MEDIA RELEASE
by The Ulma Family Musem of Poles Saving Jews in World War II and The Society of Friends of Markowa concerning the initiation of the Polish-German Dialogue Forum of “The Home of the Blessed Ulmas”
The delegation of the German city of Esens, Lower Saxony, led by Harald Hinrics, the Mayor of Esens, took part in the observance of the National Day of Remembrance of Poles Saving Jews under the German occupation, which fell on the 80th anniversary of the execution perpetrated in Markowa by the German nazis on the Polish family of Ulma and the Jewish Goldman family, whom the Ulmas gave shelter in their home.
The main reason why Esens and Markowa made contact was the fact that Eilert Dieken, “the hangman of Markowa” lived in Esens after the war up until he died in 1960. After the war, in Esens, Dieken served as the chief of state police and was regarded as a respected citizen of this town.
While heading the German gendarmerie in the Polish city of Łańcut Dieken was responsible for the crimes committed by the German nazi police force in the Łańcut region and especially for organizing and personally overseeing the execution of the Goldman and Ulma families on 24 March 1944.
The Ulma Family Museum of Poles Saving Jews in Markowa and the Society of Friends of Markowa in alliance with Mr. Harald Hinricks, the Mayor of the city of Esens, and the local governor of the Łańcut powiat district Mr. Adam Krzysztoń initiated the activities of the Polish-German Dialogue Forum of “The Home of the Blessed Ulmas” during the first unfolding of the Blessed Ulma Family Remembrance Days meetings, which took place in Markowa on 23 – 25 March 2024.
The geographically distant communities of Markowa and Esens were linked by tragic events which took place 80 years ago. Today, in the course of cooperation by the museums of Markowa and Esens and the joint work on initiatives on the Polish-German culture of remembrance, we shall act to reinstate the historical truth about German responsibility for crimes perpetrated in the course of WW2 on the territory of Germany-occupied Poland. Of parallel importance are the joint efforts in the realm of culture, education and upbringing for the civic society. Through such endeavours, the future generations of Poles and Germans will be able to forge relations between their nations and states based on human solidarity and the heritage of history. The Forum’s activities will help to strengthen the ties between people: the ties resulting from mutual trust and creative collaboration in the field of culture of remembrance.
The talks conducted in Markowa and Łańcut give hope that the heritage of the Blessed Ulma Family may provide foundations for dialogue and cooperation between the Esens and Markowa communities.
The picture shows an icon depicting the Blessed Ulma Family and represents a part of the triptych by Mateusz Środoń. The triptych was painted in 2023 and was offered as a gift to the Ulma Museum of Poles Saving the Jews by the Dobry Grunt Foundation and the Catholic Intelligentsia Club (KIK) of Warsaw.