Site of Remembrance in Łambinowice: Why this EHL Site still matters 60 years on 

The Central Museum of Prisoners of War marks its 60th anniversary 

On 3 December 2025, the Central Museum of Prisoners of War (CMJW) celebrated the 60th anniversary of its establishment, marking six decades of work dedicated to memory, research, and education on the fate of prisoners of war in Europe. The jubilee celebrations were open to the public and bring together representatives of local and provincial authorities, as well as cultural institutions, art institutions, and museums from across Poland. 

The anniversary programme included a concert dedicated to the jubilee, a discussion panel, and official commemorations. The main ceremony took place at the Opole Philharmonic, with a second part of the celebrations scheduled to be held in Łambinowice, the historic heart of the Museum’s work. 

A unique museum in Poland – and in Europe 

Celebrating 60 years of continuous operation, the CMJW remains the only museum of its kind in Poland, and one of very few comparable institutions in Europe. As highlighted during the celebrations, Łambinowice is a place where the layered history of Europe’s conflicts converges: from the Franco-Prussian War, through World War I and World War II, to the difficult and often overlooked post-war period. 

As Lech Parell, Head of the Office for Veterans and Repressed Persons, underlined during the event, this is a site where the memory of Polish prisoners, Soviet prisoners—around 50,000 of whom died in the camp—and the local civilian population held after the war are all remembered side by side. Few places confront such a wide and complex spectrum of European wartime experiences. 

 “We know – We remember – We observe” 

Reflecting on the Museum’s history, Dr. Violetta Rezler-Wasielewska, Director of the CMJW, recalled that the institution was founded twenty years after the end of the Second World War. Initially, and for political reasons, its work focused mainly on prisoners of war captured by the Wehrmacht. Even then, the Museum stood out. 

“Already the first name of our institution – the Museum of Martyrdom of Prisoners of War – placed people at the centre, not the camp itself,” she noted. 

Following the political transformation, the Museum broadened its scope to include Soviet camps for Polish prisoners of war, the post-war labour camp (1945–1946) for civilians—many of whom were German or considered as such—and the longer historical traces left by earlier conflicts. Throughout these changes, the CMJW has remained guided by its core principle: 
 
“We know – We remember – We observe”, with a message that is clearly anti-war. 

There are almost no living witnesses left

One of the most significant moments of the jubilee was the debate titled “Do we still need museums in memorial sites?”, moderated by Dr. Paulina Florjanowicz from the National Institute of Museums. The discussion brought together historians, sociologists, psychologists, and museum professionals, highlighting how the role of memorial museums is changing. 

As Dr. Renata Kobylarz-Buła, Deputy Director of the CMJW, explained: 

“Since there are almost no living witnesses of the last war, the museum becomes a completely different place. For years, witnesses drew both young people and adults. More and more often, we have to work without them – and continue engaging the younger generation. This is one of our greatest challenges.” 

The jubilee title, “At the threshold of the new”, reflects this forward-looking perspective: a commitment not only to preserving memory, but to rethinking how it is communicated in a time when direct testimony is fading. 

Recognition and responsibility 

During the celebrations, former and current Museum staff were honoured with awards from the Ministry of Culturefor their contribution to the protection of national heritage. These distinctions recognise the long-term, often quiet work of safeguarding difficult histories and ensuring that they remain accessible to future generations. 

After 60 years, the Central Museum of Prisoners of War continues to stand as a place of knowledge, remembrance, and vigilance—a reminder that understanding the past is essential to resisting war, violence, and exclusion in the present and future.