A Symbol of Suffering – The Memorial Site in Palmiry
The Palmiry Cemetery is one of the most important sites of national remembrance, located in the heart of the Kampinos Forest, just a few dozen kilometers from Warsaw. It was here that the Germans carried out mass executions of prisoners brought from the Pawiak prison – members of the political, social, and cultural elite, as well as randomly arrested civilians.
This memorial site in Palmiry attracts thousands of visitors each year, who come to pay tribute to the victims of the German occupation in the silence of the forest. The necropolis was established shortly after the war and continues to serve both as a war cemetery and an educational space to this day.
A Quote That Hurts – Words from a Cell on Szucha Street
Right at the entrance to the Palmiry Cemetery, visitors are greeted by a powerful and haunting quote:
“It is easy to speak of Poland, harder to work for her, even harder to die for her, and the hardest – to suffer.”
These words were scratched into a prison cell wall on Aleja Szucha by an unknown prisoner – in what was once the Gestapo headquarters and is now the Museum of Struggle and Martyrdom.
In Palmiry, these words take on a painfully literal meaning – many of those buried here went through all those stages, ultimately losing their lives in German executions.
Who Rests in Palmiry? Not Only the Famous...
The Palmiry Cemetery contains over 1,700 graves – victims of German crimes committed between 1939 and 1943. Among them are both unnamed civilians and figures remembered in the history of Poland.
Among those murdered are:
🕯 Janusz Kusociński – Olympic champion, executed on June 21, 1940.
🕯 Mieczysław Niedziałkowski – PPS politician and independence activist.
🕯 Maciej Rataj, Marshal of the Sejm, along with his family – executed for their ties to public life in the Second Polish Republic.
🕯 Students, scouts, teachers, clergy, lawyers, civil servants – people whose lives were tragically cut short by the occupier.
The Golgotha of Palmiry – A Symbol of National Martyrdom
At the heart of the necropolis lies the so-called Palmiry Golgotha – a symbolic space marked by tall crosses commemorating the mass graves. This is where state, anniversary, and patriotic ceremonies are held. Every element of this space – from the layout of the graves and the forest’s enclosing walls to the engraved quotes – emphasizes the solemnity and depth of this site of remembrance in Palmiry.
Be Sure to Visit the Palmiry Museum
Right next to the cemetery stands the modern and moving Palmiry Museum – a branch of the Museum of Warsaw. The exhibition tells the story of German war crimes, documents the names of the victims, and presents authentic objects found during post-war exhumations. It is a powerful complement to the cemetery and a must-visit for anyone who wishes to truly grasp the scale and nature of the occupation’s terror.
👉 See more in our article: Palmiry Museum – A Testament to Crime and Remembrance
Palmiry in the Landscape of Warsaw’s Remembrance
Although located outside Warsaw, the Palmiry Cemetery is deeply connected to the city’s history. Most of the victims were brought from Pawiak prison in Warsaw, which is also worth learning about:
🔗 Pawiak Museum – A Place of Tragic History
Palmiry also serves as a natural complement to articles about the Military Cemetery at Powązki – the resting place of many heroes whose paths began right here, in the forests of Kampinos:
🔗 Military Powązki – A National Necropolis
And if you are interested in the stories of insurgents and underground resistance fighters who were taken to Palmiry for their patriotic activity, don’t miss this entry:
🔗 Traces of Warsaw’s Insurgents – Bloody Echoes of History
Silence That Screams
The Palmiry Cemetery is not just a collection of tombstones – it is a warning, a place of reflection and contemplation on the value of life and freedom. This site of remembrance reminds us that history is not only written in textbooks – it has its trees, its footprints, and its silent witnesses, who are worth listening to.
How to Get to the Palmiry Cemetery
The Palmiry Cemetery is located in the Kampinos Forest, about 30 km west of central Warsaw. The easiest way to get there is by car – take provincial road no. 579 through Łomianki and Dziekanów Leśny toward Czosnów. There is a parking lot directly next to the museum and cemetery.
Palmiry is also accessible via a popular bike trail through Kampinos National Park – an ideal option for those who prefer a more active form of sightseeing.
📍 Good to know: Palmiry lies on a route heading further north. If you’re planning a spiritual journey to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd, which we covered here: Gietrzwałd – A Unique Pilgrimage Site, then a visit to Palmiry can be a meaningful and profound stop along the way – both historically and spiritually.