In the southern part of the Kampinoski Forest, in Palmiry, is one of the best known locations in Poland of Nazi crimes carried out during World War II. In total about 2000 people were shot here in secret executions between 7th December 1939 and 17th July 1941. The victims were members of the intelligentsia – detainees were brought here from prisons in Warsaw, mainly Pawiak, and executed next to prepared mass graves. Later shootings were carried out in other parts of the Kampinoski Forest.

The crimes in Palmiry were never meant to come to light – the killing fields were masked by the perpetrators by planting a forest, but thanks to the foresters the information reached the Polish public. A cemetery and mausoleum was built in Palmiry in 1948. Amongst the 2115 graves are many famous residents of Warsaw, including that of Janusz Kusocinski, a gold medallist in athletics at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

It is worth mentioning the project to erect a new building for the museum with a much larger exhibition space. It will be incorporated into the surrounding forest like a monument with a list of the victims that were executed here.

Museum of Struggle and Martyrdom – Palmiry (woj. Mazowieckie)

www.palmiry.mhw.pl