The second phase of archaeological research at the Będzin Ghetto Fighters’ House took place from April 1-3, 2026. This represents another crucial step in the process of uncovering material traces of history, previously recorded primarily in witness accounts. The work, funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and in collaboration with the Wykop na Poziomie team of professional archaeologists, aligns with contemporary archaeology of memory – site-specific activities conducted in situ, in places directly linked to the experience of the past.
The starting point for this year’s research was the discovery in 2025, when a so-called coal bunker was uncovered at the back of the garden at what is now 24 Rutki Lakier Street – a hiding place in which, according to sources, a group of young people survived for several days, most likely until August 5, 1943. This is the only known case of this type of shelter in the Będzin Ghetto, where all its occupants survived. Their fates varied, but surviving evidence, including: Chawa Lenczner and Chajka Klinger confirm the unique character of this place.
This year’s research, based on both the analysis of written sources—including Meier Schulman’s account—and the invaluable recollections of historical witnesses—in particular Przemysław Zaprzelski and Maria Polak—led to the discovery of a long-sought tunnel and stairs leading to a hiding place. It was in this tunnel that unique relics were discovered: fragments of a wooden floor and an electrical wire preserved in the wall structure. This discovery provides material confirmation of the operation of the radio station, which was repeatedly mentioned in the accounts of members of the Jewish resistance movement.
This year’s research, based on the analysis of written sources—including Meier Schulman’s account—and the invaluable recollections of witnesses to history—particularly Przemysław Zaprzelski and Maria Polak—led to the discovery of a long-sought-after tunnel and stairs leading to the hideout. It was in this tunnel that unique relics were discovered: fragments of a wooden floor and an electrical wire preserved in the wall structure. This discovery provides material confirmation of the operation of the radio station, which was repeatedly mentioned in accounts by members of the Jewish resistance movement.
These discoveries are unprecedented in Poland. After more than eighty years, contemporary archaeology allows not only for the verification of historical accounts but also for the restoration of the physical memory of a place that served as a center of activity for Zionist youth organizations and resistance in the Będzin ghetto in 1942–1943. Today’s research is not merely a reconstruction of the past—it is its re-presentation, an act of restoring the significance of a space where history remains alive.
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The project “House of the Ghetto Fighters in Będzin – research, documentation, and conceptual work on the memorial site, stage 2” was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund – a state earmarked fund.
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