Reconceptualising counter-heritage: dynamics of emancipation at KL Plaszow Memorial Museum in Poland

Abstract

ABSTRACT Many WWII camps and killing sites in Poland were memorialised in the 1960s without public consultation. However, some camps, including Krakow’s KL Plaszow (featured in the film Schindler’s List), remained non-sites of memory , or spaces embodying sociologically significant gaps in collective memory: non-memory (Hirszowicz and Neyman 2001, Hirszorowicz and Neyman 2007). This article examines the conflict over establishing The KL Plaszow Memorial Museum and engages in a discussion of the concept of counter-heritage. Using Interviews, the study reveals how divergent stakeholders, including survivors’ descendants, museum representatives, local residents, and activists, navigate the intricate web of commemoration. Our analysis identifies the tensions and transformative potential within these commemorative conflicts across three interconnected time frames: the past’s tendency towards oblivion, the current role and significance, and future challenges. We argue that public consultations triggered the empowerment of various stakeholder groups, fostering a new vision for the institution. This vision broadens the museum’s mission from solely commemorating a difficult past to also facilitating present-day engagement. Adopting this vision could be particularly effective in promoting the emancipation of counter-heritage and in empowering local communities.