News

Just like in the last episode of the previous year’s Łambinowice Museum Meetings, yesterday, as part of the inauguration of this year's series, we got in touch with Great Britain. This time, however, the special guest of the meeting was Philip Baker, with whom it was possible to meet in the Museum building or on its Facebook .

The meeting From the Thames to the Oder. Philip Baker on the POW trail was opened by Dr. Renata Kobylarz-Buła, deputy director of the Museum. In her speech, she welcomed the participants, recalled the idea behind the "Łambinowice Museum Meetings" and introduced Philip Baker as the person who connects a large group of families of British prisoners-of-war with the CMJW. More about our guest was told by Dr. Anna Wickiewicz, head of the Department of Education and Exhibitions, who focuses her research work on the fate of British POWs, what has resulted, among others, in the publication of Captivity in British Uniforms. Stalag VIII B (344) Lamsdorf.

On the other hand, Philip Baker described his way which ultimately led him to the creation of the virtual museum Prisoners of War. Online Memorial and Museum (https://www.prisonersofwarmuseum.com). It is there, where he has been publishing his numerous materials on British soldiers in captivity during WW2. Philip Baker, also,  reminisced about the beginning of his passion, which he might not have discovered had it not been for his friendship with Charles Saunders (1918-2019), a former prisoner of Stalag 344 Lamsdorf. The story also included accounts of the pilgrimages of former British POWs and their families to Łambinowice organised by Philip, and many other events integrating this community.

The meeting, with consecutive interpreting (the transcript can be viewed HERE), ended up with questions from the audience, followed by a discussion in the hall of Łambinowice Museum which was continued long after the end of the online broadcast on the Museum's Facebook page.