News
Auschwitz Museum Obtains Priceless Memorabilia from Former Prisoners
June 19, Bielsko-Biała (PAP-Polish Press Agency) – A white alloy signet ring that belonged to Polish former Auschwitz prisoner Tadeusz Orłowski (camp number 111) and a metal lighter that probably belonged to a Polish prisoner in the Ravensbrück women's concentration camp have been donated to the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Collections Department head Igor Bartosik told PAP on Monday.
Tadeusz Orłowski's daughter donated the signet ring, which was made illegally in the Auschwitz German camp. She did so in accordance with the last wishes of her father, who died several years ago. There is an image of a horseshoe on the signet ring, with the number "111" engraved in the center.
Orłowski arrived in Auschwitz on June 14, 1940, with the first transport of 728 Polish political prisoners. That date is regarded as the opening of Auschwitz. Orłowski was 21 at the time, and was released from the camp on September 19, 1941.
The metal lighter, in a leather case, was donated by the sister of a deceased collector from Myszków, Poland. It features the prisoner's initials, a camp number, a triangle with the letter "P" in the center (this was the symbol that the Germans used to mark Polish political prisoners in the camp), and the word "Ravensbrück."
Igor Bartosik said that Auschwitz Museum staffers will make a positive identification of the lighter's owner during a visit to the Ravensbrück site this autumn, on the basis of the number engraved on the recently donated item. [...] (PAP)
