On 27 January we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is a day of reflection on the enormity of human suffering that befell millions of people of various nations. Among the prisoners of this camp were also Polish aviators and aviation engineers, including the outstanding glider designer — Antoni Kocjan.
The story of Antoni Kocjan is an example of extraordinary courage and resilience. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, one can fight for one’s values and dignity.
On this special anniversary, we pay tribute to all victims of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp and to those who survived, carrying with them pain and memories. The Polish Aviation Museum wishes to nurture the memory of these events and also to recall the contribution of Polish aviators and engineers to the fight for freedom and the development of our history.
Antoni Kocjan was one of the most outstanding glider designers in interwar Poland. His gliders, such as the “Czajka” and the “Orlik”, gained international recognition and contributed to the development of Polish aviation. Unfortunately, his work was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.
In June 1940, Antoni Kocjan was arrested by the Gestapo and transported to the German Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, where he was assigned prisoner number 4267. His time in the camp was an extremely difficult period. Forced into hard labour, he experienced cruel treatment that took a toll on his health.
He managed to leave Auschwitz thanks to the intervention of the German aviation designer Prof. Georg Brand, who convinced the German authorities that Kocjan could be useful to the German aviation industry. In August 1941, Kocjan was released from the camp and returned to Warsaw. There he immediately became involved in underground resistance activities. As the head of Home Army intelligence on the German V-1 and V-2 rockets, he played a key role in passing detailed information about these secret weapons to the Allies.
The Polish Aviation Museum has the honour of preserving extremely valuable mementoes associated with Antoni Kocjan that document his dramatic experiences in Auschwitz. Among these items are:
The unique mementoes of Antoni Kocjan from the period of his imprisonment in Auschwitz have recently returned to the Polish Aviation Museum after an extended stay at a professional conservation workshop. The documents were thoroughly cleaned of contaminants such as dust, dirt and grease that had accumulated over the years. Remnants of staples that were weakening the paper were also removed. Conservators repaired mechanical damage — cracks and holes caused by the handling of the documents. Tears were reinforced using thin sheets of Japanese paper. To prevent further degradation, chemical stabilisation was carried out and acidic substances causing paper deterioration were removed. Thanks to these efforts, these documents have retained their historical value and can be safely presented to future generations.
Below, in the photographs, you can compare the condition of the envelope of one of Antoni Kocjan’s letters to his wife before and after conservation:
