Poland honors losses on the 85th anniversary of the Nazi invasion that sparked World War II. Sunday’s ceremonies not only honored the past, but also served as a call to vigilance in the face of contemporary threats.
On September 1, 1939, at 4:40, German bombs nazi They fell on the quiet town of Wielun, claiming the lives of 1,200 civilians. This brutal attack marked the beginning of a war that would change the course of history.
85 years later, the sirens sounded again and the bells rang while the president Andrzej Duda and Germany’s deputy ambassador, Robert Rohde, gathered to commemorate the victims.
Forgive, but do not forget
President Duda spoke of forgiveness, but also of the persistence of pain. “We can say that we have forgiven, although we remember,” he declared, as a wake-up call to Germany. His words reflect the complex relationship between forgiveness and justice that Poland continues to navigate decades after the conflict.
On the Westerplatte peninsula, scene of another iconic 1939 battle, the Prime Minister Donald Tusk y el ministro de Defensa Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz paid tribute to fallen soldiers. Tusk used the occasion to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for European defense and the NATO unified against aggression.
“Today we will not say ‘Never again’. Today we must say ‘Never again alone,'” Tusk said, underlining Poland’s commitment to building “the most modern army in Europe” to actively contribute to the continent’s security.
Evolving German-Polish relations
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed her desire to normalize relations between Poles and Germansrecognizing the responsibility of constantly working to keep their friendship alive.
However, the wounds of the past still linger. Poland lost 6 million citizens during the warincluding 3 million Jews. The current Polish Government seek some form of compensation that strengthens ties between the two neighbors, although Germany considers that the matter is closed.
As we mark this somber anniversary, Poland balances remembering the past with preparing for the future. The country seeks to strengthen its defenses and alliances, aware that the peace in europe cannot be taken for granted.
