On March 1, we commemorate the National Remembrance Day of the “Cursed Soldiers”, established by the Sejm of the Republic of Poland as an expression of tribute to the heroes of the anti-communist and independence underground who, after World War II, opposed the communist authorities imposed by force.
In Bolesławiec, the memory of the “Cursed Soldiers” was traditionally honoured by the defensive walls, in front of the “Polish Fighting” anchor, which is a universal symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence. The ceremony was attended, among others, by scouts from ZHP Bolesławiec, soldiers from the 23rd Silesian Artillery Regiment in Bolesławiec, representatives of the city and county authorities, and a delegation from “Solidarity”. The ceremony was enhanced by a performance of the Bolesławiec Municipal Brass Band.
See photos and video from the ceremony:
The National Remembrance Day of the “Cursed Soldiers”, which is an expression of tribute to the soldiers of the second underground resistance for their testimony of courage, steadfast patriotic attitude and attachment to independence traditions, has been observed in Poland since 2011. The bill establishing this holiday was submitted to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland by the late President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński.
The date of the National Remembrance Day of the “Cursed Soldiers” is not accidental: on March 1, 1951, in Mokotów Prison in Warsaw, following a show trial and on the orders of the communist authorities, the leaders of the 4th Board of the “Freedom and Independence” Association—Colonel Łukasz Ciepliński and his fellow fighters—were murdered by shots to the back of the head. They formed the final leadership of the nationwide underground resistance that had continued the work of the Home Army since 1945. The communists buried their bodies in an unknown location.