Every year, in memory of the heroes of one of the fiercest battles of World War II before the capture of Berlin, anniversary ceremonies are held in Zgorzelec and Pieńsk. It was in these areas that soldiers of the Second Polish Army forced the Lusatian Neisse on April 16 and 17, 1945, and 3,424 Polish soldiers who died during this operation in the spring of 1945 rest in the Zgorzelec cemetery.
The guests of honor at the celebrations in Zgorzelec included veterans—participants in the forcing of the Neisse, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Grzegorz Schetyna, a delegation of parliamentarians, regional authorities, and military representatives. The ceremony was supported by the honor guard of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment from Bolesławiec.
The ceremony began at 12:00 with a report on readiness for the ceremony, which the commander of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, Colonel Paweł Świtalski, received from the commander of the honor company, Captain Grzegorz Kozik. Then, after inspecting the company and greeting the soldiers, he welcomed the numerous banners of veterans’ organizations, uniformed services, scouts, and Zgorzelec schools.
After the National Anthem was performed by the Military Orchestra from Żagań, commemorative speeches were delivered by Zgorzelec Mayor Rafał Gronicz, President of the District Board of the Association of Combatants of the Republic of Poland, retired Colonel Edward Jakubowski, followed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Grzegorz Schetyna.
Addressing the participants, Minister Schetyna emphasized the sacrifice and contribution of Polish soldiers to the restoration of sovereignty. “Seventy years ago, the Lusatian Neisse ran red with the blood of thousands of Polish soldiers. Thanks to Their sacrifice, Poland is now part of the free world and is able to defend freedom and peace,” he said.
After the speeches, a prayer was held for the fallen soldiers, followed by Major Jerzy Juchaniuk reading the roll call of the fallen, after which the company fired a ceremonial volley. The ceremony concluded with delegations laying flowers at the Piast Eagle Monument.
The ceremonies were accompanied by a display of weapons and military equipment from units of the Black Division: the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment and the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade. After the ceremonial roll call in the square next to the Cemetery of Soldiers of the Second Polish Army, the artillerymen presented WR-40 Langusta and RM-70 launchers, DANA self-propelled howitzers, small arms, and the specialized equipment of an engineer patrol, while the tank crews from Żagań presented a Leopard 2A5 tank. The many residents who gathered in the city remained among the soldiers until late afternoon, viewing the equipment and asking about the conditions of military service.
On April 17 this year, anniversary ceremonies attended by artillerymen from the 23rd Artillery Regiment were held in Pieńsk. It was near this town, around the village of Prędocice, that the defensive line on the Neisse was breached. As in Zgorzelec, the anniversary celebrations were attended by veterans and war veterans, local authorities, and military representatives, including, on behalf of the commander of the 11th Lubusz Armored Cavalry Division, the commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, Colonel Maciej Jabłoński, and the commander of the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment, Colonel Paweł Świtalski. The participation of veterans of Operation Lusatia provided an opportunity to honor their achievements and award Commemorative Veterans’ Crosses, which were presented by the President of the District Board of the Association of Combatants of the Republic of Poland, retired Colonel Edward Jakubowski.
After the commemorative speeches, a roll call was read, followed by a ceremonial volley in honor of the soldiers who fell while forcing the Lusatian Neisse. The ceremony concluded with flowers being laid at the Monument to Those Who Fell for the Homeland.
Captain Remigiusz Kwieciński