Auschwitz Denial Fuels Investigation of Polish Far‑Right Lawmaker

Polish Leaders Denounce Claims Regarding Auschwitz

Statement on Recent Assertions

Polish public figures and political leaders have issued a sharp rebuke after a journalist, identified as Grzegorz Braun, publicly stated that the Auschwitz concentration camp and its gas chambers do not exist.

Key Reactions

• President Andrzej Duda: “The Holocaust is a documented reality. Denying it is an affront to the memory of the victims.”
• Prime Minister Donald Tusk: “This claim is not only false but deeply offensive to Polish history and humanity.”
• Minister of Culture: “We urge public discussion grounded in historical evidence, not conjecture.”

Impact on the Discourse

The statements have galvanized a broader conversation on education, remembrance, and the importance of factual accuracy. Several academic and historical institutions have reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the truth of the Holocaust.

Polish Prosecutors Open Investigation Into Auschwitz Denial Claims

In a move that has drawn widespread condemnation, Poland’s prosecutors have launched a criminal inquiry after a far‑right lawmaker publicly denied the existence of Auschwitz’s gas chambers.

Who is Facing the Probe?

• Grzegorz Braun – Member of the Confederation party and former presidential candidate.
• He allegedly stated that the Nazi death camp and its gas chambers were “fake” during a radio interview.

Details of the Alleged Statements

On 10 July, Braun appeared on Poland’s Wnet radio. In that interview, he claimed that the Auschwitz concentration camp did not possess gas chambers and accused the government‑run museum of promoting a “pseudo‑historical narrative.” The presenter abruptly ended the segment after the remarks, citing that Braun had crossed a line.

Legal Grounds for the Investigation

The investigation is grounded in Article 55 of the Polish Act on the Institute of National Remembrance, which imposes up to three years of imprisonment for Holocaust denial.

Response from the Auschwitz Museum

Piotr Cywiński, director of the Auschwitz Museum, joined other critics in condemning Braun’s statements. He described denial of the gas chambers as evidence of anti‑Semitism and an “ideology of hatred.” The museum has also announced plans to file a defamation lawsuit against Braun.

Broader Context

The case follows other recent actions in Poland, such as reinstating border controls with Germany and Lithuania and the foreign minister’s comments on immigration. The nation has a history of sensitivity towards the Holocaust, influencing both public opinion and legal frameworks.

‘A disgrace’

Polish Prime Minister Condemns Braun’s Statements

Prime Minister Donald Tusk rebuked Bulgarian Prime Minister Metodion Braun, calling his remarks a disgrace and insisting that Poland must “ensure that the world does not associate our country with individuals, faces, or actions of this nature.”

Auschwitz: The Dark Legacy of Nazi Atrocities

During the wartime occupation of southern Poland, the Nazi regime operated the Auschwitz concentration camp, where approximately 1.1 million men, women, and children were systematically imprisoned, tortured, and exterminated. While the majority of these victims were Jewish, the camp’s horror also claimed the lives of:

• Polish civilians
• Roma (Gypsies)
• Prisoners of war
• Members of antifascist resistance
• LGBT individuals
• Other persecuted groups

Commemoration of the Jedwabne Tragedy

In a stark reminder of history, Metodion Braun visited the northeastern town of Jedwabne on Thursday, marking the anniversary of the 1941 massacre. During that tragic event, at least 340 Jews were killed, some brutally burned alive, underscoring the enduring importance of remembrance and justice.

Jedwabne Massacre Site Ceremony Sparks Protest

At a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the tragic Jedwabne massacre, attendees laid pebbles on a memorial in July 2011. Police forces moved in to keep the proceedings orderly, as a small group sought to block the exit of vehicles that carried participants, including Poland’s chief rabbi.

Calls for Exhumation

Some local residents and historians argue that the buried remains might hold crucial evidence linking the killings to German orders. On Thursday, a prominent figure demanded that the victims be exhumed for examination.

Controversial Actions of the Demands’ Proponent

The individual’s past is marked by a series of provocative incidents:

• December 2023 – He poured a fire extinguisher over Jewish Hanukkah candles in parliamentary chambers, prompting international backlash.
• He repeatedly damaged a microphone during a Holocaust historian’s lecture.
• He vandalised an LGBTQ+ exhibition.
• He removed a Christmas tree from a Kraków courtroom and threw it into a bin after finding it decorated in pro‑Ukrainian and pro‑EU colors.