back...Official celebration of the 79th anniversary of the closing of the camp at Przemysłowa Street

After the crew of the camp at Przemysłowa Street ran away, there were approx. 800–900 children who remained in the camp and were soon taken care of by nearby families from Łódź. Some of the children tried to reach their family homes, often located several hundred kilometres away. Unfortunately, some of those who reached their destination did not find any of their loved ones because they had died in German camps or prisons or had not yet returned from the forcible transfer to labour camps in the Reich – said dr Ireneusz Piotr Maj, director of the Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism, in connection with the celebration of the 79th anniversary of the closing of the camp at Przemysłowa Street.

On 18 January 2024, under the Children’s Martyrdom Monument, the so-called Broken Heart in Łódź, we celebrated the 79th anniversary of the closing of the German concentration camp for Polish children at Przemysłowa Street in Łódź.

“When the Nazis ran away from the camp, we also ran out on the town, and throngs of people went out on the street near the camp. Me and another boy were taken in by a woman who lived nearby […]. When she made us tea, we thought we were drinking honey. After a couple of days, we went to the camp to see it again. First, I wanted to find my picture, but all the pictures were scattered on the floor. Whoever found it, took it with him, but did not waste too much time looking for it […], we went upstairs to change our clothes and eat something. After staying for a few weeks with that woman, we headed for our home town, i.e., Wieluń”– recalls Jan Jaskot, a former camp prisoner.

As part of the celebrations, there will be a meeting between the students of schools from Łódź and a special witness of history, Ms Barbara Paciorkiewicz, on 19 January 2024, at 1:00 PM, at the Museum of Polish Children – Victims of Totalitarianism at ul. Piotrkowska 90 in Łódź.