What to Know about the Spate of Antisemitic Incidents in Poland

Last week marked the anniversary of the July 10, 1941, Jedwabne massacre, when at least 340 Jews were burned alive by their Polish neighbors, incited by Nazi German occupiers, as confirmed by Poland's Remembrance Institute. 

Yet as Poland continues to confront its Holocaust legacy, present-day challenges are deeply troubling. Earlier this week, a report revealed a 67% rise in antisemitic incidents in 2024—a stark reminder of the persistence, and alarming escalation of centuries-old hatred.

That disturbing trend was brought into sharp focus on the very day of the Jedwabne commemoration. Far-right Polish MP Grzegorz Braun gave a radio interview in which he claimed that “ritual murder is a fact” and denied the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz—reviving the medieval blood libel and engaging in outright Holocaust denial. Just hours later, Jewish community members were shocked to see fake memorials placed near the Jedwabne site by extremists seeking to distort Holocaust history and spread antisemitic lies. The official commemoration was then disrupted by far-right activists, who used loudspeakers and video screens to deny the massacre and directed threats at Jewish attendees.

These coordinated acts marked a dangerous escalation in efforts to rewrite history and intimidate Poland’s Jewish community.

Here is what to know about antisemitism in Poland and what AJC is doing about it. 

What is the Jedwabne Massacre, and Why is It Controversial in Poland?

The Jedwabne massacre, which took place on July 10, 1941, involved the brutal murder of at least 340 Jews by their Polish neighbors, who were incited—but not directly ordered—by Nazi German occupiers. For decades, the atrocity was little known. It gained national attention in the early 2000s thanks to historian Jan T. Gross.

But the event remains deeply controversial and painful, as it shows the complicity of some individual Poles – though millions of their countrymen died under the brutal Nazi German occupation – to commit Holocaust-era crimes alongside the Nazis. AJC played a pivotal role in uncovering the truth of this atrocity—supporting historians, partnering with Polish civil society, and helping prompt Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski’s historic 2001 apology.

Despite a broad social debate, efforts of civil society and Kwaśniewski's formal apology in 2001, nationalist and far-right voices continue to deny or distort the massacre, making Jedwabne a flashpoint in ongoing struggles over Holocaust memory, historical truth, and national identity in Poland.

Who is Grzegorz Braun? A Closer Look at His History of Antisemitism

Grzegorz Braun, a far-right Polish Member of Parliament and Member of the European Parliament, is under investigation after publicly denying the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz and promoting the antisemitic blood libel. In a recent radio interview, Braun falsely claimed that “ritual murder is a fact” and that the gas chambers at Auschwitz were “a fake.” These remarks constitute Holocaust denial and the promotion of one of history’s most dangerous antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Braun, affiliated with the nationalist Confederation party, has a long record of antisemitic incitement. In December 2023, he disrupted a Hanukkah celebration in the Polish Parliament by using a fire extinguisher to put out a menorah, calling the holiday “satanic.” He has also disrupted Holocaust remembrance events and insulted Jewish community leaders.

What has been the reaction?

Alarmed and appalled by this disturbing escalation of antisemitism, AJC—through its Warsaw-based Shapiro Silverberg AJC Central Europe Institute—immediately called on Poland’s political leaders to respond swiftly and unequivocally. To their credit, the entirety of Poland’s political leadership did just that. President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski (who addressed the issue at AJC Global Forum), and opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński all issued clear condemnations. Their unified response sent a vital message: that Holocaust distortion and antisemitic incitement have no place in Polish public life.

Prime Minister Tusk stated, “This is a disgrace. We must do everything so that Poland in the world is not associated with such people (...) I am also annoyed sometimes that the prosecutor's office or services act slowly, because this is an MEP. I won't give them orders at the point of action, but my recommendation is to act decisively and disregard the position of those who violate the law.”

Foreign Minister Sikorski warned, “I appeal let's not be indifferent! Auschwitz did not fall from the sky. In the beginning there is always word, then aggression. We have seen the film, we know how it ends.” He further said, “Braun is doing a job that is bad for Poland. Every time Russia needed to harm Poland, it did some anti-Semitic hoax here." Sikorski added, “If Grzegorz Braun was a Russian agent, he couldn't have done a better job.”

The international community also reacted strongly. The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw condemned Grzegorz Braun’s statements, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to Holocaust remembrance and the fight against antisemitism. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, and Israel’s Foreign Ministry similarly denounced Braun’s rhetoric as dangerous Holocaust denial and antisemitic hate speech. 

What AJC Is Calling for Now?

Let’s be clear: many people in Poland are deeply committed to memory, justice, and open dialogue about a painful and complex past. But what happened in Jedwabne is not only a disgrace to the memory of the victims—it is a test for Poland’s democracy. Remembrance without responsibility is not remembrance at all.

AJC is calling on the Polish government to:

• Hold accountable those who distort and desecrate Holocaust memory and incite hatred.
• Remove the boulders placed near the Jedwabne memorial site that spread lies and dishonor the victims and promote antisemitism.
• Remain committed to open, honest debates about all aspects of Polish history.

We are also urging the government to adopt, implement, and enforce a national strategy to combat antisemitism and foster Jewish life. AJC has already provided substantial recommendations to support such a strategy, and continues to advocate for its full adoption.