The renovation, aimed at preparing for the Museum’s “New Main Exhibition” at the former Auschwitz camp, yielded an unexpected discovery beneath the first-floor floorboards of Block 8.
The cache comprises 35 cardboard boxes of varying sizes, each containing hand-made chess pieces, painstakingly drawn and hidden away by inmates who supposedly sought to preserve a semblance of normalcy in a place synonymous with suffering.
Photo: auschwitz.org
Elżbieta Cajzer, head of the Museum's Collections, emphasized the significance of these pieces: "Several drawings may be a bit blurry, but the images of rooks, pawns, bishops, or knights are still easily distinguishable. Nevertheless, the set is incomplete, and some boxes no longer have any traces of the drawing. Our evaluation shows that the objects are in good state of preservation. They will now be subjected to conservation treatment."
The new discovery adds to an already impressive collection of items among which there are two sets of wooden miniature chess pieces, bread-made chess figures, hand-drawn game boards, and cardboard playing cards.
Cajzer further noted the functional essence of these pieces, saying that "the discovered chess pieces are unique in that they were crafted from prefabricated cardboard in a relatively primitive way. We assume the focus was not on the aesthetic qualities but on functionality, easy portability, and quick concealment."
Photo: auschwitz.org
Magdalena Urbaniak, part of the “New Main Exhibition” team, shared insights into the planned display of the pieces: "Cards with images of chess pieces fit into the display case, which we have titled 'evening time.' Our topic will revolve around the short, theoretically free time for prisoners between the evening roll call and the declaration of curfew... They help one understand the overwhelming urge to escape the harsh reality of the camp."
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Source: IAR, Auschwitz Museum