A Place of National Memory
Pawiak is the colloquial name of a massive prison that became one of the greatest symbols of German terror during World War II. It is estimated that around 100,000 prisoners passed through it, of which over a third died. The prison was located within the Warsaw Ghetto, making its history even more tragic.
Memory Exhibitions
Tree of Memory
A famous elm tree that survived the war in front of the museum with thousands of plaques nailed to it with the names of murdered prisoners (now a monument).
Surviving Interrogation Corridors
A moving exhibition in the basement of the building, where you can walk through authentic fragments of corridors and see reconstructed cells.
Prison Gate
A surviving fragment of the huge entrance gate to the prison complex, which is part of the structure of today's museum.