Our mission

The Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk is an institution whose work is guided by the motto: "Culture in Many Dimensions". It has not only one of the largest exhibition spaces in Europe, with many artifacts on show, but also presents through the use of modern technologies the history of the civilian population who lived through the Second World War, as well as the uniqueness of the Polish experience compared to other nations.

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

The task of the Museum of the Second World War is to shape a narrative of history, in which the Second World War is presented in a modern way from the perspective of the unique experience of Poles, taking into account both the greater politics of the time as well as the attitudes of ordinary people towards the reality of war and the nightmare of the occupation of the Polish Republic by two totalitarian regimes.

 

Our mission is to tell the stories of the victims of World War II, as well as its heroes – who are often forgotten and pushed to the margins of history. Through the activities of the institution I manage, we want to shape the awareness of Poles, but also of our foreign guests. We aim to disseminate knowledge about the most tragic conflict in history, not only within the Museum building itself, but - thanks to our cooperation with many partners - outside it too. We are an inclusive institution, ready to inform about the facts of the Second World War  wherever possible -  in Poland, in Europe and in the wider world.

 

We aim to cultivate the memory of history through our exhibitions, but also - in line with our slogan "Culture in Many Dimensions" - by preparing numerous cultural events, such as concerts and theatrical performances, as well as through our studio cinema. We aim to make sure that our message is of interest to various age groups, which is why we always present reliable and valuable historical content through the use of the latest technologies. Without question, education and the teaching of young people is one of our greatest challenges.

 

The most important challenge for the coming years remains the construction of the Museum of Westerplatte and the 1939 War. This task is extremely important and a great responsibility, because with the creation and operation of such an open-air museum, which will be a kind of national memory park, we will be able to tell our guests from all over the world how on September 1st, 1939, World War II broke out at Westerplatte. After decades of neglect of the Westerplatte location, we are committed to both restoring and rebuilding the remains of the original buildings as well as returning to the original communication routes belonging to the Military Transit Depot, and increasing awareness of what exactly happened on the peninsula in the first days of World War II. We will create a space focused around three symbols: the authenticity of the battlefield, Polish attitudes during World War II and the beginning of this tragic conflict.

 

I personally invite you to visit the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, to visit our exhibitions and to take advantage of the rich cultural experiences on offer.

 

Karol Nawrocki, PhD

Director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk