss experienced during this period.
The right to freedom was completely violated at the camp. Individuals deported to Stutthof were denied the opportunity to exercise freedom, their lives were subjected to harsh regulations, and their very existence was reduced to a desperate fight for survival amidst dehumanising living conditions. The right to the truth was distorted by propaganda and disinformation to cover up the atrocities and crimes committed in the camps. The right to justice was trampled on - people were treated without respect for their dignity, and justice was turned into a system of repression and terror[...]
It is our duty to strive for justice and remind ourselves that evil cannot go unpunished. Evil begins with minor deeds of wickedness, such as looking away, indifference and contempt. The foundations of goodness and justice lie in the small gestures of opposition to injustice and harm. Consequently, it is our obligation to provide testimony in pursuit of justice”.
These were the words spoken by Piotr Tarnowski, the Director of the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo, as he addressed the attendees of the ceremony marking the 85th anniversary of the first transportation of prisoners to the Stutthof camp.
After the speeches, those gathered listened to a musical performance by Mr Tomasz and Ms Ewelina Stroynowski, as well as the 'Camp Song' and “Polish Army Representative Song” performed by the Representative Orchestra of the Polish Navy. This was followed by delegations laying flowers at the Monument to Struggle and Martyrdom.
After the main observances marking the 85th anniversary of the inaugural transfer of prisoners to the Stutthof camp, we extended invitations to attendees for accompanying events.
The first event was the inauguration of the exhibition titled "The Earth Has Spoken...', the aftermath of the museum's recent archaeological endeavours at the former camp premises. Its primary component is the footwear debris we relocated from the Monument to Struggle and Martyrdom. The nearly 0.5 tonnes of archaeological finds excavated from 2015 to 2018 serve as symbols of agony, proof of criminal acts, and testament not only to the extent of the plundering and martyrdom of the victims but also, in numerous instances, to the demise of their owners. The event included speeches by Danuta Drywa, PhD, Head of the Documentation Department at the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo, and Bogusława Tartakowska, the Curator of the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo.
The second event featured the official presentation of a commemorative coin issued by the National Bank of Poland in honour of the "Victims of the Stutthof Concentration Camp". Moreover, we introduced two new exhibitions on the day: “Griffin'. Under the Sign of the White Eagle. Pomerania 1939-1945" and “Love you see you... Love in times of captivity". The former was developed by the Stutthof Museum in Sztutowo and the Society for Educational Projects in Warsaw. The latter is the outcome of the efforts of museum staff from the Central Museum of Prisoners-of-War in Łambinowice.
At this juncture, we wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who participated in commemorating the 85th anniversary of the inaugural transportation of prisoners to the Stutthof camp. We thank you for the joint effort in creating the Coalition of Remembrance.
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