A patriotic and religious commemoration was held at the Treblinka Museum in honour of the victims of the Treblinka I Labour Camp and the victims of the Second World War

On 5 September 2026, a patriotic and religious commemoration was held at the Treblinka Museum in honour of the victims of the Treblinka I Labour Camp and the victims of the Second World War. The event was organised by the Parish of the Most Holy Trinity and St Anne in Prostyń, in cooperation with the Treblinka Museum.

The commemoration was attended by representatives of the families of former prisoners of the Treblinka I Labour Camp and of those murdered there, members of the clergy, representatives of national and local authorities, veterans, soldiers, scouts, schoolchildren, standard-bearers, representatives of cultural institutions, uniformed services and social organisations, as well as residents of nearby towns and villages.
The ceremony began at the Gravel Pit, from where the participants followed the Stations of the Cross to the Execution Site.
This was a particularly meaningful route, leading through the grounds where people had suffered and died many years ago. In silence, reflection and prayer, the participants stopped at each successive station, entrusting to God the memory of those whose lives had been brutally cut short by the war and the German occupation.
The Stations of the Cross therefore had not only a religious but also a symbolic dimension – it was a shared journey through the memory of the victims.
Afterwards, the participants gathered at the Execution Site, where Holy Mass was celebrated. This year, the liturgy was presided over by the Most Reverend Tadeusz Pikus, Bishop Emeritus.
The presence of the younger generation was particularly significant. It is they who, in the future, will become the guardians of the memory of those who can no longer tell their own stories. Their presence demonstrates that the memory of Treblinka does not end with the passing of the witnesses but is passed on to successive generations.
Soldiers and scouts also played an important role during the commemoration, standing guard of honour at the memorials.
Following the service, the participants had an opportunity to watch a short programme of words and music prepared by pupils from Prostyń and the Belfer’s Band ensemble.
Mr Józef Maliński, a member of the Association of Veterans of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners and the son of Righteous Among the Nations, also presented a Treblinka Museum employee with the Medal “For Merit to the ZKRPiBWP”.
The commemoration concluded with the laying of wreaths and the lighting of candles in front of the memorials at the Execution Site. In silence, the participants bowed their heads before the places commemorating the victims.
The flowers were an expression of tribute, the candles a symbol of remembrance, and the prayer a testament to the fact that we do not remain indifferent to the suffering of others.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Most Reverend Tadeusz Pikus, Bishop Emeritus, Fr Józef Poskrobko, Parish Priest of the Prostyń Parish, and Edward Kopówka, Director of the Treblinka Museum, also paid tribute to the victims of the former Treblinka II Extermination Camp by laying a wreath at the main monument.
Among the guests attending the commemoration were:Families of former prisoners of the Treblinka I Labour Camp.
Mr Józef Maliński, a member of the Association of Veterans of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners and the son of Righteous Among the Nations.

Representatives of national and local authorities, museums and cultural institutions:

Mr Robert Mamątow, Senator of the Republic of Poland, accompanied by his wife;
Ms Izabela Wrona, representative of the Siedlce Branch Office of the Mazovian Voivodeship Office;
Mr Jan Słomiak, Mayor of the Town and Municipality of Kosów Lacki, and Ms Urszula Wesołowska, Head of the Organisation and Civil Affairs Department at the Town and Municipality Office in Kosów Lacki;
Mr Dariusz Rafalik, Mayor of the Municipality of Małkinia Górna; Ms Agnieszka Jastrzębska, Treasurer of the Municipality of Małkinia Górna; Ms Lila Wiechowska, Councillor of the Małkinia Górna Municipal Council; and Mr Łukasz Szymańczyk, Councillor of the Małkinia Górna Municipal Council;
Ms Ewa Olszewska, Member of the Sokołów County Executive Board and Director of the Municipal Cultural Centre in Kosów Lacki;
Ms Marianna Kobylińska, Mayor of the Municipality of Sterdyń;
Ms Apolonia Stasiuk, Mayor of the Municipality of Repki;
Mr Grzegorz Krysiak, Mayor of the Municipality of Ceranów;
Mr Michał Chojnowski, Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport at the Ostrów Mazowiecka County Office;
Mr Sylwester Rytel-Andrianik, Councillor of the Sokołów County Council;
representatives of the Railway Security Guard: Mr Kamil Koźmiński, Regional Commander of the Railway Security Guard in Warsaw; Mr Piotr Frąckiewicz, Commander of the Railway Security Guard Post in Tłuszcz; and Mr Filip Stoczkowski, Railway Security Guard officer;
members of the Treblinka Museum Council, headed by Professor Zofia Chyra-Rolicz;
Mr Janusz Urbanowski, curator at the Museum of the Sadowne Region in Sadowne;
Ms Grażyna Wujek, Director of the Public Library in Małkinia Górna, together with library employees Ms Bożena Lińska and Ms Izabela Dziewulska;
Forester Krzysztof Frąc and Deputy Forester Marek Błoński of the Sokołów Forest District;
Ms Oksana Żochowska, Village Head of Poniatowo;
Mr Adam Wujek, Village Head of ProstyńRepresentatives of schools and young people, accompanied by their teachers and standard-bearing delegations.

The following took part in the commemoration:

School Complex in Kosów Lacki, with its standard, led by Headteacher Ms Hanna Przesmycka, together with teachers and pupils;
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Primary School in Kosów Lacki, with its standard, led by Deputy Headteacher Ms Beata Choińska, together with teachers and pupils;
“LUX SAPIENTIAE” Salesian School Complex in Sokołów Podlaski, with its standard, led by Headteacher Fr Mariusz Skawiński, together with teachers and pupils;
Maria Curie-Skłodowska School Complex No. 1 in Małkinia Górna, with its standard, led by Ms Justyna Kotowska, together with teachers and pupils;
Fryderyk Chopin Primary School No. 2 in Małkinia Górna, with its standard, including the standard entrusted to the school by the “Opocznik” District of the Home Army, led by Headteacher Ms Marta Jasionek, together with teachers and pupils;
John Paul II Primary School in Prostyń, with its standard, led by Headteacher Ms Agnieszka Steć, together with teachers and pupils;
Fr Jan Twardowski Primary School in Glina, with its standard, led by Ms Bożena Koziara and Ms Anna Stefańczuk, together with pupils;
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Primary School in Kiełczew, with its standard, led by Headteacher Mr Andrzej Koroś, together with teachers and pupils;
Adam Mickiewicz Primary School in Orło, with its standard, led by Headteacher Ms Małgorzata Dmochowska, together with teachers and pupils;
Maria Sadzewiczowa Secondary School in Łochów, with its standard, led by Mr Michał Kołodziejek, together with pupils;
Janusz Korczak Public Primary School in Jasienica, with its standard, together with teachers and pupils;
Mr Marcin Kruk, Headteacher of Janusz Korczak Primary School No. 3 in Ostrów Mazowiecka.

A particularly warm welcome was extended to the soldiers of the 22nd Military Cartographic Centre in Komorowo, led by Second Lieutenant Natalia Gajewska.

The event was also attended by scouts and Cub Scouts from the Janusz Korczak Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) District in Sokołów Podlaski, with their standard, led by District Commander Sławomir Pasik, Ewa Roguska and District Chaplain Fr Artur Rogowski. The 29th “Pogodni” Scout Troop from Ostrów Mazowiecka, led by Scout Leader Grażyna Duda, was also present.

Words of gratitude were addressed to representatives of the Fire Service and the RM-MEDITRANS Independent Public Healthcare Centre in Sokołów Podlaski, who helped safeguard the health and safety of the participants. Officers of the Sokołów Podlaski County Police Headquarters also ensured the safety of those attending the commemoration.

The participants also included representatives of: