Konin Cemetery Memorial Project

As most readers will recall, the Gombin Society has been planning a project to erect a memorial at the Konin cemetery since almost immediately after the trip to Gombin in 1999. Though it only took a few months for the impact of the visit to the mass grave on the edge of Konin's Catholic cemetery to stir several people to start exploring ideas for a memorial project, it has unfortunately taken until now to get a concrete plan assembled, approved and coordinated with support in Poland.

Background and History

For readers that may not be aware of this project, it came about as a result of a trip to the Konin cemetery during the Society's fall 1999 trip to Poland. Though the basic facts surrounding the cemetery and Jewish mass grave were known prior to the trip to Poland, actually visiting the mass grave in the Konin cemetery was an extremely moving event for many, if not all of the attendees. (Note: Please see the references below for details regarding the history of Konin, the Work Camp, Gombiners that were sent there and the creation of the mass grave in the Catholic cemetery.)

The first thing I noticed upon arriving at the site of the mass grave is how banal it appears. Located on the outer edge of the Catholic cemetery, its basic appearance and condition is very similar to the surrounding graves, excluding obvious factors such as its size and the star of David on the tombstone. Not until after much reflection does the fact that it does not appear unusual make an impact. There is no damage or graffiti on the tombstone; it was neatly cared-for and flowers were found on the site when we arrived. We were told an anonymous local inhabitant looked after the gravesite and regularly cleared leaves away, brought flowers, etc. Its also notable to point out that a mere 10 feet away, just beyond the outer edge of and all along the cemetery's border, there was much trash, broken glass, etc. Because of its location on the border, this site could very easily have been neglected and become part of the outer border, however the loving care it has received for more than 50 years has very clearly led to it being treated as part of the Konin community's revered past.

The tombstone currently over the mass grave has a brief inscription in Polish, which no one ever recalls the translation of, which indirectly led to this project. Several Society members independently reached roughly the same conclusion, that the site needed another sign, preferably in English to allow more visitors to read it, which captured the basics of who was buried there and why. The project goal is simply that: to erect a stone Matzevah with a simple plaque noting the events and a vow by Gombiner survivors and descendents to Never Forget the victims buried there.

Initial authorization and token funding was sent to Dr. Lucja Nowak, the director of The Regional Konin Museum in Poland in May of 2001, to begin the process of requesting proposals, reviewing language and wording issues with the Polish and local government, etc. After much time and numerous obstacles, we are now represented pro bono by Michael Traison, a lawyer of the International law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone who is very active in Poland in preserving Jewish heritage. He made the breakthrough in the negotiations with Dr. Nowak and the artist who designed the Matzevah. We have recently reached basic agreement on project specifics as summarized below. We now need to act decisively to build on the recent project momentum to fund, authorize and complete the project.

Current Status

The current plan is to erect a stone matzevah, using local stone in minimalist style similar to the other tombstones in the surrounding cemetery, inlaid with a metal plaque, engraved with the following simple text, in English and Polish:

HERE LIE THE REMAINS OF JEWISH PRISONERS 
MURDERED BY THE NAZIS AT THE KONIN FORCED LABOR CAMP IN 1942 AND 1943 
BEING JEWISH WAS THEIR ONLY CRIME 
MAY THEY FIND ETERNAL PEACE 
WE SHALL NOT FORGET YOU! 
JEWISH GOMBINER SURVIVORS AND DESCENDANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, 2003

The stone will be located adjacent to the mass grave and will supplant the existing tombstone; site arrangement will be decided after final proposals have been reviewed and exact placement approved.

Project Funding Status

The current project is estimated to cost approximately US$3000, though exact costs cannot be determined until final proposals are received and the Gombin Society Board selects and approves a specific design. To date, a little over US$850 has been donated to the Gombin Society earmarked specifically for this project, most of that contributed several years ago. This is amazing considering the funds were donated without a dedicated fundraising effort or even a specific project plan. However, it is also a clear indication of how deeply Konin and the cemetery history affected those who have heard the story. To date, contributors include several people who visited the site that rainy day in September 1999 as well as a few others who have only heard the story.

Please consider making a contribution to the Gombin Society to help us complete this project. We believe we can complete the project within the estimated cost, however we need to proceed relatively quickly in order to take advantage of the recent successful negotiations. Please send your contributions marked "Konin Cemetery Project" and they will be set aside from other Society funds, exclusively to fund this project. We will record all gifts and thank all non-anonymous contributors in a future issue of this newsletter, however your true thanks will be in knowing you've helped keep the memory of the Konin victims alive for future generations.

Personally, I would like to deeply thank two people: Leon Zamosc for bringing the Konin cemetery history to my attention and arranging the Gombin Society's visit during our trip to Gombin in 1999, and Ada Holtzman for her burning passion, inexhaustible source of knowledge of all things Gombin, and amazing patience regarding this project. Please help me thank them by helping us complete this important project, which will help preserve the memory of those that suffered at Konin as well as educate unknown others who will help future generations trying to look back and understand.

List of Known Victims Buried in Konin Mass Grave

AJZIK Szlomo from GOSTYNI AKAVIA Father and son from OSMOLIN ALTERMAN Azriel from GOMBIN BER Szaja from GOMBIN BLAMBOJM Abraham from GOMBIN BOCZKO Zeew from GOMBIN BRISTOWSKI Lipa from GOSTYNIN CIMERMAN Chajm Mordechai from GOSTYNIN DZJEDZIC Meir Szmuel from GOMBIN DZYK Nathan from GOMBIN ERDBERG Moshe from GOMBIN FEINZILBER Josef from GOSTYNIN FILIPSON Chuno from ZYCHLIN FRENKEL Abraham from GOMBIN FUKS Szmuel from GOMBIN GELBERT Nachum from GOMBIN GOLDBERG Nachum from GOSTYNIN HODYS Icchak from GOMBIN HOLCBERG Cwi from SANNIKI JAKOBOWICZ Zew from JAKSICE KAMLAZH Feiwisz from GOMBIN KAZMIERSKI Lajb from SANNIKI KERBER Meir from GOMBIN KLEINOT Getzel from GOSTYNIN KNOPF Dr. Hans from BERLIN KOT Moshe from GOMBIN KOWENT Icchak from GOSTYNIN LASKI Moshe from GOMBIN LASMAN Eliezer from GOSTYNIN LEWKOWICZ Josef from GOSTYNIN LIPSZIC Szlomo from GOMBIN MARKOWICZ Katriel from JAKSICE MICHALSKI Shlomo from GOSTYNIN MOTIL Jakob Lajb from GOSTYNIN MUNCZEK Lajb from GOMBIN NEUDORF Abraham from PLOCK NUSENOWICZ Abraham from GOSTYNIN NUSENOWICZ Zalman from GOSTYNIN POZNANSKI Chaim from GOMBIN PYTROKOWSKI Dawid from PODDEBICE RAK Moshe Jakob from GOSTYNIN REJZMAN Jechiel Meir from SANNIKI ROGOZINSKI Wolf from GOMBIN ROGOZINSKI Abraham from GOMBIN ROZENHOLC Lajb from SANNIKI SEIF Abraham from GOSTYNIN SZCZAWINSKI Melech from GOMBIN SZYMBAUM Abraham from GOMBIN SZINIAK Szimon from PODDEBICE SZLANG Moshe from GOMBIN SZUREJN Josef from GOSTYNIN TABACNIK Abraham Aharon from GOSTYNIN TIBER Jakob from GOMBIN TIBER Gerszon from GOMBIN TIBER Jechiel Meir from GOMBIN WEJCNER Abraham from GOSTYNIN WIDAWSKY Chaim Cwi from PODDEBICE WIKSEL Abraham from PODDEBICE WOLMAN Lajbisz from GOMBIN WROBLE Sender from GOMBIN ZIELONKA Philip Fiszel Ber from GOMBIN ZIGER Reuwen from GOMBIN