On March 1 the National Day of Remembrance of Cursed Soldiers is celebrated in Poland. At the Sosabowski Polish School in Dutch Brunssum as every year, an activity was organised for the school community, about the Cursed Soldiers. Pupils, parents and teachers gathered to honour the soldiers. ”Lights for the Cursed Soldiers” were lit in the school.
During an open lesson, pupils broadened their knowledge of the history of the Polish independence underground, learned about the profiles of the Cursed Soldiers and found out why they were erased from collective memory.
The lesson, prepared by teachers from the Polish School, consisted of a literary part and a historical part. Full of experiences and reflections, the meeting showed that it is not true that children born in the 21st century are mainly interested in the modern world of digital media. Children like history and are eager to learn it, as long as they have a good source of knowledge.
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In her speech, the Head of School, Mrs Bozena Cichy said:
“History is the foundation of all education. Especially recent history is important. What is more, the most recent should be the methods and tools in its education. If we want to understand the present, we need to know the past well.’’
The Cursed Soldiers defended Poland’s independence against the communists and the Sovietisation of Poland after 1944. It is estimated that up to 300,000 people participated in the anticommunist underground until 1963, when the last of them, Józef Franczak, Lalek, was killed.
Witold Pilecki, a cavalry captain of the Polish Army and a soldier of the Home Army, fought in the anti-communist underground. He is regarded as one of the greatest Polish heroes of 20th century history. He was a prisoner and organiser of the resistance movement in the German concentration camp Auschwitz, and author of reports on the Holocaust. More here.
Our Centre for Central and Eastern Europe and the European Institute of Communist Oppression were partners of this event.
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Soon more in our reportage.
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