Forgotten Traces: Exhibition reveals the fate of Polish forced laborers

Forgotten Traces: Exhibition reveals the fate of Polish forced laborers

A moving exhibition by the German Poland Institute is currently being presented in Bad Kreuznach, which deals with the traces of almost three million Poles who were in Germany during the Second World War. The show not only addresses the sculptures and documents of this time, but also the stories of the people who were often unfairly pushed into the background. bad-kreuznach.de reports that ...

The exhibition presents various places and objects that are reminiscent of the dark history of forced labor. Many of these memories remain invisible and are often forgotten or repressed. But now they are being brought to light not only to remember the injustice, but also to raise awareness of how much suffering and deprivation was suffered during this time.

A look back at forced labor

By the end of the war in 1945, between two and three million Polish civilian workers were required to serve in the German Reich. The majority were recruited under the work requirement introduced in 1942, and many endured deprivation conditions. Police, SS and Wehrmacht organized raids to meet the growing labor shortage. These people were considered “racially inferior” and suffered from inhumane conditions. DHM reports that ...

For the Polish forced laborers, this not only meant low wages, but also inadequate nutrition and often lousy accommodation. They were also kept under the pressure of severe punishment by the Nazis. They wore a sewn “P” on their clothing as a sign of their identity. The Jewish population in occupied territories was also affected by this forced labor, often under even harsher pressure.

Remembrance and processing

A special place of remembrance is the main cemetery in Bad Kreuznach, where there is a memorial for the victims of National Socialism. Among the buried victims are 38 concentration camp prisoners, including three from Poland. The story of Stanisław Jakóbczyk is closely linked to this city. Letters that family and friends wrote to the Polish forced laborer were found in the city archives and were discovered in an attic in Duchroth. These documents are an important part of the exhibition and invite visitors to reflect on their personal fates.

The commitment to coming to terms with the past is a step in the right direction to keep the memories of those who suffered under the Nazi regime alive. The exhibition focuses on the stories and places in today's Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland that are shaped by these traumas. It is a task for all of us to preserve these memories and give the victims a voice.