wróć...Meeting with Piotr Potocki – the event summary

On April 23, 2026, the Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism hosted a meeting with Piotr Potocki, who is a son of Count Józef Potocki, who served as a diplomat and chargé d’affaires in Madrid and was the initiator of the establishment of a centre for Polish children in Barcelona.

The event was organized to mark the 80th anniversary, falling on April 24, 2026, of the arrival in Barcelona of the first transport of Polish children rescued from German and Austrian Germanisation centres. It was a unique opportunity to recall the history of the youngest children, who, thanks to the dedication of their Polish caregivers, were able to regain their language, identity, and sense of belonging.

During the meeting, Piotr Potocki presented his father’s activities and outlined the background to the establishment and operation of the centre in Barcelona. Our guest’s personal memories and reflections gave the story a especially moving dimension, allowing the participants to look at the story from a family and intergenerational perspective.

The meeting was held as part of the series ‘With Your Own Eyes. A Meeting with a Witness to History’, focused on conversations with people who lived through World War II as children or grew up in the aftermath of its impact.

We would like to thank all the participants for their attendance and for joining us in commemorating this important anniversary.