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THE ACT INCORPORATING THE MUSEUM

AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM IN THE FIRST YEARS OF ITS OPERATION

AUSCHWITZ MUSEUM IN THE FIRST YEARS OF ITS OPERATION

THE ACT INCORPORATING THE MUSEUM

On 2 July 1947, three weeks after the actual opening, the Parliament of Poland endorsed the act incorporating the Oświęcim-Brzezinka (Auschwitz-Birkenau) State Museum. This quite unorthodox situation, where the institution initiated its operation first, to have the founding acts of law governing its operation approved only later was caused by the decision to open the Museum officially on 14 June, that is on the seventh anniversary of the first transport, and no session of the Parliament had been planned before early July. Thus, reluctant to postpone the opening of the Museum, the authorities decided to have it start its formal operation before the approval ensconced in relevant acts of law.

ACT

of 2 July 1947

on the commemoration of the martyrdom of the Polish Nation and other Nations in Auschwitz:

Art. 1. The premises of the former Nazi concentration camp in Oświęcim, together with all the architecture and infrastructure are to be preserved for ever as the Memorial of Martyrdom of the Polish Nation and other Nations.

 

Art. 2. The Memorial of Martyrdom in Oświęcim encompasses some territory of the former concentration camp in the limits that shall be set in detail in a decision of the minister of culture and art issued in agreement with the ministers of public administration, agriculture and agricultural reform, and reconstruction, after consulting the Council for Protection of Memorials of Martyrdom.


Art. 3. The Oświęcim-Brzezinka State Museum in Oświęcim is hereby set on these premises.

 

Art. 4. 1. The mission of the Oświęcim-Brzezinka State Museum in Oświęcim is to collect and gather evidence and materials concerning Nazi crimes, and to make them available to the community, and for the scientific research.

2. The scope of operation and organisation of the Museum will be defined in its charter to be issued by the minister of culture and art.

 

Art. 5. The consulting and advisory body for the operation of the Oświęcim-Brzezinka State Museum in Oświęcim is the Council for Protection of Memorials of Martyrdom.

 

Art. 6. The estate mentioned in Art. 2 above is subject to expropriation to the benefit of State Treasury and the immediate takeover by the minister of culture and art, against compensation.

 

Art. 7. The minister of culture and art is hereby authorised to transfer all or part of the expropriated estate to the administration of the Polish Union of Former Political Prisoners of Nazi Prisons and Concentration Camps and to define standards for administration and management.

 

Art. 8. The execution of this Act is entrusted to the minister of culture and art in collaboration with the ministers of public administration, agriculture and agricultural reforms, reconstruction, and treasury.

 

Art. 9. The act comes into force on the day of publication.