Visit the exhibition dedicated to the Ulma family
“Testimony of HELP” tells the story of the Blessed Ulma family from Markowa and the Jews they sheltered during the German occupation.
The project, prepared by the New Technology Division of the Institute of National Remembrance, combines the advantages of a traditional exhibition – allowing visitors to explore physical elements of the display in person – with an immersive experience of history made possible by modern technologies. Visitors can not only see the exhibits but also experience the story presented as a film etude in virtual reality.
Admission to the exhibition is free. It is on display at the Institute of National Remembrance’s Central History Point at 107 Marszałkowska Street in Warsaw.
What does a visit to the exhibition involve?
The exhibition consists of two parts: an immersive film etude in virtual reality (VR) and a physical exhibition. The two-part installation is located in a specially designed space. Direct interaction with the exhibition is combined with an immersive experience of history through new technologies, creating a multidimensional way of discovering the stories of Polish heroes who helped those in need.
The virtual part of the exhibition presents the immersive film etude “Testimony of HELP”. The next stage of the visit is a return to the physical exhibition space. The end of the virtual experience marks the beginning of the unveiling of exhibits that were previously invisible. Photographs, dates, locations and key phrases illuminated with ultraviolet light appear on the inner walls of the installation, complementing the story experienced in the virtual world.
Learn more about the exhibition
“Testimony of HELP” exhibition at the Central History Stop
“Testimony of HELP” is an exhibition about memory, responsibility and humanity. It reminds us that behind great deeds are people like us. Through their stories, we can better understand the power of goodness born from courage and responsibility for others, while recognising in them a timeless testimony to the fact that even in the most difficult times, one person can be a source of hope for another.
The exhibition recalls not only the story of the Ulma family and the Goldman, Didner and Gruenfeld families they sheltered. It also tells the stories of many other Poles who, during the Second World War, chose to help Jews persecuted by the Germans. Hundreds of names displayed on the exterior walls of the exhibition remind us that behind history are real people. Their decisions. Their courage. This story can be discovered in many ways – through archival photographs, the physical exhibition space and, above all, through VR technology, which allows visitors to step into a setting from the 1940s, enter the world of the Ulma family and see their story from the perspective of their youngest daughter, Basia.
The combination of archival materials and cinematic storytelling creates a multidimensional experience that helps visitors see history through the lens of real emotions, lived experiences and timeless values. An important part of the exhibition is also the story of Poles who, during the Holocaust, chose to help Jews persecuted by the Germans. This places the story of the Ulma family in a broader context and provides a starting point for discovering many other testimonies of courage, solidarity and responsibility for others.
Admission to the exhibition is free. It is on display at the Institute of National Remembrance’s Central History Stop at 107 Marszałkowska Street in Warsaw.