Jacek Kordel (National Library of Poland)
During World War II, numerous Polish libraries and book collections suffered extensive or total destruction at the hands of German forces. Efforts to document these cultural losses commenced during the war, with the collection of fragments from burned, bullet-riddled, and otherwise damaged books and manuscripts. In this presentation, the author explores various methods of commemorating the wartime devastation, as reflected in museum and library exhibitions and public memorials. The author describes key examples, such as the urn in the National Library containing the ashes of burned manuscripts—of the original 400,000 units, nearly all that remains are ashes; displays of damaged books in libraries and museums; the monument to destroyed books in Kalisz, where German soldiers used books to fill a municipal canal; and memorial plaques at the former sites of libraries and collections.
By analysing these commemorative practices, the author aims to highlight efforts to preserve the memory of cultural losses and underscore the importance of historical remembrance in post-war identity. These examples illustrate both the magnitude of cultural destruction and the enduring value of cultural heritage.