Local vs. National: Commemorative Practices of Jewish Cultural Heritage in Lower and Upper Silesia

The article examines how Jewish heritage is commemorated in the cities of Lower and Upper Silesia, Poland. After World War II, these parts of Poland experienced a selective representation of its past, in which Polish narratives were prioritized, often overshadowing the German presence. Through a comparative analysis, this research examines recent initiatives, including the opening of the Upper Silesian Jews House of Remembrance in Gliwice and the activities of various organizations in Wrocław dedicated to preserving local Jewish history. Using qualitative methodologies (in-depth interviews with museum staff and direct observations), as well as the examination of various texts, this study analyzes how nationalism shapes the representation of the Holocaust in different organizations and highlights the challenges in effectively educating the public about the shared history of Poles and German Jews in contemporary Poland.