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Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto

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viajera67
viajera67
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A Basalt Block Commerates the Jewish Rebels Fighting Back

  • September 23, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Praskipark from Warsaw, Poland
A Basalt Block Commerates the Jewish Rebels Fighting Back

The Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto (Pomnik Bohaterow Getta) is located by the square of the same name, which you will find between Anielwicza Zamenhofa and Karmelicka. The square is at the end of a wooded park which is just around the corner from where my son lives and I very often take a stroll with his golden retriever to this spot.

The monument was unveiled shortly after World War II, in 1948 and commemorates the Heroes of the Ghetto in the form of a huge block built of basalt rock with figures emerging from its centre. On both sides of the monument there are steps leading up to the centre of the block. It is a mammoth piece of work, dominating and extremely dark. At the foot of the sculpture wreaths and flowers are often placed on certain days to commemorate the happenings in the Ghetto.

The monument presents the rebels fighting for their inevitable death to be an honourable one. In 1970, it was here that the German Chancellor Willi Brandt knelt in front of the monument in remembrance of the victims of the Nazi atrocities..

Close by is a stall selling books, pamphlets and other souvenirs illustrating the plight of the Jews in this area. The square and the monument is frequented by bus tours from Israel and other countries so there is always a group of people standing around the monument taking photographs.

Several benches are located within the square and it is a very pleasant spot to sit and read under the trees but not at the moment as construction work is taking place. Half of the entire park has been closed off and work is commencing on the Jews of Poland Historical Institute. You are still able to obtain access to the monument and its square. Although the new Institute will spoil the overall look of the park I am pleased that at last a proper museum and Institute is being built to commemorate this appalling time in Warsaw's history as nearly all other monuments and museums are very low key. From the plans the new construction looks very modern in design and and some members of the public are not sure whether the design will fit in with the rest of the area. Personally, I think it will look just fine and am really looking forward to visiting the Institute as soon as its doors are open.

The Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto is within walking distance from Warsaw's major shopping complex Arkadia and from Kino Femina. Buses that go directly to the monument from Bankowy in the centre are 107 and 111.

Monument to the Ghetto Uprising

  • July 4, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by viajera67 from New York, New York
Monument to the Ghetto Uprising

From the Umschlagplatz, Ul. Kamelicka takes you through the Ghetto toward the Monument to the Ghetto Uprising. Walking through this residential district, you would have no idea that you are in what was once the Ghetto, except for small monuments indicating so along the way. It's a quiet residential area with large apartment buildings and an occasional small park. In one of these parks stands the Monument, an impressive sculpture depicting the Jews fighting back against the Nazis. The Monument is on the site of the former underground command bunker from which the valiant - but somewhat futile - uprising of 1943 was planned.

Walking around the Ghetto, I got a feel for just how large it was. The map provided at the tourist office outlines the Ghetto, but I just couldn't comprehend it until I walked at least a mile through and only saw a small piece of it. The walls around the Ghetto were torn down after the war, but small pieces of it still exist near the train station.

From journal One day in Warsaw

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