I believe that together with the government we will lead Poland to times without war," said president Karol Nawrocki on Westerplatte during a celebration commemorating the 86th anniversary of the outbreak of planet War II. “Westerplatte means fighting, hope, but it is besides a commitment to building a strong army,” added Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
As all year, the main celebrations commemorating the aggression of Nazi Germany on Poland began at dawn in front of the Monument of Coast Defenders on Westerplatte. The emergency sirens sounded at 4:45 sharp. It was at this hr 86 years ago that the German battleship "Schleswig-Holstein" first shots were fired towards the Military Transit Component. It was 1 of the first attacks to start the Second War..
History lessons, modern challenges
Speaking on Westerplatte, the president said that Poland faces large challenges in the face of "resurrecting neo-imperialism of the post-Soviet Russian Federation, the task of building the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance". Karol Nawrocki mentioned the request to invest in the Polish army and make strong alliances. “I believe that together with the Minister of National Defence, the Prime Minister, with the full Polish government we will lead Poland to times without war”, Nawrocki stated. He added that Poland without war requires investment in armed forces: soldiers and equipment.
Speaking about building alliances, the president recalled that we are implementing them together with Germany, our trading partner and neighbour, but also, as he pointed out, with the perpetrators of planet War II, who hand-to-hand with the Soviets led to its explosion. – In order to be able to build based on the foundations of fact and good relations partnership with our western neighbour, we must yet settle the issues of reparations from the German state, which as president of Poland I explicitly demand," said the President. In his opinion, Poland, as the front and most crucial country of the east flank of NATO, needs justice, fact and clear relations with Germany, but besides needs reparation from the German state. Nawrocki called for cooperation with the Prime Minister and the government on this issue.
The president besides pointed out that the attack on Poland on 1 September 1939 was a consequence of the words spoken by the Germans towards Poles and another nations as early as the second half of the 19th century. He added that German theorists and philosophers built the foundations for national socialism. – Later came on 1 September 1939 and the attack from the water, from land, from the air to the Polish enclave in the German-dominated Free City of Gdańsk, on the Military Transit Component on Westerplatte – Nawrocki explained.
The president recalled that during the defence of Westerplatte 15 Poles died and 9 of the fallen Polish soldiers were only found by archaeologists 80 years after the outbreak of the Second War. Members of the squad conducting archaeological works in Westerplatte at the beginning of today's celebration Karol Nawrocki gave the Cross of Merit. "The seriousness of the Polish state requires that we always return for our soldier," said the President. He pointed out that besides a contemporary Polish soldier must know that erstwhile he dies, the Polish state will always return for him, so that he can be buried in a military cemetery and that he can be paid tribute to him. “This is what the seriousness of the Polish state requires”, said the President.
Poland cannot become a victim of aggression
During the ceremony Simon Holovnia, the talker of the Sejm, besides spoke. “When we hear cannonballs here on Westerplatte all 1 September, it’s hard not to think about those that 86 years ago ripped them out of their sleep,” said the marshal. The wake-up call of September 1 was, as he said, the beginning of the nightmare of the Second War lasting six years and costing the lives of 60 million people worldwide. “This is how wars and misfortune begin erstwhile individual gives himself the right to cross someone’s borders,” the Holovnia said. He referred to events taking place in Ukraine. The Marshal of the Sejm besides pointed out the fundamental difference between 1939 and the current situation: “Are we able to exceed our own limits, whether we are willing to die for or kill for the cause.”
“Today, erstwhile we mention the time of heroism, the time of defeat, the time of the victim, we must remember that Poland must never become a victim of anyone’s aggression, Poland must never lose confrontation with evil again”, said Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The chief of government added that best to defeat the opponent without war. “We request to be so strong, smart, united that no 1 can think of attacking our homeland,” said the Prime Minister. As he said, we must realize who the enemy is, and who is the ally, where the immense threat is coming from present and with whom we should unite in the effort to defend Poland and the full Western world.
Strong Poland is safe Poland
– Poland can never be alone and weak again, if we truly want to defeat a possible opponent without a blood transfer we must be united around safety matters, there is no alternate to that – stressed the head of government. He besides pointed out that this is simply a lesson for us from the loneliness of Poland in 1939.
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence besides called for the construction of a strong Poland and a strong army. The head of the MON pointed out that Westerplatte meant strength, hope, but besides the commitment of contemporary heroes to be prepared for any historical eventuality and to build a strong army whose opponents would fear. “Freedom needs strength and courage,” he argued. The Deputy Prime Minister stated that it was besides about building a strong society, due to the fact that the homeland would not defend the military itself. “We request the strength of our alliances,” he added.
Kosiniak-Kamysz besides stressed that "it is forbidden to get utilized to and tame war." He mentioned Ukraine in this context, where, as he said, the fight for Polish safety is besides taking place. According to the Minister of Defence, supporting Ukraine and Ukrainian soldiers is simply a Polish state ration. He besides recalled that next year, safety expenditure will be the highest in Poland's history. “They will fulfil their commitment to Westerplatte soldiers and past generations,” said the head of the MON.
During the ceremony at Westerplatte, a niche of peace was lit, a memorial appeal was read, and the heroism of homeland defenders was celebrated with a cannon salute. The morning celebration ended with the laying of a wreath from the Nation in front of the Coast Defenders Memorial. Earlier, president Nawrocki and Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish laid flowers on the Polish Army Soldiers Cemetery.
Today president Nawrocki will pay a visit in Wieluń, a city bombed by Germans at dawn on September 1, 1939, and in Silesia, the head of the MON will commemorate the first soldiers and officers of the Border defender who died during the Second War.
