Auschwitz as a symbol of martyrdom of the Polish nation, 1947 and 2017

Two events that occurred in 1947 - ceremonies on the Auschwitz site on June 14 and on July 2, defined Auschwitz in Poland as a Polish national symbol, the symbol of martyrdom of the Polish nation. This paper shows that the National Remembrance Day, although intended to commemorate Poles only was legislated as a day of remembrance for all victims of all Nazi camps. These commemorations became political in 2017 reiterating the martyrdom of the Poles and highlighting their engagement in helping the Jews