By Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
On October 29, 1944, General Stanisław Maczek’s Polish 1st Armoured Division liberated the city of Breda from Nazi occupation. Thanks to the strategic precision and courage of Maczek’s forces, the city and its residents were spared significant damage and casualties, an extraordinary accomplishment in the context of urban warfare. However, this achievement came at a great cost to the Polish liberators. Many young soldiers of the division made the ultimate sacrifice during the battle, giving their lives to secure Breda’s freedom.
This act of bravery is deeply honored in Breda, where the city has maintained a strong connection to Poland and to General Maczek’s legacy. The people of Breda continue to remember and pay tribute to these Polish heroes, commemorating their role in the city’s history and reflecting on the profound bond created through their sacrifice. Monuments, memorials, and annual ceremonies in Breda stand as reminders of the Polish division’s valor and of the friendship between the Polish and Dutch people forged on that pivotal day in 1944.
Polish liberators of the Netherlands and their great tragedy
Despite this painful exile, many Polish soldiers chose to settle in Breda after the war. Their presence in the Netherlands became a testament to their unbreakable spirit and loyalty to the ideals they fought for. These men, who had risked everything on foreign soil for the freedom of others, contributed to the rebuilding of Breda, bringing with them their enduring values, strength, and a profound sense of duty. Their legacy lives on in Breda, where they are celebrated not only as liberators but also as community members, embodying both the cost of war and the resilience of the human spirit. Through memorials, commemorations, and the bonds they forged, Breda continues to honor their heroism, keeping alive the memory of the Polish liberators who could not return home.
See the footage about Polish integration in Breda here ( in Dutch):
Polish liberators:
General Maczek
After World War II, General Stanisław Maczek, a revered hero of the Polish 1st Armoured Division, faced a tragic and unjust fate. The communist government in Poland stripped him of his citizenship, viewing him with hostility for his allegiance to the Polish government-in-exile. Unable to return to his homeland, the general found himself effectively exiled from the country he had fought to free.
On September 9, 1948, he formally left the military but was denied a general’s pension by the British government, despite his rank and service. To support himself and his family, Maczek took work as a bartender at an Edinburgh hotel, a stark reality for a man who had once led troops in historic battles across Europe. Alongside his difficult financial situation, he carried the burden of caring for his chronically ill daughter, whose medical treatments imposed a heavy financial strain. Despite his hardships, General Maczek continued to embody resilience, working unskilled jobs well into the 1960s to make ends meet.
Though unable to return to Poland, Maczek maintained close ties to the Netherlands, where his contributions were never forgotten. He was awarded honorary citizenship of the city of Breda, which held him in deep respect. Recently uncovered archival records reveal that the Dutch government provided him with a discreet annual allowance, recognizing the sacrifices he had made and offering him some support in his later years.
Maczek’s life was a testament to duty, resilience, and unyielding honor. He passed away on December 11, 1994, at the age of 102. As per his final wish, he was laid to rest among his soldiers at the Polish military cemetery in Breda, a symbol of his enduring bond with the men he led and the people he liberated.
Maczek Memorial in Breda
The Maczek Memorial in Breda stands as a powerful tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of Polish soldiers who fought in the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II. Located at Ettensebaan, this memorial is more than just a commemoration; it is a bridge between past and present, preserving the legacy of the Polish 1st Armoured Division under General Stanisław Maczek.
At the memorial, visitors can explore an immersive narrative of the Polish brigade’s pivotal role in WWII, tracing the division’s journey from its early resistance in 1939 through to the division’s decisive advance into Wilhelmshaven in 1945. Through interactive exhibits, historical displays, and informative installations, visitors can follow the progression of General Maczek’s division across European battlefields, gaining insight into both their strategic impact and personal stories of valor.
The site also serves as a place of reflection and respect, offering visitors the chance to honor the Polish heroes laid to rest in the nearby cemetery. This connection between the memorial and the cemetery reinforces the memorial’s purpose: to ensure that the courage of these soldiers is never forgotten and that future generations understand the enduring bonds formed in the fight for freedom.
photos: Communications-Unlimited.nl
Author: Beata Bruggeman-Sękowska is an award-winning international journalist, TV correspondent, author, chief editor of international journalism centre, Central and Eastern Europe Centre, president of the European Institute on Communist Oppression and a sworn translator. She was born in Warsaw, Poland and has also Armenian blood and roots in Lvov, which is part of Ukraine. She has been living in Heerlen, the Netherlands since 2005.
Watch also:
Reportage: Commemoration of Liberation of Breda by Polish General Stanislaw Maczek and his 1st Armoured Division
Interview with Koen van Groesen
