Kevin Nice

June 14, 1940, is recognized as the date marking the beginning of the operation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. On that day, the Germans deported a group of 728 Poles from the prison in Tarnów to Auschwitz. Among them were soldiers of the September Campaign, members of underground independence organizations, high school and university students, as well as a small group of Polish Jews. They were assigned camp numbers from 31 to 758. The commemoration of the 85th anniversary at the Memorial were attended by 10 Survivors of Auschwitz, as well as representatives of the President of Poland, state and local authorities, the diplomatic corps, churches and religious communities, the Roma community, state institutions, associations and foundations, delegations of the event organizers, numerous institutions and social organizations, and all those who wished to honor the memory of the victims of the German Nazis. Dr. Piotr Cywiński, Director of the Auschwitz Museum, emphasized the importance of the Survivors in shaping the memory of Auschwitz: “85 years after the deportation of the first Polish prisoners to the newly created Auschwitz camp, we must also remember the Polish Survivors who began creating this Memorial Site immediately after liberation. In today’s turbulent times, we understand even better the role our memory plays, and we must recognize that it is thanks to them that we have this space, which helps us assess our own actions.” In front of Block 11, the national anthem was played, and at the Death Wall in the courtyard of Block 11, wreaths and candles were laid in memory of all victims of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz. Read more: auschwitz.org/en/museum/news…