Museum of the Struggle for Independence in Lodz
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Museum of the Struggle for Independence in Lodz is currently the longest working historical museum in the city. Its origins date back to 1959. The main building is located in the former building of a prison, on Gdanska 13 Street. In the tsarist prison were mainly kept political inmates. Today, visitors can take part in permanent exhibitions: 'The prison at the Long (Gdansk) Street in Lodz (1885-1953)', 'the Way to Independence (1791-1921)'.
The other branch of the museum is Radegast Martyrdom at Zgierska 17 Street. The building of the museum is a former factory of Samuel Abbe and it was a men's prison during Nazi German occupancy in the time of WWII. The permanent exhibitions present 'Radegast in 1939-1945' and 'Lodz during WWII 1939-1945'.
The Radegast Sation was a point of transshipment of food, fuel, raw materials. It was also a Umschlagplatz for people having been exported to the extermination camps. Today, it is a place commemorating the Jews' martyrdom from Lodz and its surroundings, as well as from Vienna, Prague, Berlin and Luxembourg. Visitors can explore permanent exhibitions: 'Litzmannstadt Ghetto 1940-1944' and 'The trunk of Schwarz Family'.
The fourth and the last branch of the museum is 'The Romani people's Forge'. It is a one of the last remains of the so-called Gypsy camps which has been functioning since November 1941 to January 1942. The camp was intended for Austrian Romani people. Today, it is a place commemorating the extermination of Romani people during WWII. The permanent exhibition is 'And the violin stopped playing...' -the Gypsy camp 1941-1942.
