Słupsk. The City and the People

"Słupsk. The City and the People" is an exhibition created with the residents of the city in mind, settlers who—for various reasons—came to Slupsk after World War II to start a new life here in Pomerania.

They occupied the houses of the previous German inhabitants and, bringing with them elements of the culture of their homelands, gave rise to the multicoloured cultural mosaic of contemporary Slupsk and the region. In the post-war, partly destroyed Słupsk, they had to organise administration, self-government, cultural, scientific and economic life from the beginning. Although they often lacked experience and competence, thanks to their commitment and perseverance they created and accomplished extraordinary things.

The exhibition is a story about the people and the city to which they came. When we talk about a city, we often forget what makes it, namely the human aspect. And yet every city is associated with fates that are common to whole groups and specific to individual people, sometimes tragic, and certainly worth commemorating. The story of the city was created through the juxtaposition of old and contemporary photographs, which show what changes have taken place in the city since 1945. The story of the people, which is based on post-war memories recorded in the form of interviews, shows how the settlers turned an alien world into their new home. The exhibition aims to show their story as an important part of the history of our city and as a consequence of the Second World War.

Many of the exhibits are gifts from Słupsk residents: personal mementos and documents. Material testimonies of those times, connected with buildings, places, workplaces and cultural institutions, such as settlement announcements, posters, placards, banners, as well as objects of daily use, magazines, books or furniture, are also an integral part of the exhibition. The exhibition also includes a display case with artefacts that the museum receives on an ongoing basis as donations from local residents. These are replaced every few months. Presenting one's own fate through personal memorabilia enables donors and visitors to identify more fully with the exhibition.