The annual academic session to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German concentration camp was organised by the Jagiellonian University, the JU Centre for Holocaust Studies, the Kraków Medical Society and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
The meeting, held on 23 January 2017 in Collegium Novum Assembly Hall, was led by Prof. Igor Gościński, the head of the Kraków Medical Society, and Prof. Aleksander B. Skotnicki. The welcome address was delivered by the Rector of the Jagiellonian University Prof. Wojciech Nowak: “I take part in this meeting every year and I have always stressed that we must not forget about the greatest tragedy in the history of Europe and the world, that we must learn from history. But today, in 2017, I have some doubts whether we really learn from our mistakes, or it is only wishful thinking. So many years have passed since the end of the Second World War, so many people have visited the Auschwitz museum. In this context, how could the Aleppo tragedy happen? This is a very sad reflection. How does it correspond to 'Plus ratio quam vis' – the motto of our university and the principle we want our students to follow?” asked the Rector.
Prof. Igor Gościński remarked that for almost 60 years the Kraków Medical Society has been trying to publish all kinds of information related to the Holocaust in its periodical Przegląd Lekarski – Oświęcim (Medical Review – Auschwitz), both as a warning for future generations and as a call for reconciliation. He also welcomed the special guests – the former prisoners of Auschwitz concentration camp Bronisława Horowitz-Karakulska and Stefan Lipniak.
The opening speeches were followed by academic papers presented by Dr Piotr Setkiewicz from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, who discussed the role of Kampf-gruppe in the Auschwitz camp resistance movement, and Ryszard Kotarba, who talked about the “forgotten” concentration camp in Płaszów, whereas Prof. Skotnicki showed to the audience the anti-Nazi caricatures by Artur Szyk – a Polish graphic artist and illustrator of Jewish origin, who became most famous for his works depicting Nazi leaders. He was also the author of the historical series Washington and his Times. The Consul General of the United States Walter Braunohler, who attended the meeting, was given copies of Artur Szyk’s portraits of the fist US president and his wife.
During the final part of the meeting, an address by Paul Nussbaum was live-streamed from the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. The senior staff member of the museum appealed to the audience to bear testimony to the truth about the Holocaust. The full text of the address is available at the link below.
The meeting concluded with a vocal mini-recital by Maria Bizoń.
