On September 10, 2023, we celebrated the National Day of the Polish Children of War for the first time. This is a tribute to the youngest citizens of the Polish state overwhelmed by the criminal activities of the German and Soviet occupiers. The Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism, retaining the memory and spreading knowledge of the fate of Polish children during World War II, encourages primary school students to participate in the competition enabling them to develop historical interests and perpetuate the values that were important to many generations of Poles and are still essential to the formation of the nation's identity, such as historical memory, community and responsibility.

In the 2023-2024 school year, the three-stage thematic competition is aimed at seventh- and eighth-graders from primary schools in Lodz province.

Winners and finalists of stage 3 are entitled to have information about their participation in the competition written in the primary school leaving certificate. Moreover, winners and finalists of the Competition receive additional points in the process of recruitment to secondary schools.

The subject scope covers the history of the Polish lands during World War II, with a special focus on the fate of Polish children and young people.

Competition subjects:

- assumptions and methods of German and Soviet policies towards Polish children and youth,

- the Third Reich's racial and settlement policies,

- the German concentration camp for Polish children at Przemyslowa Street in Lodz,

- Action Zamosc - the fate of the children of Zamosc,

- germanisation of Polish children,

- the martyrdom of the Ulma family,

- children of the Warsaw Uprising,

- Polish children deported to the USSR in 1940-1941,

- children of the Cursed Soldiers persecuted in post-war Poland.

Detailed information on the requirements for each stage and suggested readings can be found in the Competition Regulations.

Schedule:

• by 20 Oct 2023 - school application for the Competition,
• by 30 Oct 2023 - publication of educational materials for students preparing for stages 2 and 3 (on the competition website),
• 21 Nov 2023 - stage 1 - school,
• historical workshopsin the Museum of Polish Children in Lodz for students qualified for the district stage and for teachers preparing for the Competition - date to be announced after 21 Nov 2023,
• 20 Feb 2024- stage 2 - district,
• 16 Apr 2024- stage 3 - province
• 27 May 2024- formal announcement of the Competition results and handing over attractive in-kind prizes.

Contact:

Secretariat of the Competition

Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism. German Nazi camp for Polish children in Lodz (1942-1945).

Address: ul. Piotrkowska 90, 90-103 Lodz, phone: +48 42 645 45 31,

Joanna Frydenberg, Education Specialist

mobile: +48 662 258 388

e-mail: konkurs@muzeumdziecipolskich.pl

Kontakt:

Sekretariat Konkursu

Muzeum Dzieci Polskich – ofiar totalitaryzmu. Niemiecki nazistowski obóz dla polskich dzieci w Łodzi (1942-1945).

Adres: ul. Piotrkowska 90, 90-103 Łódź, telefon: +48 42 645 45 31,

Joanna Frydenberg, Specjalista ds. Edukacji

telefon komórkowy: +48 662 258 388

e-mail: konkurs@muzeumdziecipolskich.pl