Sunday, September 1, 4:45 a.m. (online broadcast on www.gdansk.pl)
Monument to the Defenders of the Coast on Westerplatte
Ceremony to commemorate the heroic defenders of Westerplatte
- turning on the alarm sirens
- playing and singing the Polish National Anthem; raising the Polish national flag on the mast
- speech of the Minister of National Defense
- lighting the Candle of Peace
- Roll Call of Remembrance and Gun Salute
- occasional speeches, including the speech of the mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz
- reading of the Westerplatte message by scouts
- prayer
- wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast
- playing the Hymn to the Baltic Sea
- playing and singing the Representative Song of the Polish Army
- leading the military honor guard
- end of the ceremony
After the event, all participants are invited to a free refreshment from the field kitchen. You will be able to taste delicious pea soup and drink coffee and tea.
Sunday, September 1, 8:30 a.m. (online broadcast at www.gdansk.pl)
Monument-plaque commemorating Polish teachers from the Free City of Gdańsk murdered during World War II, ul. Wałowa 21
- laying wreaths and lighting candles
Sunday, September 1, 9:00 a.m. (online broadcast at www.gdansk.pl)
Plaque commemorating Scoutmaster Jan Ożdżyński, Railway Directorate building, ul. Dyrekcyjna 2-4
- playing the national anthem of the Republic of Poland
- speeches
- laying wreaths and lighting candles
Sunday, September 1, 10:00 a.m. (online broadcast at www.gdansk.pl)
Plaque commemorating Poles tortured and martyred in the first days of World War II, former Victoriaschule, building of the University of Gdańsk, ul. Kładki 24
- speeches
- prayer
- laying wreaths and lighting candles
Sunday, September 1, 12:00 – 13:30 (online broadcast at www.gdansk.pl)
Ceremony at the Defenders of the Polish Post Square 1/2
- reporting on the readiness of the units to start the Ceremony
- playing the national anthem of the Republic of Poland by the Orchestra of the Border Guard Maritime Unit
- ceremonial inauguration of the school year for students of the Maritime School Complex named after the Heroic Defenders of Westerplatte and the Communication School Complex named after the Defenders of the Polish Post Office
- speeches
- Appeal of Remembrance
- laying wreaths and lighting candles at the foot of the Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office
- playing of the Representative Song of the Polish Army by the Orchestra of the Border Guard Marine Unit
- submitting a report on the end of the Ceremony
Sunday, September 1, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (online broadcast at www.gdansk.pl)
Solemn mass at the Defenders of the Polish Post Square for the deceased heroic defenders of the Polish Post
- after the mass, refreshments from the field kitchen
Sunday, September 1, 5:00 p.m. (online broadcast at www.gdansk.pl)
Cemetery of the Victims of Hitler’s Terror – Monument to the Heroes of Zaspa, ul. Boleslaw the Brave
- joint singing of the national anthem of the Republic of Poland with the participation of Cappella Gedanensis
- speeches
- prayer
- ceremonial laying of wreaths and lighting of candles
- a medley of patriotic songs performed by Cappella Gedanensis
The 85th anniversary of the beginning of the defense of Westerplatte and the outbreak of World War II will be celebrated at the monument that is well known to every Pole.
fot. Piotr Wittman/gdansk.pl
Two dates, one holiday
The anniversary celebration program was presented on Monday, August 26at a press conference at the foot of the mound with Monument to the Defenders of the Coast on Westerplatte.
– In our city, for many years, we have been combining the two anniversaries of the outbreak of World War II and August 1980 under the name Solidarity and Freedom Day. On the one hand, Gdańsk is a special place, where the shots from the battleship Schleswig Holstein started World War II, which claimed millions of human lives. But also here, not far from here, in the Gdańsk Shipyard, then named after Lenin, the beginning of the dismantling of the totalitarian system began – she said. Aleksandra DulkiewiczMayor of Gdańsk.
She explained that combining the two anniversaries has another meaning.
– We are trying to show that the vaccine and immunity to war is democracy, dialogue, social activity and building a civil society – emphasized the mayor of Gdańsk.
On Sunday, September 1stat 4.45 Confraternity of Bell Ringers of St. Catherine’s Church will set the heart of the bell in motion Peace and Reconciliationor Peace and Reconciliation.
Celebration at Westerplatte
At the same time at Monument to the Defenders of the Coast The main anniversary ceremonies will take place at Westerplatte. Speeches, lighting of the Candle of Peace, a Memorial Appeal, reading of the Westerplatte Message by scouts, interfaith prayer and the laying of wreaths are planned there. The event will be available to residents and tourists. The ceremony will be broadcast on the portal gdansk.pl.
The Mayor of Gdańsk encouraged everyone to be present at Westerplatte on Sunday morning September 1st.
– I cordially invite everyone to participate in the celebrations, to reflect together, to bow our heads to the heroes of the defense of Westerplatte and the Polish coast and the victims of World War II. I also encourage you to reflect on what we can do to protect our societies from war. Today, this question is even more relevant, as we woke up this morning and saw another wave of criminal attacks in neighboring Ukraine – added Aleksandra Dulkiewicz.
The army side by side with the city
Commander Tomasz Laskowskicommander Gdańsk Garrisonannounced that Navy ships will be present at Westerplatte during Sunday’s celebrations and there will be a flyover of aircraft.
– We are in a special place for every soldier of the Polish Army. Our nation was attacked here. I am glad that the formula of joint organization of celebrations has returned: the army together with the city of Gdańsk will organize these celebrations – emphasized the officer.
The city of Gdańsk returns to co-organizing with the Ministry of National Defense anniversary events commemorating the outbreak of World War II at Westerplatte after five years.
mat. City Hall in Gdańsk
Farewell to Colonel Sobociński
The day before, on Saturday, August 31, a farewell ceremony was held for Wincenty Sobociński, a colonel in the Polish Army. The route of the journey that Colonel Wincenty Sobociński from the General Commissariat of the Republic of Poland in the Free City of Gdańsk to Westerplatte was repeated on the afternoon of August 31, 1939, to deliver information that war would break out the next day and that the crew of the Military Transit Depot could not count on support.
They took him to Westerplatte. The end of Colonel Wincenty Sobociński’s earthly wanderings
Exhibitions at the Museum of the Second World War
Janusz Marszalecdeputy director of the Museum of the Second World War, encouraged, among others, to see the temporary exhibition “FOREST – Victims’ Shelter. Crime’s Hideoutthe opening of which will take place on Thursday, August 30at 17.00.
He added that for the first time in the history of the Museum of the Second World War, the exhibition will be told in the specific language of works of art. The exhibition will include works Wilhelm Sasnal, Mirosław Bałka, Magdalena Abakanowicz and Łukasz Surowiec.
mat. City Hall in Gdańsk
The theme of the exhibition is the history of World War II told from the perspective of forest complexes: their significance in the defensive war, a place of refuge for victims, a stronghold of partisan resistance, but also a place of crime.
From Saturday, August 31stan outdoor exhibition will be open to visitors “Trail: freedom – dignity – memory”.
The memorial trail marked out between places where history has left its mark will run along the line of the Museum of the Second World War – European Solidarity Centre. On Saturday, August 31, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 18.00, 19.00, 20.00 inaugural walks will be held. Advance registration is required online.
On Sunday, September 1stthe Museum of the Second World War will be open from 9.00 do 20.00and the tickets will cost a symbolic price one zloty.
See the painting “Polish Sky”
As part of the celebrations of the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II on Sunday, September 1stin the building of the former Polish Gymnasium (ul. Jana Augustyńskiego 1) there will also be a free guided tour of the room with the painting “Polish Sky”. Entrance is planned at 15.30.
Monument to the distinguished Gdańsk citizen Lech Bądkowski. Unveiling on the last day of August
“Polish Sky” is a patriotic fresco that was created in the Polish Gymnasium in Gdańsk in 1938 and it was created by two artists Boleslaw Cybis i Jan Zamoyski. Unfortunately, the original painting was completely destroyed by the Germans at the beginning of World War II.
A few years ago, during the renovation of the former junior high school building, which belonged to Office of the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeshipit was decided to recreate the “Polish Sky”. This difficult task was undertaken by a team of employees Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk under the direction of Prof. Jacek Zdybel. Thanks to their work in 2018 the room with the “Polish Sky” was reopened to the public.
To Westerplatte by free bus
Residents and tourists wishing to participate in the celebrations of the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II can use free public transport to Westerplatte on Sunday, September 1.
The Public Transport Authority has prepared 8 bus lineswhich will depart from various districts across the city (Osowa, Oliwa, Przegalina, Lotnisko, Kowali, Bysewo, Niedźwiednik and Lawendowe Wzgórze). Buses of all lines will reach Westerplatte between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. 03.43 a 04.00. They will stop at all stops on the routes except for the stop “Przystań Żeglugi” 01. Then they will wait until the end of the ceremony to take the participants back (as line W58).
About the European Solidarity Centre in I am from Gdańsk. Where are we today?
Lines 106 and 138 will operate without any changes to their timetables. The “Westerplatte” bus terminus will be available only to public transport buses.
Details are available here:
