• The Martyrs’ Museum in Żabikowo
In 1979, the Martyrs' Museum of Poznań-Żabikowo (Polish: Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie) was opened in Luboń, a suburb of the Polish city of Poznań. It is dedicated to the victims of the forced labour camp, which was located there between 1941 and 1943, as well as the inmates of the police prison and labour education camp, which was on the site in the years 1943 to 1945.
Image: Żabikowo, probably 1941, Forced labour camp barracks, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, probably 1941, Forced labour camp barracks, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie

Image: Żabikowo, 2011, Museum building, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, 2011, Museum building, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Following the dismemberment of Poland in the 18th century, the region of Poznań was under Prussian rule; after the First World War, it belonged to newly independent Poland. After the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, the region was once again annexed by Germany and henceforth administered as the »Warthegau«. The German administration set up up to 20 forced labour camps in the city now called Posen. A majority of those deployed in backbreaking forced labour at the camps were Jews. The Germans established several forced labour camps along the construction site for the extension of the »Reichsautobahn« (highway) from Frankfurt/Oder via Posen to Łódź and Warsaw – the so-called »Reichsautobahn camps«. One of these camps was set up in the village of Żabikowo (from 1939 on Poggenburg) near Luboń (from 1939 Lobau, from 1943 Luban), a suburb of Posen. About 300 Jewish men had to perform strenuous labour constructing the highway. Ill prisoners or those deemed unfit for labour were deported to the Chełmno extermination camp. In mid-1942, the German administration suspended construction and the camps were gradually dismantled. The camps' inmates were deported to other camps. In 1943, the Gestapo established a police prison and the »Labour education camp Posen-Lenzingen« on the premises of a former brick yard in Żabikowo. The majority of prisoners held here were Poles, many of whom had been transferred from the labour education camp at Fort VII, which had been dissolved in 1944.
Image: Żabikowo, probably 1941, Forced labour camp barracks, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, probably 1941, Forced labour camp barracks, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie

Image: Żabikowo, 2011, Museum building, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, 2011, Museum building, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
The Martyrs' Museum in Poznań-Żabikowo is dedicated to the Jewish forced labourers of the Reichsautobahn camp Poggenburg as well at the prisoners of the labour education camp Posen-Lenzingen. It is not known how many prisoners passed through the camp in Żabikowo. The prisoners in Poggenburg mostly came from Poland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the Soviet Union. Only Polish Jews were imprisoned at the Reichsautobahn camp (1941 and 1943).
Image: Żabikowo, 1942, Liquidation of the forced labour camp at Żabikowo, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, 1942, Liquidation of the forced labour camp at Żabikowo, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie

Image: Żabikowo, 2011, Guard tower on the former camp premises, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, 2011, Guard tower on the former camp premises, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
After the war, between 1945 and 1948, the camp premises served as an internment camp for Germans.
On November 4, 1956, a memorial entitled »Nigdy Wojny« (English: »Never War«) by artist Józef Gosławski was unveiled at the site. Located on the approximately three-hectare large area of the former camp are remains of camp buildings as well a further memorials in honour of prisoner groups from various countries. A museum was opened in 1979.
Image: Żabikowo, 2011, The memorial, which was unveiled in 1956, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, 2011, The memorial, which was unveiled in 1956, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie

Image: Żabikowo, 2011, View of the exhibition, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Żabikowo, 2011, View of the exhibition, Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Name
Muzeum Martyrologiczne w Żabikowie
Address
ul. Niezłomnych 2

62-031 Poznań
Phone
+48 (0)61 813 068 1
Fax
+48 (0)61 810 341 1
Web
http://www.zabikowo.eu
E-Mail
muzeum@zabikowo.eu
Open
Tuesday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed on Mondays
Possibilities
Guided tours, educational offers, events, archive, special exhibitions