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85th anniversary of the first transport of Poles to Auschwitz - 14 June 2025
85th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST TRANSPORT OF POLES TO KL AUSCHWITZ. NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF GERMAN NAZI CONCENTRATION AND EXTERMINATION CAMPS.
On 14 June 1940, the Germans transferred a group of 728 Poles from the prison in Tarnów to the Auschwitz camp. The group included soldiers of the September campaign, members of the independence underground organisations, school pupils and students, and a small group of Polish Jews. They were given numbers from 31 to 758. Of the 728 deported prisoners, 325 survived the war, 292 perished, while the fate of 111 is unknown to date.
Events commemorating the 85th anniversary are held under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda.
COMMEMORATION PROGRAMME
• 11.30 - Holy Mass at the Saint Maximilian Centre in Harmęże
• 13.00 - Placing flowers at the plaque commemorating the arrival of the first transport (Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki State University of Małopolska in Oświęcim)
• 14.00 - commemoration at the Wall of Death (former Auschwitz I site) with the participation of official delegations from state authorities and organisers of the ceremonies.
INDIVIDUAL COMMEMORATIONS
On June 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., there will be a possibility for individual commemoration at the Memorial and the laying of wreaths and candles at the Death Wall in the courtyard of Block 11. Prior contact is required at to set the entry time. Please also see the regulations on the Museum website.
MEDIA INFORMATION
The accreditation is closed.
Organizer of the commemoration event:
• Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
Coorganizers:
• St. Maximilian Center in Harmęże
• Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki State University of Małopolska in Oświęcim
with
• Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation
• Auschwitz Memento Association
• Center of Roma History and Culture
• Bielsko-Żywiec Diocesan Curia
• Castle Museum in Oświęcim
• Department of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) in Kraków
• Foundation for International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim
• Foundation for the Memory of Auschwitz-Birkenau Victims • Foundation of Memory Sites Near Auschwitz-Birkenau
• Foundation Monument-Hospice for the Town of Oświęcim
• Jewish Center in Oświęcim
• Kraków Foundation Center for Information, Meeting, Dialogue, Education and Prayer in Oświęcim
• movart Foundation
• the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression
• the town of Oświęcim
• Oświęcim commune
• Oświęcim County Office
• Province of the St. Anthony of Padua and Blessed Jakub Strzemię of the Order of Friars
• Remembrance Museum of Land of Oświęcim Residents
• Roma Association in Poland
• Society for the Protection of Oświęcim (TOnO)
• the town of Tarnów