Kazimierz Smoleń
Kazimierz Smoleń, or Kazimierz Smolen (* 19. April 1920; † 27. January 2012 in Oświęcim[1]), Polish political prisoner of KZ Auschwitz and latter a long term director of Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
Kazimierz Smoleń was a law student when he was arrested by Gestapo on April 15th, 1940 for his acctivity in Polish conspiracy in Chorzow and an attempt to join the Polish army abroad. On July 6th, 1940 he was transported to Auschwitz concentration camp with one of the first arrivaing transports of Polish political prisoners from prison in Sosnowiec.[2] Smoleń was given the KZ Auschwitz number 1327 and at first was given work at the construction workgang, then he got work as a writter in the camp addministration office.
Altogether Smoleń was an Auschwitz concentration camp prisoner for almost five years. On January 18th, 1945 Smoleń was deported in one of Auschwitz Death marches to Ebensee concentration camp which was a subcamp of Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp. Smoleń was liberated in Ebensee concentration camp on May 6th, 1945.
Kazmierz Smoleń came back to Poland after the war and studied law at the Catholic University of Lublin.He was one of the creators of the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau established in 1947 and from 1955 till 1990 he served as the director of the Museum.[3]
After the war he was working in the Commission to Investigate the Nazi Crimes in Poland and participated as a witness and expert in trials of SS staff of Nazi Concentration Camps.After retirement he was still devoted to the Auschwitz education and worked witnessing about the camp history to younger generations till his very last days.
Kazmierz Smoleń passed away on January 27th , 2012 on the day of the 67th Anniversary of Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation.
References
- ^ [http://www.jewish-guide.pl Kazmierz Smoleń the former prisoner of Auschwitz-Birkenau number 1327, and long time director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum passed away on January 27th,2012
- ^ [http://www.polskatimes.pl/artykul/498862,zmarl-kazimierz-smolen-byly-wiezien-auschwitz-i-dyrektor,id,t.html?cookie=1 Zmarł Kazimierz Smoleń
- ^ www.jewish-guide.pl Bio note on Kazimierz Smoleń