News

As every year in Łambinowice, last Sunday, the 25th of January, was dedicated to celebrating subsequent anniversary of the event known as “The Tragedy in Upper Silesia”. The reason for organizing the regional anniversary celebration just here is the fact that in the years 1945–1946 there was established in this place the Labour Camp of Łambinowice, which was one of the most restrictive camps designed for German and Silesian civil population who were waiting for the results of the procedure of verification of their nationality and eventual displacement.

The event organized by the Union of German Socio-Cultural Associations in Poland (VDG) was begun with Holy Service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Łambinowice. Then, the participants headed for the Cemetery of Victims of the Labour Camp, where flowers were laid and candles lit as a gesture of due remembrance. That part of the celebration was led by Mr Rafał Bartek – President of the VDG in Poland as well as President of Opole Voivodeship Parliament. He welcomed the guests, among whom were Member of European Parliament Mr. Łukasz Kohut, Vice-Marshal of Opole Province Ms. Zuzanna Donath-Kasiura, Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Opole Mr. Peter Herr, Counsellor to the Marshal of the Sejm Mr. Ryszard Galla and representatives of the Commune of Łambinowice and our Museum. Following the speeches accentuating the need for global concern for peace, endeavours to have the victims duly commemorated in the whole of Silesia, as well as the history of the Labour Camp based in Łambinowice, the Rev. Andrzej Anderwald offered a prayer for the victims.

The last point on the programme was a reflective concert of Baroque music held in our Museum, during which students and graduates of the State Musical School in Opole performed pieces by Stanisław Sylwester Szarzyński, Johann Sebastian Bach and Dietrich Buxtehude The concert was conducted by Hubert Prochota.

The ceremony was ended by Ms. Joanna Hassa, Director of VDG Office and Director of the Museum, Dr Violetta Rezler-Wasielewska and her Deputy Dr Renata Kobylarz-Buła, who – recalling the history of commemorating the postwar camp – presented the idea of a scattered display, which has already been implemented by the Central Museum of Prisoners of War. Its element is to be one of the exhibitions in the  grounds of the former camp. Since we want the exhibition to be of a participative character, the Directors encouraged the guests to take part in the works on its conception.