This year, we solemnly celebrated several 50th anniversaries: the return of the Bolesławiec Land to the Motherland (12 February), the victory over fascism (8 May), and the existence of the Polish Red Cross in Lower Silesia (7–15 May). From 2 to 4 June, a rally organized by the Lower Silesian ZHP Banner was held in Wrocław to mark the 50th anniversary of the organization’s existence in Lower Silesia. Approximately 4,000 scouts and instructors took part in the rally. The rally’s program was very varied. The Bolesławiec ZHP District organized a scouting-skills camp.
During a historical seminar in the Leopoldina Hall of the University of Wrocław, copies of “Biographical Dictionaries of Lower Silesian Scouting Instructors in the Years 1945–1990,” authored by Scoutmaster Adam KIEWICZ, were presented. The dictionary was also received by senior Bolesławiec scout Scoutmaster Hubert BONIN, who founded the 1st Scout Troop named after Prince Józef Poniatowski in Bolesławiec as early as 1946 and organized a scouting camp in Osieczów in 1947. This troop still exists today (in 1961 it changed its name to the 1st Scout Troop named after Gustaw Morcinek), and Scout Bonin continues to support its activities, no longer as troop leader but as its guardian.
Scouting in the Bolesławiec Land organized itself spontaneously, but somewhat later than in other cities of Lower Silesia. The scouting authority—the district command—was not established until 1 April 1949 (until then, Bolesławiec belonged to the Lwówek Śląski District, established as early as 5 November 1945, with Zygmunt STANOCH as district commander). The area around Bolesławiec was an attractive destination for scouts from central Poland. As reported by Zygmunt Łęski (an instructor of the Grey Ranks alongside the Home Army), author of the book “ZHP in Częstochowa and Kłobuck,” a scouting camp was organized in Osieczów near Bolesławiec from 15 to 30 July 1947. Three hundred scouts took part in it, divided into seven subcamps. The scouts earned ranks and proficiency badges and participated in community work, helping to tidy school rooms in the village of Osieczów. A grand celebration was organized in Bolesławiec on 22 July. The scouts visited a military unit, where they were served lunch. In the evening, a campfire was lit in the market square, where invited guests applauded a rich artistic program and joined the scouts in having fun. At the same time, a camp for a scouting troop from the Częstochowa teacher-training secondary school was organized in Bolesławiec. The group consisted of 31 people—female and male scouts who were future teachers. Their guardian was Professor Stefan Czechowski, a former Home Army officer. As the aforementioned author reports, alongside their regular camp activities, the group conducted a very interesting Polonization campaign for the children of the indigenous population (probably children of repatriates from Yugoslavia), who learned Polish in groups of five or six led by male and female scouts. The work was very difficult, but after three weeks of lessons lasting about four hours every day, the children were able to communicate in their native language. During the harvest campaign in the area, a so-called “green playground” was also run for them, where the children spent time playing games and received meals prepared in the scouting kitchen.
Bolesławiec scouting truly took shape after 1956. The ZHP District was commanded for four years by Zofia Bachowska–Malinowska. In the following years, the district was led by: Jerzy Menich, Maria Truszczyńska, Jadwiga Menich, Jerzy Menich, Stanisław Szypulski, Mirosław Urbaniak, Marianna Czak, Marian Zachar, and Zdzisław Abramowicz. In 1975, the Bolesławiec Municipality District was established; it was led by Mieczysław Romańczuk until 1992. The dynamic development of Bolesławiec scouting occurred in the 1970s and partly in the 1980s. During this period, the largest number of specialist troops was formed (firefighting, MSR, sailing, and communications troops), as well as Instructor Circles.
Particularly distinguished instructors were honored with the Honorary Badge—the “For Merit to ZHP” Cross. The following Scoutmasters received the distinction: Zofia KŁOSOWSKA (1969), Hubert BONIN (1970), Irena DERECKA (1971), Mirosław URBANIAK (1972), Teodor BANASZKILWICZ, Marianna CZAK, Zdzisław JACKOWIAK, Jadwiga MENICH, Teresa MROCZKO, Janina PIETRZAK, Halina TERKLAK, Barbara URBANIAK (1973), Lucyna NAPIÓRKOWSKA, Barbara PRZESPOLEWSKA (1975), Jacek NESLER, Tadeusz SOJA (1977), Lucyna ŁAWROWSKA, Waldemar MODL, Stanisław OSTEN, Lidia POLENCEUSZ (1979), Jadwiga BOBEK, Mieczysław ROMĄCZUK (1980), Stanisława KARWACKA (1981), Zofia MALINOWSKA-BACHOWSKA (1984), Helena JEROMINOW, Piotr DŁUGOSZEWSKI, Stanisława GRASZA, Danuta JANIK, Zofia PARUCH, Czesława ZUZAK (1985), Zdzisław ABRAMOWICZ (1986), Roman LARYSZ, Bożena MAJEWSKA, Maria WIKIERA (1989), and Zdzisław MIRECKI (1990).
The Gold “For Merit to ZHP” Cross was awarded to: Marian CZAK (1979), Zofia KŁOSOWSKA, Janina PIETRZAK (1985), Irena DERECKA (1986), Hubert BONIN, Mirosław DACYSZYN, Mieczysław ROMAŃCZYK, and Halina TERELAK (1989). In 1985, Scout Hubert BONIN was awarded the “Rosette with Swords” for the “For Merit to ZHP” Cross and received the honorary title “Senior ZHP Instructor.”
Activists from scouting supporters’ councils received Crosses for supporting scouting activities: Adolf ZIÓŁKOWSKI (1977), Bogusław JUDA, Czesław MAŚLICKI (1978), Ryszard AWŁASEWICZ, Stanisław BRYNZA (1979), and Jan PASZKOWSKI (1986).
Since 1990, a systematic decline in the number of troops has been recorded. There are several reasons for this situation. Fortunately, the process has been halted. The scout fleur-de-lis bears the words “Motherland, learning, virtue.” Are such slogans still needed by anyone today? Of course, because ideals do not change. Only forms of activity and programs undergo transformation. Today, we need to look for other ways to serve the Motherland. Scouting is above all a school of life for young people.
From the editorial team:
The article’s author, our editorial colleague, has been an instructor since 1971. He led the 25th Scout Troop named after the Grey Ranks in Zbylutów, founded and led the 18th MSR Scout Troop at Primary School No. 8 in Bolesławiec, and co-founded the “BOBRZANIE” Instructor Circle, of which he was deputy chairman. In 1987, he was commander of the First Rally of MSR Troops and Patrols of the Jelenia Góra Banner. In 1993, he organized a trip for scouts from Bolesławiec and Lwówek Śląski to a camp in Denmark. These are just a few details of the Scout’s activities.