More than eight decades after the atrocities of the Holocaust, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum continues to confront rising challenges posed by Holocaust denial and distortion, amid a global increase in antisemitism. The museum’s conservation and research teams are intensifying efforts to safeguard thousands of artifacts and preserve historical truth in the face of misinformation spreading primarily through social media and politicized narratives.
Between 1940 and 1945, the Nazis exterminated over 1.1 million people at Auschwitz, approximately 90 percent of whom were Jewish. Among those deported were the family of Hennie Seijffers-Cohen, a Dutch woman who, along with her children Rozetta, Salomon, and Nettie, was murdered upon arrival at the Sobibor extermination camp in May 1943. Her parents and husband had been killed earlier at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Today, the museum houses an extensive collection of personal belongings—110,000 shoes, thousands of suitcases, prosthetic limbs, eyeglasses, and prayer shawls—all confiscated upon victims’ arrival at the camp. These items serve as powerful evidence of the crimes committed there. Christine Rosse, head of conservation, emphasized the importance of preserving these artifacts not only as memorials but as irrefutable documentation of history. However, she noted the challenge is immense, as there are insufficient resources to safeguard every item amid ongoing deterioration and the sheer volume of objects.
The museum also recently discovered a pack of cards hidden in a barracks ceiling as part of ongoing conservation efforts, highlighting the continual uncovering of historical material. The museum holds more than 14,000 letters written by victims, adding personal dimensions to the historical record.
Educational initiatives remain a crucial component in countering Holocaust denial. The International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust (ICEAH) in Oświęcim, Poland, has expanded its educational programs, producing over 100 publications last year and constructing accommodations to host international volunteers and scholars. Piotr Cywiński, director of the museum, stressed that combating misinformation is essential, particularly as youth gain access to unregulated online content from a very young age. He expressed concern about popular literary works that fictionalize the Holocaust without rigorous research, potentially distorting public understanding of Auschwitz.
The rising tide of antisemitism and Holocaust denial has prompted action from international bodies. In 2024, the European Parliament revoked the legal immunity of Polish far-right politician Grzegorz Braun, who faces charges related to Holocaust denial—a crime punishable by imprisonment in Poland. Braun has publicly dismissed Auschwitz’s gas chambers as fictitious, assertions widely condemned by historians and museum officials. Dr. Piotr Setkiewicz, head of the museum’s Research Centre, dismissed such claims as baseless and criticized political figures who distort history.
Heightened concerns about Holocaust denial in schools prompted UNESCO earlier this year to report a surge in antisemitic hate speech and Holocaust-related conspiracy theories across Europe. A study by UNESCO found that 61 percent of teachers in 23 EU countries encountered Holocaust denial or distortion among their students.
At the museum, the “Book of Names” memorializes every identified Jewish victim. Among them, many relatives of victims like Hennie Seijffers-Cohen stand as a stark reminder of the personal losses suffered during the Holocaust. Letters preserved by families recount the harsh conditions endured by victims in transit camps such as Westerbork and the despair faced before deportation to extermination camps.
As survivors become fewer, the museum and educational institutions remain dedicated to preserving memory and historical truth, responding vigorously to contemporary challenges. Their work is aimed at ensuring that the atrocities of the Holocaust are neither forgotten nor misrepresented.