29 June 2016
RESOLUTION OF THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE MUSUEM OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR
The Advisory Board expresses its collective and unanimous opinion that the Museum of the Second World War is an unprecedented achievement. It will set a new standard in the public history of the twentieth century, and make accessible to a Polish and international audience, as never before, the history of the war. Precisely because it is the only institution that presents the entire international experience of the conflict, it enables Poles and others to appreciate Poland's centrality to the century's greatest conflict and tragedy. The Museum will be seen as an extraordinary contribution of Poland to world culture, the more so since it was built entirely with Polish funds, and will be located in Gdansk, where the Second World War began in Europe.
We, as a group of Polish and international historians, endorse and commend the brilliant work of the Museum's director and staff in the preparation of the physical site of the Museum as well as its permanent exhibition. The exhibition is an integral whole, achieved with an admirable synthesis of scholarly expertise and artistic presentation. It integrates the newest scholarship from Poland and abroad with Poland's own historical heritage, as represented by the thousands of items donated by citizens of Poland and others. Expressing our full agreement with the resolution of the Museum's Board of Trustees of 17 June, we see no reason whatsoever to alter the exhibition, or to merge it with another institution. We therefore strongly oppose any initiative designed to alter or liquidate the Museum. We believe strongly that the Museum and its permanent exhibition should be completed as presently conceived.
It is an honor for us as historians to take part, as the Advisory Board, in the creation of such an extraordinary work of public history. We are eager at any moment and in any forum to discuss the Museum as a whole and all aspects of the permanent exhibition, and extend an invitation to debate to all those concerned with the history of the Second World War.
Prof. Elie Barnavi, Prof. Jerzy W. Borejsza, Prof. Wtodzimierz Borodziej, Prof. Andrzej Chwalba, Prof. Ulrich Herbert, Prof. Timothy Snyder, Prof. Tomasz Szarota, Prof. Anna Wolff-Powqska