Since the liberation of Auschwitz, Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum commemorates the victims of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Subsequent anniversaries set the timeline that separates us from the tragic events that had occurred in the five-year history of the camp and its satellite camps. In 2014, the 70th anniversary of the deportation of Jews to Auschwitz from Hungary, the 70th anniversary of the deportation to Auschwitz of Poles who were arrested during the Warsaw Uprising, the 70th anniversary of the Auschwitz extermination of the Jews from the Lodz ghetto liquidation, the 70th anniversary of the liquidation of Zigeunerlager in Birkenau and the 70th anniversary of the revolt of prisoners in the Sonderkommando at Auschwitz. During the celebration of the liberation of Auschwitz, in his speech, the director of the Auschwitz Memorial Museum Dr. Piotr MA Cywiński stressed that this year’s celebrations are beginning of preparations for next year’s round, the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of the camp, and falling in 2014 anniversaries of the events of 1944 put us in a big anniversary year.
Foundation of Memory Sites Near Auschwitz-Birkenau actively participates in the celebrations associated with the commemoration of the events of 1944. One of them is the deportation of Hungarian Jews in the so-called final solution of the Jewish question (Endloesung). After the invasion in March 1944 on the the Hungarian soil German troops taken steps to prepare for the deportation of Hungarian Jews. Organisation for shipments addressed the Hungarian authorities and the whole operation was directed by Obersturmbannfuehrer SS Adolf Eichmann. Hungarian Jews were the largest group of Jews deported to Auschwitz. In the period from May to July 1944, there were more than 430 thousand people brought to camp.
As part of these activities, our Foundation together with friends, people of good will and it’s founder, saves more artifacts related to the functioning of the complex of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Among them are the objects of everyday use, the sad testimony of Holocaust of Jews deported from Hungary. These inconspicuous objects are both silent witnesses of the tragedy, as well as priceless souvenirs that the Foundation has decided to protect.
Another object rescued from destruction is a historic railway wagon. It was built in Győr, Hungary Magyar Waggon factory-és Gépgyár Részvénytársaság in 1921, it is a special object, and its uniqueness lies in the fact that this type of wagons were used during the period from May to July 1944 to transport to Auschwitz Jews from Hungary. Previous studies do not allow to state clearly that the present wagon was used during transports of Hungarian Jews, but not exclusive, suggest, however, that after the end of World War II has been incorporated into Polish railway directorate and to 1958. wagon was then economic trade, then as out of order went to storage. This information confirms the originality of preserved wooden wagon design elements which, in the light of these findings come from the period of the occupation.
The Foundation raises more artifacts related to the activities of the Auschwitz-Birkenau and its sub-camps. The condition of these facilities in most need of immediate conservation interventions. Therefore, we turn to institutions and individuals, which the idea of the Foundation is close for any assistance that will allow to protect objects and enable their future exposure.
