In this episode, the third special episode we have done on the history of the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex, we detail the evolution of the camp(s) from 1945 to the present day. In particular, the episode highlights the issue of public memory, noting the way political and cultural dynamics have effected the design and operation of the state museum. In the immediate aftermath of the war, Polish authorities tended to focus on practical issues, preserving certain sites while repurposing or abandoning others. The guiding principle was the need to remember German crimes against the Polish people to create a stronger sense of Polish national memory. By the start of the Cold War, however, this mindset became outdated, and was eventually replaced by a new Communist emphasis on "antifascism." In the 1990s the complexity of Polish-Jewish relations became more visible, with the building of a Carmelite convent and commemorations of Edith Stein playing a prominent role. Finally, the episode concludes with a brief discussion of preservation, history and Holocaust denial. 

This is a partial preview of a longer, 2 hour episode on the history of the camp between 1945 and the present day.  To hear the full story, as well as to get access to other special episodes on topics like the Young Hitler, the History of the SS and the Nazi Takeover of a small town, become a Patreon supporter for as little as $2/month (https://www.patreon.com/c/historyoffthepage).

Support the show

For more information on History Off the Page, check out our website www.historyoffthepage.com!   Or you can support the  show via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/historyoffthepage?fan_landing=true.