August 10, 2010
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM SHOCKED AND SADDENED AT THE NEWS OF THE FIRE AT MAJDANEK CONCENTRATION CAMP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum expressed shock and sadness at the news of the fire at the Memorial at former Majdanek concentration camp in Poland. According to a statement by Tomasz Kranz, director of the Majdanek Museum, the barrack which caught fire was used for storage of artifacts including thousands of shoes of the victims of the Holocaust.
Madjanek was one of six major Nazi killing centers during the Holocaust; about 80,000 people were killed there, including 60,000 Jews.
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has maintained a close partnership with the Majdanek Museum for over two decades, including a loan agreement for several thousand shoes currently on display in the Museum’s Permanent Exhibition.
“These shoes are iconic symbols of the Holocaust since they are personal and each represents an innocent life. Our millions of visitors tell us overwhelmingly that the display of victims’ shoes was the most unforgettable part of their Museum experience,” said Sara J. Bloomfield, Museum director. “We will continue our important partnership with the Majdanek Museum and assist them in conservation efforts.”
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires leaders and citizens to promote human dignity, confront hatred, and prevent genocide. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanence, and its far reaching educational activities and global outreach are made possible by donors nationwide. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.
