News
86th anniversary of the first transport of Poles to Auschwitz - 14 June 2026
86th 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 86th anniversary are held under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland Karol Nawrocki.
COMMEMORATION PROGRAMME
• 11.00 - commemoration at the Wall of Death (former Auschwitz I site) with the participation of Survivors, official delegations from state authorities and organisers of the anniversary event.
• 12.00 - Placing flowers at the plaque commemorating the arrival of the first transport (Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki State University of Małopolska in Oświęcim)
• 13.00 - Holy Mass at the Saint Maximilian Centre in Harmęże (afterwards a possibility to visit the exhibition by Marian Kołodziej "Cliches of Memory: Labyrinths")
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 14czerwca.upamietnienia@auschwitz.org to set the entry time. Every person should carry a document to verify idendity. Please also see the regulations on the Museum website.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Accreditation for journalists will take place between 3-12 June 2026. Accreditation form.
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
