1st Congress of Sites of Remembrance of Prisoners of War: Heritage and Strategies for the Future
Watch the conference recording
On 15 November 2024, the 1st Congress of Sites of Remembrance of Prisoners of War: Heritage and Strategies for the Future was held at SWPS University in Warsaw. The congress focused on the preservation of prisoners-of-war heritage, the role and functioning of sites of remembrance, and cooperation between institutions dedicated to commemorating the victims of wars and armed conflicts. The congress was organised by the Central Museum of Prisoners of War, in cooperation with SWPS University and the League of Prisoner-of-War Remembrance network. The project, entitled Congress of Sites of Remembrance of Prisoners of War: Heritage and Strategies for the Future, was supported by a grant from the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1: Programme to Support the Activities of Cultural and Creative Sector Entities to Stimulate Their Development.
The event brought together experts, researchers and representatives of memorial institutions from Poland and abroad. The Katyn Museum was represented by Dr Bartłomiej Bydoń, Head of the Museum’s Research Section, and Kacper Ciesielski, Head of the Records and Photographic Documentation Section.
The congress programme comprised five thematic panels addressing, among other topics, the multifaceted remembrance of prisoners of war, the practical aspects of the treatment of prisoners of war, education, new technologies, and contemporary challenges in preserving the heritage of sites of remembrance.
Dr Bartłomiej Bydoń took part in Panel II, “The Practical Aspects of the Treatment of Prisoners of War”, together with researchers from the War Studies University: Dr hab. Agnieszka Szczygielska, Professor at the War Studies University, Dr Piotr Krzykowski and Dr Klaudia Jagusiak. In his paper, entitled “The Theoretical and Practical Dimensions of Captivity”, he discussed issues relating to the institution of prisoner-of-war captivity and the experience of wartime captivity, considering them in the context of research and museum practice.
The congress provided a platform for discussion on the future of sites of remembrance of prisoners of war, as well as on opportunities for developing cooperation, using new technologies and creating joint educational initiatives. One of its outcomes was closer cooperation between institutions and communities working with prisoners-of-war heritage. The participation of a representative of the Katyn Museum also provided an opportunity to exchange experience with institutions involved in documenting, researching and commemorating the experiences and fates of prisoners of war. These issues remain particularly relevant in the context of contemporary armed conflicts and the need to preserve the memory of their victims.
