Poland: Nationalists try to distort history on seven large boulders

The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial condemns events that took place at a commemoration ceremony in Poland. It is "deeply shocked and concerned by the desecration of historical truth and memory at the Jedwabne Memorial." What happened in the small town in northeastern Poland ?

On the eve of the official commemoration of the 84th anniversary of the massacre of the Jewish population of Jedwabne, controversial information panels were erected in the immediate vicinity of the memorial, Polskie Radio also reports. A new narrative of the crime can now be found on seven large boulders in Polish and English.

According to current research, including that of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), at least 340 Jewish residents were murdered by their Polish neighbors on July 10, 1941. During the pogrom, women, children, and men were rounded up in a barn by Polish citizens and burned alive.

According to Deutschlandfunk, a Polish commission of historians concluded in 2003 that Polish villagers were responsible for the massacre of their Jewish neighbors, instigated by the German occupiers.

Falsification of history by nationalist groups

The new plaques now claim something different, attributing responsibility to the German Nazi unit led by Commander Schaper. The Poles are not to blame. According to Yad Vashem, this is clearly an "attempt to distort the history of the massacre of Jews."

Yad Vashem is the most important memorial site that commemorates and scientifically documents the Nazi extermination of the Jews; it is located in Jerusalem.

On Polskie Radio, Poland's Chief Rabbi, Michael Schudrich, also expressed his dismay at the seven large boulders, the new narrative, and the accompanying demonstrations. He is quoted as saying: "Every year we go to Jedwabne to pray and mourn those who were murdered." He said it saddens him to see protesters during the silent prayer service. Nationalist groups also attended the commemoration this year. It is not yet known who is responsible for the boulders.