On 23 October 2024, at the Lublin Conference Centre, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the State Museum at Majdanek. It was a spontaneous occasion for a meeting within the circle of museologists and friends of the Museum, reminding of the institution’s history, presentation of present-day activity as well as honouring the most deserving employees.

While welcoming nearly 200 guests—the former prisoners of Majdanek, representatives of cultural and academic institutions from across the country, and local government officials—Tomasz Kranz, the director of the State Museum at Majdanek, emphasised the Museum's unique role. He noted that it was the first museum in the world established to commemorate the victims of the Second World War. “This fact alone confirms our distinctive documentary value and the social mandate of our institution,” he stated. He also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors and the dedication of the Museum's employees.

In a congratulatory letter, Hanna Wróblewska, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, wrote: “Everyone who crosses the threshold of this place [the Museum at Majdanek] confronts a history that is both difficult and essential to understand and cannot be forgotten. The Museum at Majdanek symbolises the fight for truth. Your work—as museum employees, historians, educators, and tour guides—is not only about preserving the legacy of the past but also about ensuring the memory of the victims and the lessons of history remain alive and present in the consciousness of societies around the world.” The letter was read by Piotr Szpanowski, deputy director of the Ministry’s Department of the Cultural Heritage

Speeches delivered by representatives of organisations connected to the Second World War, as well as those representing museums and cultural institutions, were also of great importance. Michał Syska, Deputy Head of the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression, gave a commemorative speech. On behalf of the Polish Association of Museologists, its head, Michał Niezabitowski, also addressed the gathering. Robert Kotowski, head of the ICOM National Committee Poland, spoke as well. Local government representatives included Vice Voivode of the Lublin Voivodeship Andrzej Maj, member of the Voivodeship Board Marcin Szewczak, and the Mayor of Lublin Krzysztof Żuk.

A highlight of the jubilee was the solemn ceremony of honouring the Museum's most deserving employees with decorations and commemorative medals. The following awards were presented in accordance with the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland:

Golden Cross of Merit: Krzysztof Andrzej Tarkowski
Silver Cross of Merit: Anna Barbara Wójcik
Gold Medal for Long Service: Marta Ewa Jabłońska, Mariola Barbara Kuryło, Jolanta Laskowska, Marian Józef Matacz
Silver Medal for Long Service: Ewa Małgorzata Koper, Łukasz Adam Myszala, Anna Karolina Wójtowicz

The Minister of Culture and National Heritage also decorated Grzegorz Plewik with the Decoration of Honour Meritorious for Polish Culture. The awards were presented by Vice Voivode Andrzej Maj.

Additionally, the State Museum at Majdanek received a commemorative diploma and the Medal of the Voivode of Lublin Voivodeship. The Medal of 550 Years of the Lublin Voivodeship was presented by Marcin Szewczak on behalf of the Voivode.

Mayor Krzysztof Żuk awarded the Museum the Medal Gloria Lublinensi for its outstanding contributions to the city of Lublin and its inhabitants. He also honoured Director Tomasz Kranz with the Medal of Merit for the City of Lublin. The following individuals received the Mayor’s Medal: Marek Górski, Robert Jabłoński, Tomasz Jaszcz, Tomasz Jędruszczak, Wojciech Martyniuk, Marek Rebizant, Stanisława Segit, Sławomir Staszewski, and Artur Wołoszyn.

The jubilee gala was graced by a performance of the musicians from the Karol Namysłowski Symphony Orchestra in Zamość, conducted by Paweł Kos-Nowicki. Guests also viewed a series of short films dedicated to the Museum's activities.

The event was part of the project “Jubilee of 80 Years of the State Museum at Majdanek (the jubilee celebration, science conference, jubilee publishing, mural)” and was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.