The 80th anniversary of the first transport of Poles to Auschwitz has been commemorated

The Holy Mass at the Saint Maximilian Center in Harmęże with the participation of the state authorities and two former female prisoners as well as the laying of wreaths at the Auschwitz I camp site commemorated the 80th anniversary of the first transport of Poles to Auschwitz, which took place on June 14, 1940.

The Mass at the Saint Maximilian Center in Harmęże was attended by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, representatives of the state authorities, and two former female prisoners of the former Auschwitz Concentration Camp. The Eucharist was followed by a commemoration of the anniversary at the Auschwitz I camp site. Delegations placed wreaths at the Death Wall in the courtyard of Block 11.

On June 14, 1940, a group of 728 Poles was deported by the Germans from the prison in Tarnów to Auschwitz. Among the prisoners were soldiers of the September Campaign, members of underground independence organizations, high school students, pupils, and a group of Polish Jews. 325 people from this transport survived the war, 292 perished, and the fate of 111 people is unknown.

In the former German Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, operating between 1940 and 1945, more than 1.1 million Jews from all over Europe, 140-150,000 Poles, about 23,000 Roma and several thousand victims of other nationalities were killed.

14 June was proclaimed the National Day of Remembrance for the victims of German Nazi Concentration and Death Camps.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference