News

“Anti-Semitism — old and new prejudices” — is the title of a new handbook for teachers, created by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in cooperation with Polish experts from the Center of the Polish-German Association in Cracow and the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust.

The theme for this year's 64th anniversary of the liberation was "Listen to Every Word." At a ceremony at the Konarski Secondary School No. 1 in Oświęcim, former Auschwitz prisoners conveyed their message to the young people.

"It’s much more than just an annual report. We have tried to create the broadest possible picture of what was Auschwitz Memorial in 2008. We published a document which is our voice in a global debate on the condition and the future of remembrance", said Dr. Piotr M.A. Cywiński, the Museum director. The 70 color pages of the bilingual report contain information on the most important events of 2008.

International Auschwitz Council chairman Professor Władysław Bartoszewski has signed a notarized document establishing the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, intended to amass a Perpetual Fund to cover the conservation of the original camp buildings, grounds, and ruins, and to preserve and securely maintain the archival holdings and other authentic objects.

The award-winning film about the most spectacular escape from Auschwitz is now available for purchase on DVD. Uciekinier [The Escapee] tells the extraordinary life story of Kazimierz Piechowski, former Auschwitz prisoner no. 918, who organized one of the most amazing escapes from the camp.

On January 27, 2009, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum will hold ceremonies marking the 64th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German Auschwitz camp by the Red Army. This year’s observance, with the theme To Hear Every Word, will be dedicated to the message to the younger generation from the eyewitnesses to history. The focal point of the ceremony will be a meeting with the former prisoners who tell their story to the world.