Introduction

Characterising sociological studies

Part I The memory of the camps in the political context

In communist Poland

Departure point: the 1940s

The fear of remembering in the policies of the PPR security apparatus

Politics and remembering the camps

Łambinowice – the breaktrough of 1977

After the 1989 transition

Breaking the taboo in Poland

The memory of the camps

Łambinowice, Świętochłowice, Potulice

The significance and instrumentalisation of memory in the 21st century

Part II Memory in flux

The symbolism of the postwar camps in Poland and the problem of trauma

Connotations

Camp-related terminology and categorising prisoners

A sense of stigma

Memory and commemoration: between emotions and politics

Motivations behind involvement in commemoration

Sources of knowledge about the camps

The problem of politicising commemoration

Memory contexts: dimensions, creations, and (re)interpretations

Language and narratives

Obstacles to commemoration

Suggested forms of commemoration

Mysterious ways of commemorations: challenges and risks

Challenges in holding commemoration

Difficult cooperation on commemorating the camps

Are we forgetting? The issue of the postwar camps in Poland in the Polish and German public spheres

Concluding remarks

APPENDIX

Works cited

Archives

Polish press – national and regional periodicals

Secondary sources

Internet sources