Auschwitz barracks cannot stay in America

Renowned Washington Holocaust Museum would like to keep the Auschwitz barracks on exhibition, now that the long term loan from the Polish site has expired. Sara Bloomfield, director of the renowned museum, told The Washington Post that it is “our priority to keep the barracks in the exhibition.”

However, Witold Dzielski, first secretary of the Polish Embassy in Washington, expressed sympathy with museum's wishes. However he also stressed, that there was little leeway in the legal sphere. “In the case of the barracks, it is a particularly difficult situation,” he told the paper. “There was an agreement, and according to Polish law, there is no way that the barracks cannot be returned.”

In the late 1980s, Poland loaned numerous objects, such as shoes, suitcases and prayer shawls that once belonging to Holocaust victims, for a twenty-year period. Over the past few years, those loans have expired and the Holocaust Museum has returned some objects, renegotiated loans or exchanged existing materials for equivalent pieces.

Witold Dzielski stressed that aside from the barracks, “all the other issues are being solved quite easily.” The Polish Embassy is acting as a go-between in the negotiations on the museum exhibits. On the Polish side, the talks are being led by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. (mk/nh)

The eternal flame at the Holocaust Museum Hall of Remembrance. Photo: Patti Gravel on flickr (CC atb, nc, dw)

Cover: Holocaust Memorial Museum, Hall of Remembrance. Photo: Sergio on flickr (CC atb, nc, dw)