back...81st anniversary of the first transport of prisoners to the branch of the German camp for Polish children on Przemysłowa Street in Łódź

On 15 March this year, the District Centre for Culture, Sports, Tourism and Recreation in Dzierżązna held a celebration to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the first transport of prisoners to the branch of the German concentration camp for Polish children on Przemysłowa Street in Łódź.

The ceremonies organised by the Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism, were held in the Zgierz District to commemorate the young female prisoners of the agricultural branch of the German concentration camp for Polish children in Łódź (Polen-Jugendverwahrlager Litzmannstadt) in connection with the 81st anniversary of establishment of this place of torment.

“In the second half of March 1943, the estates confiscated from local Polish owners were finally taken over by the German Reich in order to establish a branch of the camp where, within the same month, a transport arrived with the first girls from among the almost two hundred female prisoners aged between 8 and 16 forced by the occupying forces to perform hard agricultural work under conditions of malnutrition and strict camp rigour. At the same time, the camp's commandant, Heinrich Fuge, who had previously served as vice-commandant of the main camp in Łódź, settled in the palace located on the grounds of the camp branch. The enslavement of the little prisoners ended in January 1945 with the escape of Fuge from Dzierżązna and the main camp crew from Łódź,”explained Dr Ireneusz Piotr Maj, Director of the Museum.

In connection with the celebration, the programme included the presentation of the exhibitions “Two wars - one suffering” and “We were just children. Gehenna of Polish children during and after World War II”. Besides, young people from the Stanisław Moniuszko Music School Complex in Łódź gave a concert and the German documentary entitled "Geheime Reichssache Kinderlager - Schicksale in Polen” directed by Klaus Bednarz was screened.

As part of the Museum's celebrations, a concert of passion music performed by young people from the Stanisław Moniuszko Music School Complex in Łódź will be held on 17 March 2024 at the All Saints Parish in Gieczno after the 11.30 am Mass. The Museum's exhibition entitled "Just work and hunger. History of a branch of a German concentration camp for Polish children” will be presented in front of the church.