KL Plaszow Museum - A Site After, a Site Without – official opening of the outdoor exhibition at KL Plaszow Museum

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Date: 15.03.2024 r. Place: Nazi Victim Memorial

Description: On 15 March at 11 a.m., a ceremony was held to mark the opening of the KL Plaszow Museum – outdoor exhibition “KL Plaszow. A Site After, a Site Without”. The exhibition forms the most important medium intended to communicate the history of KL Plaszow, and is accessible to everyone who comes to visit the memorial site.

It is arranged as part of a series of projects completed in the post-camp area and aimed at exposing and describing the preserved traces of the past of this site: the Jewish cemeteries, roads and paths, relics of camp development. The KL Plaszow Museum adopted the principle of preserving the former camp area in its unchanged and authentic condition as far as practicable.

“The opening of this exhibition and of the arranged post-camp area is a special, historic moment. A great deal of joint effort has been put in showing that this place is really important for the city, its population and for all those who want the memory of the camp to be kept alive and its area to be carefully managed. KL Plaszow is an integral part of the history of Kraków and its citizens, but also of world history. It is a part of the history of the war that took a heavy death toll, also in Kraków, precisely in this place. We take care of this site by creating its protection mechanisms implemented by the museum, to show our respect for the victims. May this area – a testimony and a memorial site for all its visitors – also serve as a warning and an appeal for peace”, said Jacek Majchrowski, mayor of Kraków.

In addition to the mayor of Kraków, the opening ceremony was attended by Yacov Livne − Ambassador of the State of Israel; Helena Jakubowicz − president of the Jewish Religious Community in Kraków; Lili Haber − chair of the Israeli Association of Cracovians and member of the KL Plaszow Museum Council; and Monika Bednarek − director of the KL Plaszow Museum.

The speakers emphasized the importance of appropriate commemoration of the former camp, indicating the projects completed as evidence of attention devoted by our contemporaries to the memory of the victims. Monika Bednarek, director of the KL Plaszow Museum, thanked all those who engaged in the commemoration process, and invited the audience to see the exhibition and take part in the events proposed by the institution.

“This site should be treated with respect and receive systemic, institutional care. For tragedy happened here, this earth covers human remains, here rest the victims of crime. Therefore, knowledge must be spread and actions taken to keep the memory of KL Plaszow alive and significant. This exhibition marks a milestone in our staged project, and we are now working on its further phases: renovating the Grey House, preparing the construction of the Memorial, composing the audio monument. In the exhibition displayed in the arranged post-camp area we provide visitors with historical information and show them accounts given by the witnesses and survivors. Let me invite you to take joint care of this place that is so important to the history of our city and its community”, said Monika Bednarek, director of the KL Plaszow Museum.

During the opening ceremony, accounts given by former camp prisoners, and contemporary poems were recited by students from the Stanisław Wyspiański AST National Academy of Theatre Arts in Kraków.

The participants in the event were taken on a guided tour of the memorial site after the ceremonial part.