European Memorial Sites: Core Declaration

European Memorial Sites established on the grounds of places connected to thecrimes perpetrated by the Nazis, Fascists, and their accomplices during World War II constitute a visible legacy of the history that shaped the foundation of post-war Europe.

As our societies undergo significant change, and as the generation of Survivors and direct witnesses gradually disappears, Memorial Sites carry a continuing responsibility: to raise awareness of the past, actively encourage reflection in our contemporary society, and signal and resist dehumanization, racism, antisemitism,and xenophobia wherever they arise.

In fulfilling this responsibility, Memorial Sites occupy a distinct position. Basingon rigorous research and historical evidence, they are detached from private interests, independent, and have a critical voice, including in relation to political developments and all forms of hate speech. This requires that Memorial Sites remain places for difficult questions and that they can offer warnings when this is called for.

This task can only be sustained where Memorial Sites are guaranteed programmatic independence from political authority: local, regional, national, or European. Their intellectual and practical autonomy should not be subject to political or budgetary pressure.

As custodians of a history that affected the whole of Europe, their independence is not solely an internal matter for their respective governing bodies, but a shared interest of Europe as such. 

To confront the growing challenges for democracy and peace, we call on all parties involved in public dialogue to respect this principle of autonomy.

15 July 2026

Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, Poland

National Historical and Memorial Reserve Babyn Yar, Ukraine

Death March Memorial in Below Forest, Germany

Bergen-Belsen Memorial, Germany

Memorial to the Victims of the Euthanasia Murders Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany

Brandenburg-Görden Prison Memorial, Germany

Buchenwald Memorial, Germany

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, Germany

Flossenbürg Concentration Camp Memorial, Germany

Museum of the Martyrdom of the Citizens of Wielkopolska Fort VII, Poland

Fossoli Foundation, Italy

Gross-Rosen Museum in Rogoźnica, Poland

Memorial Site Hartheim Castle, Austria

Hodonín u Kunštátu. Memorial to the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti in Moravia, Czech Republic

Memorial and Museum Jamlitz in Lieberose, Germany

Kazerne Dossin, Belgium

Museum of the Former German Extermination Camp Kulmhof in Chełmno nad Ner, Poland

Memorial Leistikowstraße Potsdam, Germany

Lety u Písku. The Memorial to the Holocaust of the Roma and Sinti in Bohemia, Czech Republic

Maison d’Izieu, France

Mittelbau-Dora Memorial, Germany

Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial, Germany

KL Plaszow Memorial Museum in Kraków, Poland

Memorial Museum Ravensbrück, Germany

Internment and Deportation Memorial – Royallieu Camp, France

Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen, Germany

Stutthof Memorial in Sztutowo, Poland

Camp Vught National Memorial, Netherlands

House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial and Educational Site, Germany

Memorial Center Camp Westerbork, Netherlands

Wolfenbüttel Prison Memorial, Germany

Martyrs' Museum in Żabikowo, Poland