Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum in Poland Responds Via Video.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum has expressed its disappointment and disapproval after the ruling Law and Justice Party (PIS) of Poland used footage of the former death camp in a political advertisement. The advertisement was released in response to Poland’s opposition leader, Donald Tusk, calling for a march for democracy on 4 June.
The 14-second video featured the door of Auschwitz with the infamous inscription, “Arbeit Macht Frei” (work makes you free), asking viewers if they wanted to walk under such a slogan. In response, the museum has stated that using the camp as a theme in political advertising is an insult to the memory of the victims.
In a message shared by the museum on Twitter, they stated, “The instrumentalization of the tragedy of the people who suffered and died in the German Nazi camp Auschwitz is an insult to the memory of the victims, regardless of their side of the political debate. This is a sad, painful, and unacceptable manifestation of the moral and intellectual corruption of public debate.”
The use of Auschwitz in political advertising has sparked controversy, with many arguing that it is inappropriate to use such a tragic event for political gain. The museum’s message serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting the memory of those who suffered and died in the Holocaust.
