Bartoszewski 1922-2015. More Than Decency

The exhibition is divided into three parts and presents the most important aspects of the life and activities of Bartoszewski who passed away on 24th April 2015.   The first section - "Against the Tide" - describes Władysław Bartoszewski's activities in the underground against the German occupation, of his persecution during Poland's communist years, of Stalinist prisons, of internment during the period of martial law and of his subsequent work for the cause of freedom.   The second part - "Remembrance" -  describes the obligation resting with someone who had survived Auschwitz, the passion for chronicling and documenting the fate of his home city, preserving the memory of the victims and remembering the culprits and, at all costs, maintaining the historical truth through books, lectures and activities such as with the International The International Auschwitz Council and on the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites in Poland.   The final section - "Conciliation" - is devoted to is uncompromising engagement in fighting antisemitism, finding avenues of contact between the State of Israel and the Jewish diaspora around the world, beginning the first attempts of forming relation with people of goodwill in Germany – from those post-War years, through his activities as a diplomat, until the final years of his life.   Bartoszewski 1922–2015. More Than Decency is the story of a man who was not afraid to go against the tide in fighting for a noble cause, for historical memory and for unity among nations. It is the story of a witness to history and a participant on the most dramatic events of the 20th century. Despite his tragic personal experiences, to the end of his life he was "moderately optimistic" and a believer in people.   Visitors will also be able to view Władysław Bartoszewski's first appearances on television in 1963 and hear his famous speech delivered to the German parliament in 1995.   They will also be able to list to audio clips from Radio Free Europe which braodcast from the 1950's. There are also photographs, documents and memorabilia from the collections of  The Ossoliński National Institute and the Warsaw City Library. Quotations from Władysław Bartoszewski appear throughout the exhibition.

The exhibition has been previously on display at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland and also at Collegium Civitas.

Exhibition organiser: The Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland

Graphic designers: Daria Tymińska, Maciej Konopka/Brandy Design

Academic consultant: prof. Andrzej Friszke

Prepared by: IKG/Aleksander Sieklicki

The organisers wish to thank: Władysław T. Bartoszewski, Witold Beres, the Bundestag archive, Tomek Kaczor, Ewa Kielak-Ciemniewska, Michał Komar, Artur Więcek, The Ossoliński National Institute, Ursula Zeidler