The cellars of the 19th-century tenements at the former 18 Miła Street on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto have been entered in the register of monuments by the Mazovian conservator of monuments, Marcin Dawidowicz. This is an important step in protecting this historic site, which witnessed the dramatic events of World War II and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
These cellars are adjacent to the Anielewicz bunker on Miła Street, which is a memorial and the last refuge of the fighters of the Jewish Combat Organisation, including their leader, Mordechai Anielewicz. It is likely that these cellars were part of a bunker, which gives them special historical significance. In the summer of 2022, the foundations of these cellars were discovered during archaeological work. Among the finds were numerous objects related to the daily and religious life of the inhabitants, such as fragments of Jewish prayer books, vessels for ritual hand-washing, and other artefacts. In total, more than three thousand objects were excavated, which are now in the care of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum and will be displayed in a permanent exhibition.
The decision to include the basement foundations in the register of immovable monuments of the Mazovian Voivodeship is crucial for their protection. According to the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, the unearthed ruins are a “very emotional and direct witness to the events of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising”. Entry in the register provides permanent legal protection, which will allow the site to be preserved for future generations and enable scientific research and reflection on the dramatic history of the site. The director of the Warsaw Ghetto Museum, Albert Stankowski, told a press briefing that the excavated everyday objects will be made available to the public in two years’ time in a permanent exhibition. This exhibition will be presented in the building of the former Bersohn and Bauman Children’s Hospital in Warsaw, which we wrote about HERE.
There is a chance and a hope that, thanks to its inclusion in the register of historic buildings, this lucrative plot of land in Muranów will never be developed. Preserving this site is not only a tribute to the memory of Warsaw’s Jewish residents, but also an important step in educating future generations about the dramatic events of the past.
Muranów, a district that was almost completely razed to the ground after the ghetto uprising, hides layers of history that are now being uncovered and protected. The inclusion of the cellars at the former 18 Mila Street in the register of historical monuments is a step towards preserving the memory of those who lived and fought there. With legal protection and exhibition plans, future generations will have the chance to learn and understand the history of the place.
Source: Tu było, tustało
Read also: Monument | Tenement | History | Warsaw | Curiosities
