Polish Union of Victims of Nazism

The Polish Union of Victims of Nazism (Polish: Polska Unia Ofiar Nazizmu, PUON) is an umbrella organization established on 16 January 2004 to unite and coordinate the largest associations, unions and societies representing victims of Nazi persecution in Poland. It was registered in the National Court Register on 2 June 2004, thereby acquiring legal personality, and since 30 September 2004 it has held the status of a public benefit organization (organizacja pożytku publicznego). Its authorities are seated in Warsaw at ul. Wspólna 30. The organization was created primarily because of the need to expand, coordinate and increase the effectiveness of the activities of Polish associations representing victims of Nazi persecution, including on the international stage. Another reason was the insufficient state budget resources available for assistance to victims of Hitlerism in Poland — care, comprehensive help for the sick, the elderly, the disadvantaged and those living in poor material conditions. Representatives of the highest state authorities expressed acceptance of the idea of founding the organization, and during the inaugural congress of PUON on 19 February 2004 they supported the initiative personally or in letters sent for the occasion. PUON brings together 25 organizations associating victims of Nazism. Its founding member organizations were: the Association of Poles Harmed by the Third Reich (Warsaw), the Polish Union of Former Political Prisoners of Hitler's Prisons and Concentration Camps (Warsaw), the Association of Jewish Combatants and Victims of World War II (Warsaw), the Union of Combatants of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners (Warsaw), and the Foundation "Polish-German Reconciliation" (Warsaw). The supreme authority of PUON is the National Council, composed of representatives designated by the statutory bodies of the associations and legal persons that are its members. The PUON Presidium consists of 11 persons appointed by the National Council. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary General and Treasurer are elected from among the Presidium. The Presidium's tasks are carried out by the Executive Office, headed by the Secretary General. The controlling body is the Audit Commission, composed of a Chairman, Secretary and five members. Among the main goals of the Polish Union of Victims of Nazism is to encompass the community of victims of Nazism with broadly understood humanitarian, care and social activity — including prevention, medical care and sanatorium treatment, financial support for the purchase of medicines and rehabilitation equipment, care for the bedridden, legal counselling and volunteering. In addition, the organization aims to consolidate historical truth related to World War II and to commemorate places and objects connected with Hitler's crimes. PUON holds that the last living witnesses of Nazi crimes should serve as guardians of the memory of events from over 60 years ago and, by disseminating this knowledge, ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. To achieve its goals, the organization cooperates with cultural, scientific and social institutions at home and abroad, striving to build mutual understanding, respect and tolerance and to overcome stereotypes, chauvinism and xenophobia. On 1 September 2005 PUON concluded an agreement with the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) concerning cooperation in the implementation of the organization's statutory goals, mainly in organizing and providing psychological and mental support and humanitarian and care assistance for victims of Nazism in need. The organization is financed from funds obtained from sponsors in Poland, Germany and other countries.

The Polish Union of Victims of Nazism (PUON) was founded on 16 January 2004, emerging from a merger of the largest associations, unions and societies representing victims of Nazism in Poland. The initiative was driven by the need to expand, coordinate and increase the effectiveness of the activities of Polish associations representing victims of Nazi persecution, including on the international stage, and by the insufficient state budget resources available for assistance to victims of Hitlerism in Poland — care and comprehensive help for the sick, the elderly, the disadvantaged and those living in poor material conditions. Representatives of the highest state authorities expressed acceptance of the idea, and during the inaugural congress of PUON on 19 February 2004 they supported the initiative personally or in letters sent for the occasion. After registration in the National Court Register on 2 June 2004, PUON acquired legal personality. On 30 September 2004 it obtained the status of a public benefit organization. The founding member organizations were the Association of Poles Harmed by the Third Reich (Warsaw), the Polish Union of Former Political Prisoners of Hitler's Prisons and Concentration Camps (Warsaw), the Association of Jewish Combatants and Victims of World War II (Warsaw), the Union of Combatants of the Republic of Poland and Former Political Prisoners (Warsaw), and the Foundation "Polish-German Reconciliation" (Warsaw). In total, 25 organizations associating victims of Nazism belong to PUON. The supreme authority of PUON is the National Council, composed of representatives designated by the statutory bodies of the member associations and legal persons. The Presidium, composed of 11 persons appointed by the National Council, elects the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary General and Treasurer from among its members. The Presidium's tasks are carried out by the Executive Office, headed by the Secretary General. The Audit Commission, composed of a Chairman, Secretary and five members, is the controlling body. The authorities are seated in Warsaw at ul. Wspólna 30. Among the main goals of PUON is to encompass the community of victims of Nazism with broadly understood humanitarian, care and social activity — including prevention, medical care and sanatorium treatment, financial support for the purchase of medicines and rehabilitation equipment, care for the bedridden, legal counselling and volunteering. The organization also aims to consolidate historical truth related to World War II and to commemorate places and objects connected with Hitler's crimes. PUON holds that the last living witnesses of Nazi crimes should serve as guardians of the memory of events from over 60 years ago and, by disseminating this knowledge, ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. To achieve its goals, the organization cooperates with cultural, scientific and social institutions at home and abroad, striving to build mutual understanding, respect and tolerance and to overcome stereotypes, chauvinism and xenophobia. On 1 September 2005 PUON concluded an agreement with the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) concerning cooperation in the implementation of the organization's statutory goals, mainly in organizing and providing psychological and mental support and humanitarian and care assistance for victims of Nazism in need. The organization is financed from funds obtained from sponsors in Poland, Germany and other countries. Because it receives no funds from the state budget and has no resources of its own, it seeks support from government and local government bodies, state and private companies, banks, financial institutions, non-governmental organizations and other private entities or individuals. PUON periodically publishes the periodical "Głos Ofiar Nazizmu" (Voice of the Victims of Nazism), whose editor-in-chief is Andrzej Machnowski; the magazine addresses the issues of Nazi crimes and includes memoirs of victims of Nazism, book reviews and historical-scientific articles.

• Polish Union of Victims of Nazism founded, merging the largest associations representing victims of Nazism in Poland.

• Inaugural congress of PUON held; representatives of the highest state authorities expressed support.

• PUON registered in the National Court Register, acquiring legal personality.

• PUON granted public benefit organization status.

• PUON concluded an agreement with the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) on cooperation in statutory goals.

Umbrella organization representing and supporting victims of Nazi persecution in Poland; advocates historical memory and humanitarian care.

1. 1Polish Union of Victims of Nazism - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Polska Unia Ofiar Nazizmu - Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org