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Living in the shadow of Auschwitz
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The southern Polish town of Oswiecim founded 8 centuries ago saw its destiny tragically transformed in 1940 when the Nazis renamed the town Auschwitz and set up the most notorious of the war-time death camps on its outskirts. Its tragic past is a burden, so how do the ordinary people of Oswiecim live in the shadow of Auschwitz? Danusia Szafraniec reports.

Today the town of Oswiecim is seen in the eyes of the world as Auschwitz, the hub of Adolf Hitler’s „final solution” which managed to wipe out Europe’s Jews. But its citizens say that there actually are two towns there: one alive and the other – a memorial. For many Oswiecim citizens living in a town with such a heavy past is not easy.

'This town is nothing more than a museum nowadays. There is nothing to look here for and your people are leaving the town in great numbers as there is no future for them here.'

Young people – just like this student – agree that their town is dying.

'Indeed, the town is not developing very quickly, especially as far as its industry is concerned. I think it is all due to the historical burden laid upon our town because the while world imagines Oswiecim as one big concentration camp which is not true.'

The living town has had its existence marred by numerous rows between the international Jewish community and the Roman catholic church as well as would-be developers. One row focused on a monastery run by Catholic nuns within the camp premises, which provoked outrage among the international Jewish community. After a decade of bickering the nuns were forced to leave the site. A shopping center that was supposed to be built in the former tannery where the Nazis stocked the belongings of killed Jews never got built following fierce protests. And finally, a discotheque almost opposite the entrance to the infamous camp was forced to shut its doors after it also caused an international uproar.
So as the world’s eyes are on Auschwitz as the most notorious Holocaust site, many of its inhabitants are forced to live right next door to the place that God forgot.

posted by: Oborski at 01:35 | link | comments |