Honoring the Heroes
of Warsaw Uprising
on August 1 at “W” hour
(5 pm of Warsaw time, 10 am of CST)

In line with many years of tradition, thousands of Poles gathered at major intersections, squares and places of remembrance in Warsaw to honor the heroes of the Warsaw Uprising (8/1/1944 – 10/2/1944) with a minute of solemn silence held to the sounds of alarm sirens and dramatic illumination of handheld flares.

The uprising was the largest military effort undertaken by any resistance movement in the entire German-occupied Europe. About 40,000-50,000 insurgents gave their all to liberate Warsaw from German occupation. Help from the approaching Soviet Army never came and after 63 days of heroic effort, the revolt was brutally crushed. The death tool and destruction of the city was immense. Nearly 200,000 insurgents and civilians lost their lives, about 500,000 people were driven out of Warsaw and 85% of the city was razed to the ground in the course of systematic annihilation carried out in the months following the uprising.

The central observance took place at the Gloria Victis (“Glory to the Vanquished”) monument at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw. Much attention went this year to the Warsaw’s district of Wola, where Polish President Andrzej Duda paid tribute to the victims of the Wola Massacre. In this largest of the kind crime committed during the entire WWII, German soldiers slaughtered in just three days (August 3-5,1944) about 40,000-65,000 mostly civilians, including patients and staff of the Wola Hospital.

The memory of Warsaw Uprising was honored also by the ambassadors of the United States, Israel and Germany. Georgette Mosbacher, the U.S. ambassador to Poland, twitted: “On August 1, 1944, Poles embarked upon a heroic fight for their beloved city and homeland. Freedom is not free. Our Marines pay tribute to the fallen Heroes of the Warsaw Uprising.” and “As @POTUS said in Krasińscy Square in his speech to the veterans of the Warsaw Uprising: “We salute your noble sacrifice and we pledge to always remember your fight for Poland and for freedom.” 01.08.1944 – We remember!” In the article entitled “Heroes of Western Civilization: 76 Years After the Warsaw Uprising,” the White House recalls the main points of this speech while acknowledging it as “one of the most important speeches of his presidency.”

On the other hand, the German Embassy placed this somber message on social media: “As a sign of deep pain and shame caused by the crimes of the German occupier during the fighting with the population of Warsaw during the Warsaw Rising, the German embassy lowered the flags to half of the masts’ height. The Chargé d’affaires of the embassy has laid a wreath at the monument of Warsaw Rising.”

A SALUTE

On Sunday July 12, 2020, Poland held its Presidential election.

In spite of all the many difficulties created by the pandemic that has done such damage throughout the world, Poland’s voters turned out in record numbers to cast their ballots to elect the country’s president.

Congratulations are in order to the Citizens of Poland!

Indeed, once again, in this, Poland’s seventh national presidential election since Poland regained its freedom in 1989, the contest was defined by a
firm adherence to the highest principles of democracy.

Moreover, this election was exactly like those that came before.
Indeed, since the founding of the Third Republic of Poland in 1989, nine parliamentary elections, seven presidential elections, along with a host of local elections and several national referendums have been held. All have been conducted in the most proper manner conceivable.

Congratulations to the Citizens of Poland

From the Officers, Directors, and Members
Wisconsin State Division Polish American Congress

Polish President
visits the United States
June 24-25, 2020

Polish and US Presidents, Andrzej Duda and Donald Trump, agreed on Wednesday that Polish-American relations have never been better.

From the Joint Statement
signed after the White House talks:

“Poland and the United States share a centuries-old friendship and partnership based on shared values and interests, strong people-to-people ties, and mutual respect. Today we reaffirm the values that both our nations hold dear, especially democracy, the rule of law, individual liberties and freedoms, and free, fair, and reciprocal trade.”

The White House talks focussed on military security, energy independence, support for the Three Seas Initiative, cyber security and investments in new technologies.

Polish movies streamed as part of the cinematic retrospective
STORIES FROM BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
Reverse (Rewers), June 25- July 1, 2020
Little Rose (Różyczka), July 2-8, 2020
All That I Love (Wszystko co kocham), July 9-15, 2020
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Opportunity for children and teenagers of Polish descent to win valuable prizes in the contest
MY MOST INTERESTING MEETING WITH POLAND ONLINE
Submission deadline is June 30, 2020
Click here for the contest description and submission forms

Wawel Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski na Wawelu): As part of the Cracow’s Historic Centre (the Old Town), the Wawel Royal Castle was among the very first sites inscribed on the UNESCO World’s Heritage list in 1978. The castle is one of the most historically and culturally significant sites in Poland and the viewable online Lanckoroński Collection is one of its finests.   Virtual tour link

Wieliczka Salt Mine (Kopalnia Soli w Wieliczce): Existing since the 13th century, the mine was placed on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1978 (the site extended later to include the Bochnia Salt Mine and Żupny Castle). The Wieliczka’s tourist route is about 3 km long, includes 20 chambers, located at depths from 64 to 135 meters, an underground lake and numerous statues carved in salt. Virtual tour link

Royal Castle in Warsaw (Zamek Królewski w Warszawie): Placed on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites along with the Old Town in 1980, it receives about 500,000 visitors a year. The castle was totally destroyed by German occupiers during the WWII and reconstructed in 1971-1984.Virtual tour link

Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum (Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau): Placed on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1979, the site’s name was changed to “Auschwitz Birkenau: German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945)” in 2007. The museum preserves the memory of the 1.1 million people killed in the camp during German occupation of Poland. Virtual tour link

Warsaw Uprising Museum (Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego): Opened to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the uprising in 2004, the museum preserves its history and materials (artifacts, documents) related to the Polish Underground State. Virtual tour link

Malbork Castle (Zamek w Malborku): Placed on the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1997, this 13-th centuryTeutonic fortress is the largest castle in the world by land area and one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture. Virtual tour link

St. Michael Archangel’s Church in Binarowa (Kościół św. Michała Archanioła w Binarowej): Built around 1500 in Gothic style, this is one of the group of six wooden churches inscribed on UNESCO World’s Heritage list as Wooden Churches of Southern Lesser Poland. Virtual tour link

Old City of Zamość (Stare Miasto w Zamościu): Inscribed on the UNESCO World’s Heritage list in 1992, Zamość is a unique example of the late 16th century Renaissance urban designs based on the Italian theories of the ‘ideal city.’ Its Old Town has many historic buildings – including the so-called “Armenian houses” that nowadays hold collections of the Zamoyjski Museum, named by the city founders. Virtual tour link

Zamoyski Museum in Kozłówka Palace (Muzeum Zamoyskich w Kozłówce): Belonging to the Zamoyski family between 1799-1944, the palace’s splendor reached its peak in early 20th century when owners aimed to turn it into the greatest aristocratic residence in Poland. Despite falling into the hands of Soviet Red Army in 1944, most artifacts survived untouched and the level of museum’s authenticity is very rare by European standards. Interestingly, the carriage house of the palace hosts now a museum of socrealism art.  Virtual tour link

ST. JOHN PAUL II
100th Birthday

May 18, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Saint John Paul II. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first one ever from the Slavic country (born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Wadowice, Poland). Notably, Poland remained behind the Iron Curtain at the time of his birth (May 18, 1920) and election to papacy (October 18, 1978). His pontificate was the third longest in the history (26 years) and his canonization process started just one month after he died on April 2, 2005. Following the canonization on April 27, 2014, his feast day as a saint is celebrated on October 22.

Called often the “Polish Pope,” the “Millennial Pope,” the “Pope Pilgrim” or “”St. John Paul the Great,” he has a special place in the history of Poland and the world. His life mission was to fight for the dignity and respect of every human being. Viewing Polish heritage as a foundation of his openness to the diversity of people, he advocated dialogue between the followers of all religions, and campaigned against political oppression and materialistic attitues plaguing the West. The influence of his teachings still extends well beyond the usual scope of Catholic Church.

John Paul II made pastoral journeys to 129 countries, attracting huge crowds in every corner of the world he visited. As Polish Americans, we never forget his first pilgrimage to Poland (1979) for it gave rise to the emergence of “Solidarity”, liberation of the nation from the communist rule and reconstruction of the unity of Europe. We also remember his seven visits to the United States and his words directed to Polonia communites around the world:

“Poland and Polonia communities abroad: In certain respects two different yet supplementary, complementary parts of the same realm, the same soul, culture, thinking and feeling, and history, aspirations, disenchantments, victories and defeats. (…) Today I repeat yet again that Polonia is important to Poland, just as Poland is important to Polonia. Both need each other reciprocally. Both need spiritual, moral and religious renewal; a continual renewal that shapes the inner core of a person, core of the family, society, core of the nation. (Holy Mass for representatives of Catholic Polonia community, Vatican, February 26, 1989.).”

Originally in Polish: “Polska i Polonia zagraniczna. Pod pewnym względem dwie różne, ale uzupełniające się, komplementarne częśći tej samej rzeczywistości, tej samej duszy, kultury, myślenia i czucia, i dziejów, aspiracji, zawodów, zwycięstw i porażek. (…) Dziś powtórzę jedno raz jeszcze, że Polonia jest ważna dla Polski, tak jak Polska jest ważna dla Polonii. Obie są sobie wzajemnie potrzebne. Obie potrzebują duchowej, moralnej, i religijnej odnowy; nieustannej odnowy, bo z niej rodzi się wewnętrzny ład człowieka, ład rodziny, społeczeństwa, ład narodu… (Msza św. dla przedstawicieli katolickich środowisk polonijnych, Watykan, 26 lutego 1989 r.)”