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The preservation of the objects at the Auschwitz Museum consumes vast sums of money. There are always shortfalls. Auschwitz Museum director Piotr Cywiński warns that "the historical buildings will collapse" if funding cannot be found. From the beginning, the Polish government has covered most of the Museum's costs. But these are bare-bones appropriations. The Museum is therefore attempting to win support from other countries and international institutions. "Auschwitz is a global symbol, after all," says Cywiński.

The 64th anniversary of the liquidation of the so-called "Gypsy family camp" in Birkenau. A ceremony at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau site marked Romani Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 64th anniversary of the liquidation of the so-called "Gypsy family camp" in the Birkenau camp. Some 300 people attended, including Roma from Poland and other countries, former Auschwitz prisoners, government officials from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum administration, and local officials.

A ceremony at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau site marked Romani Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 64th anniversary of the liquidation of the so-called "Gypsy family camp" in the Birkenau camp. Some 300 people attended, including Roma from Poland and other countries, former Auschwitz prisoners, government officials from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum administration, and local officials.

Kuchino, Perm Krai, Russian Federation. A notorious Gulag called Perm-36 existed for decades on the outskirts of this village at the foot of the Urals, thousands of kilometers from Oświęcim.

Former Auschwitz prisoner Henryk Mandelbaum, the last member of the camp Sonderkommando living in Poland, died on June 17 at the age of 85. The Sonderkommando was a group of prisoners forced by the Germans to work in the crematoria and gas chambers.

Volkswagen, thanks to help from Christoph Heubner, the Vice-Chairman of the International Auschwitz Committee, has donated a new T5 model van to the Museum. The Museum has cooperated with the German company for more than a decade, above all in educational ventures. Volkswagen trainees come to Oświęcim each year to learn about the history of the Memorial and also perform chores at the Auschwitz site.