Germany will give 1 million euros for badly needed restoration work at the Auschwitz death camp museum in neighboring Poland, where more than one million Jews perished during World War Two.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says the donation followed an appeal from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to all 27 European Union members to contribute to the preservation of the Nazi-built camp.
In a letter obtained by Reuters on Friday, Tusk said those running the Auschwitz-Birkenau state museum would set up a foundation to administer a special fund with a minimum capital of 120 million euros.
"Saving Auschwitz-Birkenau means saving the memory of millions who suffered and were bestially murdered. It is the responsibility and duty of entire Europe," Tusk said in the letter addressed to leaders of European and some other countries, especially those with a large Jewish diaspora.
The museum itself lacks the resources to check the progressive decay and deterioration of its facilities and objects, Tusk said in his letter, dated February 10 but not previously made public.
Steinmeier said Friday Germany would contribute more in the next budgetary year and said it would encourage German businesses and private foundations to donate. Tusk's office was not immediately able to comment.
The Auschwitz site, near the city of Krakow in southern Poland, comprises 155 camp buildings, 300 ruined facilities and hundreds of thousands of personal belongings and documents scattered over more than 200 hectares.
Jews from all over Europe perished in the gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp set up by the Nazis after Germany's conquest of Poland in 1939.
Many others died of starvation, forced labour, disease and in medical experiments.
Poland founded a museum on the site, known as Oswiecim in Polish, after the war.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit the museum every year, passing through the iron gate bearing the motto "Arbeit macht frei" (work makes free).
AP contributed to this report
RSS
