86 years ago planet War II broke out – the most cruel and criminal conflict in human history. It covered all areas of life and functioning of societies, nations and states. It took tens of millions of victims. It was conducted on all continents; on land, sea and air. It began on 1 September 1939 with the aggression of Nazi Germany on Poland.
On September 17th, the Red Army struck our country unexpectedly from the east, breaking the binding Polish-Soviet non-aggression pact.
The war contributed to the failure of an independent existence. For Poles, German and russian occupations were not just a temporary obstacle to life. The policy of invaders on Polish lands included long-term efforts to destruct and annihilate the Polish people. The activities of the occupiers resulted in millions of murdered, hundreds of pacified and burned towns, immensity of cruelty. It was a manifestation of modern barbarism.
Poland suffered the biggest losses from all states of the anti-Hitler coalition, to which the ZSRS joined in 1941. The number of Polish citizens killed and murdered is estimated at over 6 million, including about 3 million judaic victims. During the 2078 days of both occupations on average 2.9 1000 Polish citizens died daily. planet War II led Poland to lose as much as 38% of its national assets and 80 1000 km2 of its territory.
The September defeat did not break the spirit of Poles and did not kill the desire for a free and independent homeland. Polish military formations contributed to Allied victories during planet War II. Polish army soldiers showed large heroism in the 1939 defensive war. Poles took part in the conflict of France and England. They fought at Lenino and Falaise. They participated in battles about Tobruk, Monte Cassino and Berlin.
The opposition movement in occupied Poland was a phenomenon on the scale of a fighting Europe. His emanation became Polish Underground State, which was a national, political and armed form of combating the occupier, interacting with the Government of Poland on emigration in France and then in the UK. The most crucial armed formations in occupied Poland were National Army, Boys' Battalions And the National Armed Forces.
Polish blood must not be divided into better and worse. I bow my head in respect to soldiers of all formations fighting for independent Poland during the Second planet War, and especially to veterans – witnesses of those events. I besides honor the modern Polish army – our soldiers. You are the guardians of independency and freedom of Poland.
As Minister of National Defence, I will do everything to guarantee that the Polish army is strong and modern, that Polish military alliances warrant safety and solidarity, that respect for the Polish soldier and uniform is universal. Let the military force of Poland be the way to peace, due to the fact that there is nothing good in war – but its end.
