6-year-old Amos Steinberg was sent to the Auschwitz camp together with his mother in 1944. Most likely, they were both murdered in the gas chamber right after the selection. In one of the shoes at the Memorial, a handwritten record was found containing the boy’s data.
The inscription was probably made by Amos’s mother. The discovery was made while working to secure the shoes of the victims of the German Auschwitz camp, which are on display at the main exhibition at the Memorial.
In one of the children’s shoes a handwritten inscription was found: the child’s name and surname, transport designation and the number under which the child was registered on the transport list (transport Ba 541). It belonged to Amos Steinberg, who was born on June 26, 1938. He lived in Prague. On August 10, 1942, together with his parents, Ludwig and Ida, he was imprisoned in the Theresienstadt ghetto near Prague. They were all deported to Auschwitz
Paweł Sawicki from the Museum’s press office
Split families
Hanna Kubik from the collections department of the institution informed that the preserved documents show that the mother and son were deported to Auschwitz in one transport on October 4, 1944. The father, on the other hand, was deported in another transport. We know that on October 10, 1944, he was transferred from Auschwitz to the Dachau camp. He was liberated in the Kaufering sub-camp.
Shoes with news
Hanna Kubik also informed the TVN24.PL NEws Site that these are not the first, and probably not the last, shoes that hold papers inside them. The papers (newspapers usually) would be inserted to the soles to keep warm – for good insulation. They are valuable items now, as they are in good condition. But this piece that was just discovered is unique in the data that it holds – because it bares dates, names and even handwritten signatures. More items as such emerge, coming from 1941-1942.
The documents belonged to people who probably lived in Munkacz and Budapest. “Some of them are official documents, there is also a fragment of a brochure and a scrap of paper with the name on it. The names of Ackermann, Bravermann and Beinhorn appear. Probably these people were deported to Auschwitz in the spring or summer of 1944 during the extermination of Hungarian Jews”, said Hanna Kubik.
Letter of intent regarding the creation of the “Museum – Memorial Site of KL Plaszow in Krakow. German Nazi labor and concentration camp (1942-1945) ”was signed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the City of Krakow. The new museum will cover an area of about 40 hectares and will be a self-government cultural institution of the Krakow City Commune co-run by the Ministry of Culture.
Screenshot from the Letter of Intent, that can be downloaded HERE
Who signed the Letter of Intent?
The signatories of the letter are the deputy prime minister, minister of culture and national heritage prof. Piotr Gliński – represented by Jarosław Sellin, secretary of state in the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and prof. Jacek Majchrowski, president of Krakow.
Due to the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the document was signed electronically.
What is this Letter of Intent?
Letter of intent regarding the creation of a new cultural institution called “Museum – Memorial Site of KL Plaszow in Krakow. German Nazi labor camp and concentration camp (1942-1945)” is a declaration of the joint will of the signatories for the proper commemoration of the victims of the German Nazi labor and concentration camp Plaszow by covering the area where the camp was located, institutional protection and establishing a Museum – Memorial Site.
The letter of intent is another important stage in actions taken to commemorate the former German labor and concentration camp in Plaszow. It was preceded by an agreement signed on January 26, 2017 between the City of Krakow, the Jewish Religious Community in Krakow and the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, constituting a declaration of cooperation between the parties for a dignified commemoration of KL Plaszow. The ordinance of the city president also set up a task force for the KL Plaszow camp coordinating work on the creation of this Memorial Site.
Photo of the Plaszow concentration and labour camp taken 1943-1944 – Unknown Author – Taken from the Institute of National Remembrance
When will the new Museum start operating?
It is planned that “Museum – KL Plaszow Memorial Site in Krakow. German Nazi labor and concentration camp (1942-1945)” will start operating on January 1, 2021, and will be a self-government cultural institution of the city of Krakow, co-run by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The content of the letter assumes the cooperation of the parties to create the Memorial in both financial and substantive terms. It is anticipated that the Krakow City Council will establish a new institution by the end of 2020.
What are the next steps?
In the next stage, an agreement will be signed between the city and the ministry, which will determine the principles of co-running a new museum institution. The estimated time necessary to complete the work on establishing the Museum – Memorial Site and permanent exhibition is estimated at about five years.
KL Plaszow Fot.PAP/J.Bednarczyk
Where will the Museum be built?
The Museum – Memorial Site of KL Plaszow will be built on land belonging to the Municipality of Krakow, the Jewish Community in Kraków, and the Treasury. It will cover an area of approx. 40 hectares, which has been entered in the register of monuments kept by the Małopolska Provincial Conservator of Monuments since 2002, and an adjacent area of approximately 3 hectares.
How will the Museum look like?
The Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, as a substantive supervisor, developed the script for the new Museum – Memorial Site and conducted archeological research in the post-camp area.
According to the scenario, “historical stops” will be created in the post-camp area, ie boards with an archival photo and a short commentary in English. Polish, English, and Hebrew and in the Memorial building a permanent exhibition, thanks to which visitors will learn, among others what historical events led to the creation of concentration camps; learn the history of the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto and the founding and organization of KL Plaszow. The everyday life of prisoners will also be shown. Educators attach great importance to preserving the authenticity of the commemorated place.
Yours sincerly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug, Always Bringing You The Most Up-To-Date Informations About My Beloved Krakow
In Krakow, there are mobility points where it will be possible to rent and put away electric scooters. However, there are still no national regulations that are supposed to sort out the issue of riding e-scooters.
Info taken from Gazeta Krakowska (Online News Page in Polish Language)
Currently there are no e-scooter regulations in Krakow
There are still no nationwide regulations on using electric scooters. Therefore, among others there are dangerous situations with their usage in the public places. E-scooter riders can now drive at any speed, and sometimes pedestrians are hit. The issues that the inhabitants of Krakow point out, among others, is the fact that in Krakow people leave the scooters anywhere: on sidewalks, in rubbish bins, etc. You can even trip over them and get badly injured!
That is why the officials of the City of Krakow have decided not to wait for nationwide regulations, but rather take the matter into their own hands!
New regulations for e-scooters in Krakow will come soon!
There are several companies in Krakow that rent scooters. We have consulted with them on the provisions that are to make the capital of Małopolska safer.
Sebastian Kowal from the Public Transport Authority
There are even Tours in Krakow – e-Scooter Tours – that give you the option to drive safely (helmet included) and learn more about this Magical City 😉
What would the new regulation entail?
Speed Limit
The new regulation includes limiting the speed at which it will be possible to travel in places with heavy pedestrian traffic.“This includes Planty, where you will be able to drive at a maximum speed of 15 km/hour. Most scooters have special devices installed, thanks to which – if someone exceeds speed in such a place – the vehicle will automatically slow down” – emphasizes Kowal.
Mobility Points
In addition, there are so-called mobility points – “there will be over 150 in total, and maybe more. Locations mostly duplicate those where Wavelo bicycle stations used to function (no longer available in Krakow). They have already been designated in Śródmieście, but they will be in every district. It will be possible not only to rent but also to leave an electric scooter” emphasizes Kowal. Thanks to this, scooters should disappear from sidewalks, rubbish bins, lawns, etc.
Special Application for the e-scooters in Krakow
The user of an e-scooter must have a special application downloaded to use it. This is where we find a map that will show where the nearest point of mobility is. “We hope that if we set the mobility points, the problem with the clutter in the road lane due to scooters will be eliminated” – officials are acknowledging.
Still waiting on nationwide regulations
We still have to wait for nationwide regulations.
“Due to the increasing popularity of personal transport devices (such as scooters) in road traffic, the Ministry of Infrastructure is working on legislative work to define road traffic rules for these devices”
Ministry of Infrastructure
The draft regulations assume that the scooter will be rideable at a maximum speed of 25 km/hour. Scooters are to be treated as bicycles.
Have you ever took a ride on a e-scooter in Krakow, or anywhere else in Poland? Have you also noticed them lying anywhere the rider stopped? I also find it rather infuriating… I wonder of the developments fo this new way of public transport…
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug, Bringing You The Latest Krakow News
Is the Wawel Royal Castle on the list of your tourist destinations for 2020-2021? Have you ever visited Wawel Castle? If you have been at least once in Krakow, you – for sure – had this on top of your TO SEE List. 100 years ago this monument underwent a general renovation under the supervision of prof. Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz. Importantly, the goal of the excellent restorer was not only to protect the castle but also to make it available to visitors to the greatest extent possible.
New Wawel Sights on display as of July 1920
The embankments were opened to tourists and a new descent to Dragon’s Cave (Dragon’s Den) was arranged and electric lighting was installed in it. Visitors were also allowed into the rotunda of St. Feliks and Adaukta, probably from the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries.
Krakow Royal Castle and Cathedral – Wawel Hill, Krakow, Poland – Postcard from 1920-1921 – Source: National Library
In an interview given to Rzeczpospolita, published on July 10, 1920, prof. Szyszko-Bohusz made plans for the future. His team was in the process of designing an electric heating installation inside the castle. The future designation of individual rooms was also planned. Today, this plan may surprise some – Wawel was to become primarily a temporary residence of the Chief of State! The 2nd floor was to be occupied by representative rooms, and on the ground floor and the first floor by prof. Szyszko-Bohusz intended to organize a museum. Thank God that plan did not fell through!
Work on Wawel was possible due to Government subsidies
It is worth mentioning that work at Wawel was possible thanks to government subsidies. Like today, 100 years ago they were the main source of financing for the conservation of monuments. Professor Szyszko-Bohusz did not hide, however, that he was counting on the generosity of Poles – private donors. He announced that their names would be immortalized on the walls of Wawel. He fulfilled his promise. Today, going to Wawel along the road to Herbowa Gate, we pass a wall with built-in bricks with the names of the donors. Be sure to devote a moment to them during a holiday trip to Krakow!
Yours sincerly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug – Bringing You Krakow’s History
Chochołowska Valley. Dramatic scenes took place in the Chochołowska Valley. Tourists witnessed one of the horses fall down and hit the road. Despite this, the coachman after a few minutes harnessed him to the carriage again to continue his course.
The incident occurred on July 8, 2020. “It was very sultry that day and although the cabman claims that the horse stumbled – it is difficult to accept such a version as credible. Horses endure heat and humidity very badly. The author of the film also saw blood dripping from the nose of the animal” – quotes can be read on ratujkonie.pl . The case was publicized by the Viva! Foundation.
After a few minutes, the horse was again harnessed to the cab and probably had to continue the course. “Two adults with two small children rode in the cab. When the horse was lying down – they did not even dismount for a long time. This attitude saddens us twice – even such great suffering did not cause that they gave up comfort for the good of the animal. They probably went on …” – can be read on the Facebook profile of ratujkonie.pl.
Viva Foundation! protests
Horses in the Chochołowska Valley do not have such a difficult route as those from the route to Morskie Oko, but dangerous situations still happen. Viva Foundation has been protesting against the exploitation of horse work in the Tatras for years!
“We have been saying for years that the Tatras are not a place for horses. Even on such a potentially easy route and even with such a small load, compared to that from Morskie Oko, horses working in adverse Tatra conditions are subject to dramatic accidents, such as the one we have just learned from tourists wandering the Chochołowska Valley” – Anna Plaszczyk, from the Viva Foundation!
“Understanding the mechanism of thermoregulation and stopping work in conditions of high temperature and humidity is the only effective way to ensure the well-being of horses working in the Tatras. But the people have been ignoring this for years because profits are more important to them than the welfare of animals” – added Anna Plaszczyk.
What is your opinion on this? Have you ever been on a carriage drawn by horses – be it in the mountains or in a big city (like Krakow, for example)? Have you ever thought of the conditions the horses are kept?
The 20-minute ticket, which now costs 3.40 PLN, will be converted into a 10-minute ticket for 3 PLN. A 50-minute ticket for 4.60 PLN will be replaced by an hourly ticket for 6 PLN. However, a monthly ticket for all lines on the Krakow Card, which has so far cost PLN 69, will cost PLN 96. Gazeta Krakowska was the first to write about the fact that officials will consider increasing the ticket prices in June. Now they know the details.
Info taken from Gazeta Krakowska (Polish Site for News in Krakow)
MPK_Tram-line-for-11-November_Krakow_Poland
There is no topic today.
This is a city council topic, and they also need data. I don’t think anyone would want to talk about the new fare today. It is known that tax revenues dropped in April and May, but we must see what June frostbite will look like.
Łukasz Franek, director of the Public Transport Board, told Gazeta Krakowska firmly in June when they asked about increases.
Officials are thinking about increasing the ticket prices
From Gazeta Krakowska’s unofficial information from several sources, it appears that officials were considering the issue of increasing ticket prices. These would cover season tickets. The idea of eliminating tickets for one line or even two comes back. Single tickets would also increase in price or stay at current prices, but with less time. Gazeta Krakowska now has confirmation of this.
The New MPK Ticket Fare Proposal – Krakow, Poland
New Ticket prices – see below
The single ticket for 6 PLN (now 4.6 PLN)
10-minute ticket for 3 PLN (now 20-minute ticket for 3.6 PLN)
90-minute ticket for 8 PLN (now 6 PLN)
There will be no more monthly tickets for 1 or 2 lines!
Current monthly ticket for all lines (with Krakow Card) in Strefa I = 69 PLN. It will cost 96 PLN (Strefa I) and 110 PLN (Strefa I and II).
This is a preliminary proposal, for now, nothing binding. Councilors will make the final decision, they will be able to agree on different variants or not. We do not impose any variants
Sebastian Kowal from the Public Transport Board, who prepared a preliminary draft of increases
MPK – Trams in Krakow – The Valentine’s Special Tram
New ticket proposals – see below
A new feature that may appear is the possibility of buying a half-year ticket for all lines on the Krakow Card (i.e. for people paying taxes in Krakow) for 480 or 550 PLN (Strefa I and II).
Zone III is also to be a novelty – these are the farthest regions outside the city, where now public transport is coming from Krakow. A monthly ticket for the 1st zone, excluding KK, will cost 128 PLN, for the 2nd zone – 96 PLN, for the third – 69 PLN. On the other hand, a ticket without Karta Krakowska for Strefa I and II will cost 146 PLN (the same for zones II and III), and for all zones 166 PLN.
Additionally, the tariff will include a monthly social ticket for 30, 50, and 70 PLN (for zones I, I and II, I, II, and III) and an activation ticket for the unemployed for 50 and 100 PLN (zones I and II and II).
MPK_Trams In Krakow_The New Lajkonik Tram – Poland
Why will the prices increase?
Officials explain that increases are necessary because of the coronavirus epidemic that plowed urban transport systems.April data shows the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the ticket sales – only 4.12 million PLN, compared to 23.76 million PLN in April 2019. It was a bit better in May – 8.89 million PLN (over PLN 16 million less than in May last year).
Now data from June is available. At the end of the second quarter, monthly revenues from ticket sales (this applies to both one-time and network tickets purchased this month) in Kraków amounted to 13.2 million PLN. It is over 4 million PLN more than in May, but it is still very little. In June last year, this amount was 22.7 million PLN.
We estimate that by the end of the year, the revenues from tickets will be at the level we forecast, i.e. in autumn they will reach 70 % of the amount before the pandemic and we will lose 100 – 140 million PLN by the end of the year.
Łukasz Franek, the director of the Public Transport Board
Already in this year’s city budget, a public deficit of PLN 300 million was planned for public transport. If the above assumptions are met, then at the end of the year the budget hole in public transport will start to reach half a billion zlotys.
A resident ticket for all lines would increase in price from 69 to 96 PLN (for Strefa I), by almost 40 %. The people of Krakow are under shock and already started to protest the incoming changes. How are they to blame for the Global Pandemic?! Why should the prices rise and were there any changes brought by MPK to the Public Transport of Krakow? Of course there are a couple of new trams and investments are being made, but does that reflect the huge changes in the prices of the tickets!?
In Poznań, for a monthly ticket for all lines within the city limits you have to pay about 150 PLN, in Wroclaw 90 PLN, in Gdańsk 99 PLN, in Łódź 96 PLN. In Warsaw, as in Krakow, residents can count on a discount – they pay 98 PLN for a ticket for the near and distant zone, while the standard ticket price for zone 1 is PLN 110.
What do you think of these incoming changes? Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug, Bringing You The Latest Krakow News
The German daily Allgaeuer Zeitung wrote about its “Polish concentration camp” on its website. The Polish Embassy in Berlin intervened in this matter, demanding that the editors quickly correct this false statement.
News Taken from TVP.INFO (Site in Polish Language)
Auschwitz I – the “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign at the entrance
Allgaeuer Zeitung mentioned Auschwitz as “Polish” Concentration Camp
The newspaper, discussing the story of Enegelbert M., wrote that he was one of the last prisoners who was tattooed with a camp number on his shoulder in the “Polish” Auschwitz concentration camp.
Requests for correction
A press spokesman for the Polish embassy in Berlin, Dariusz Pawłoś, told Polish Radio that a letter was sent to the editor of the Allgaeuer Zeitung in Kemtpen immediately to request a correction.
“Words such as “Polish concentration camps” or “Polish death camps” or “concentration camps in Poland” are not only offensive to Poles and Polish citizens who suffered and died in these camps, but also to their families and the whole Polish society” – said Dariusz Pawłoś.
Auschwitz – Poland
Always on the look-out
The press spokesman for the Polish Embassy assured that the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin and Polish consular offices will always intervene in situations where the history of Poland is falsified and when the good name of Poland and Poles is defiled.
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug Bringing You The Polish News (Even From Abroad)
Poznań authorities had an environmentally friendly way to encourage residents to participate in the presidential election. The city will plant as many trees as the percent of the population that went to vote.
The Poznań authorities promise that new trees will be planted in the housing estate where on Sunday, July 12 will be the highest turnout during the second round of presidential elections. Their number will depend on the turnout.
“Thank you very much for the very high turnout in the first round of presidential elections and I encourage you to vote on July 12. Let our internal competition between housing estates be an additional motivation” – says Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of Poznań.
What did the Mayor of Poznań say?
We will plant as many trees as the percentage points in the housing estate with the highest turnout. For example, if it is 80 percent this estate can expect 80 new trees. We all want to have them in our surroundings as much as possible, so I count on fierce competition.
Jacek Jaśkowiak, Mayor of Poznań
Among the species that are at stake are, among others, red chestnut, plane tree, oak or linden. These are trees that work well in urban conditions. For the first years they will be provided with care. Planting will take place in autumn, when the trees are resting and their growth process will not be disturbed.
How did the voting go, in Poznań, during the second round?
It seems that the stimulus did work! During the presidential election in 2015, the turnout among the inhabitants in the first round of Poznań was 55.39% & second round 55.34%.
What was the turnout in the second round of the previous presidential election in Poznań? 63.2% of residents did cast their vote there, so I say the eco-friendly stimulus did work out! Now it only remains to wait for fall and see if the trees will be planted in the district that held the most votes.
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug Bringing You The Polish News 🙂
Due to the change in the VAT matrix, the number of categories of goods with different VAT rates has decreased to around 100 from almost 250, which will make life easier for entrepreneurs
Quote fromDeputy Minister of Finance Jan Sarnowski
Different VAT Tax – Number of Categories has lowered
“Thanks to changes in VAT, we have made life easier for entrepreneurs. The number of goods that can be taxed at different rates has decreased significantly. By June 30, there were almost 250 categories of goods with different VAT rates. There are now about 100, which is more than half. Choosing a VAT rate will be much simpler and the risk of making a mistake will be much smaller”, said Jan Sarnowski (Deputy Minister of Finance).
How does this help the Polish entrepreneurs?
The deputy minister emphasized that thanks to the new matrix of VAT rates, around PLN 300 million per year will remain in the pockets of Poles, which will have a very real, positive effect on the wallets because the tax reduction covers many everyday products.
How does this help the Polish consumers?
“Changing the VAT matrix is very beneficial for consumers. By unifying VAT rates, we applied the downward equation principle. The lowest five-percent rate covered many necessities. This applies primarily to fruit and bread” – he added.
The deputy minister reminded that with the introduction of the new VAT matrix, the companies protecting binding power gained binding information (WIS). These are official, official decisions regarding the VAT rate that a taxpayer should apply to a given good or service.
“Since the implementation of VAT in Poland in 1993, the entrepreneur has not been able to confirm in a binding manner the correctness of the VAT rate he uses. Now we are closing this gap and we are giving companies the highest European level of security of law application” – Jan Sarnowski (Deputy Minister of Finance) added.
Yours truly,
The Twisted Red LadyBug, Bringing You News From Poland
The Poznań Regional Court issued a European Arrest Warrant for a former SS supervisor from the forced labor camp, Rzeczpospolita informed. The woman is 93 years old and lives in Germany.
The newspaper reports that the European Arrest Warrant was issued after “former SS overseer (SS Aufseherin) in the Mittweid forced labor camp, which was a branch of the German concentration camp KL Flossenbürg.”
This is the result of the investigative division of the Poznań IPN, which investigates the crimes committed in this camp. According to the newspaper, the woman is suspected of “complicity in committing in the years 1944–1945 crimes against humanity against Polish citizens imprisoned in this camp, involving their killings and deliberate creation of conditions aimed at their biological destruction.”
The allegations also concern her participation in the so-called death march of prisoners from Mittweida via Hainichen and Freiberg towards Prague. “During this evacuation, the camp crew shot dozens of prisoners, including two Polish women who could not withstand the pace of the march,” we read.
“Rzeczpospolita” reminds that Mittweid’s German camp was founded on October 9, 1944. There, detained after the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising; among them were also Poland. They were beaten regularly.
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