The buildings of the concentration camp in Brněnec are a cultural monument

Brněnec - The Ministry of Culture has declared the buildings of the former concentration camp in Brněnec a cultural monument. The location became famous after the filming of Schindler's List. During the Second World War, Oskar Schindler employed Jewish workers transported from Poland, thus saving more than 1,000 people from death.

The ministry's decision is not yet final, said its spokeswoman Simona Cigánková today to ČTK. "We have not yet received the delivery confirmation from one participant; after that, the appeal period will begin," Cigánková stated.

The Shoah and Oskar Schindler Foundation aims to transform the former factory and concentration camp in Brněnec into a memorial for Holocaust victims. The foundation seeks to acquire part of the site from the current owner, and the local government is open to cooperation.

"At the same time, we submitted a request to Minister of Culture Daniel Herman for the government to declare the concentration camp in Brněnec a national cultural monument. We state that it is the only architecturally preserved actual Nazi concentration camp in the territory of the Czech Republic," said the chairman of the foundation's board, Jaroslav Novák. He described the camp in Brněnec as the world's least known Czech monument, which was aided by Steven Spielberg's film.

According to Novák's earlier statement, the reconstruction of the dilapidated site has not only cultural-historical significance but also great economic potential. The foundation plans to build a faithful replica on the original foundations of the concentration camp, including watchtowers and factory premises, a hospital, and the camp with prisoners. It will include an exhibition dedicated to the life of Oskar Schindler and the specific fates of selected prisoners. According to the foundation's vision, the memorial would be a place not only for excursions but also for exhibitions and conferences; there are plans for publishing books, filming documentaries, and movies about the Holocaust. Schindler's life should also be mapped by an educational trail in the area. Novák believes that the camp and museum will attract German schools and visitors associated with Germany and Judaism from around the world.

Svitavy native Oskar Schindler is perceived by many as a controversial figure, not just as a hero and savior of Jews. He was also a member of the Nazi Party and the German military intelligence.

The textile manufacturing plant in Brněnec was operated by the company Vitka after 1989. After going bankrupt in 2004, it was purchased by the company Bustrex and renamed Vitka Textiles. In 2011, it went into bankruptcy, and production was halted. The area was acquired in an auction in February of this year for 3.4 million crowns by the company Česká pozemková from Liberec.