Drzewa „żywe pomniki” w Muzeum-Miejscu Pamięci w Bełżcu
‘Living Monument’ Trees at the Museum – Memorial Site at Belzec

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the history of trees growing in the area of former extermination camp in Belzec, since its establishment in 1941 until the opening of the Museum – Memorial Site in 2004. Using the notion of landscape, understood, after Simon Schama, as a cultural representation of nature, the author makes an attempt at reconstructing the camp and post-camp landscape. He subsequently proceeds to discussion of a new commemoration project for whose needs most of the trees were cut whilst only a few older oaks were assigned the role of witnesses. Referring to Giorgio Agamben’s typology of witnesses, the author shows that trees offer an example of another type of witness. The notions used by the Italian philosopher preclude non-human forms of testimony and prevent understanding of what trees growing in Shoah venues are.

• Details
• Contents