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The third edition of the biennial conference Sites of former German prisoners-of-war camps in Poland. Forgotten or Discovered? took a different course than the previous ones – the participants discussed the issue only virtually, via the Museum's Facebook page.

The meeting was moderated by Dr. Piotr Stanek (head of the Museum's Research Department), who introduced subsequent speakers. Dr. Violetta Rezler-Wasielewska took the floor first. After welcoming the participants, the Museum Director recounted the most important changes which have taken place at the Site of National Remembrance in Łambinowice: the results of restoration works carried out last year on the site of Stalag 318/VIII F (344) Lamsdorf.

Then, Kinga Hartmann-Wóycicka (president of the European Centre Remembrance, Education, Culture in Zgorzelec), Dorota Raczkowska (director of Malbork Town Museum), Sc.D. Mariusz Winiecki (president of the Polish-American Foundation for the Commemoration of Prisoner-of-War Camps in Szubin), Dariusz Czerniawski (manager of the Cultural and Educational Building at the Bohaterów Oflagu IID School in Szubin), Paweł Słomian (founder of the Virtual Museum of Prisoner-of-War Camps in Czarne), Zbigniew Wysocki (a Zagłębie community activist and history enthusiast), Dr. Andrzej Rybak (a historian, lecturer at the Higher School of International Relations and Social Communication in Chełm) and Igor Niewiadomski (a doctoral student at the University of Warsaw), spoke about the current state of knowledge and commemoration at sites of German POW camps from World War II.

The debate ended with speeches, by Jessica Casagrande (Liberation Route Europe Foundation) and Diego Audero (a historian), on the idea of expanding the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe’s  network and a proposal, presented by Dr. Violetta Rezler-Wasielewska, concerning the creation, under the auspices of the Museum, of a network of institutions, organisations and individuals who would protect the memory of  sites of the Wehrmacht’s former prisoner-of-war camps in Poland. The speeches were followed by a discussion, which ended with a summary of the conference and thanks given to all participants.

You are welcome to watch the film from the conference, which is available here.