Poland Marks 85 Years Since Nazi Invasion

Poland honors victims on the 85th anniversary of WWII's start. Leaders stress the importance of defense in light of the war in Ukraine and seek compensation from Germany.

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Early Sunday morning, Poland remembered a very sad day from 85 years ago. On September 1, 1939, German Nazi forces invaded Poland and started World War II. They bombed towns, killing many innocent people. 

Poland held special ceremonies to honor those who died and to remind everyone why it's important to stay strong and protect the country.

In the town of Wielun, the first place that was bombed by the Germans, a ceremony took place early in the morning. President Andrzej Duda was there, along with Robert Rohde, the deputy ambassador of Germany. 

At 4:40 a.m., just like when the bombing began in 1939, sirens wailed, and a bell rang out in memory of those who died. Around 1,200 people were killed in Wielun during that bombing. It was a terrible time for everyone in Poland.

President Duda spoke about how Poland remembers the pain from those days. He said that even though Poland forgives, the pain still hurts, especially for those who were hurt directly by the war. 

But forgiveness is not the same as forgetting. President Duda called on Germany to make up for the damage caused by the war. He said that this issue has not been settled yet, and it’s important for Poland to get justice.

At the same time, on the Baltic Sea’s Westerplatte peninsula, another ceremony was held. This place was also attacked by German forces just minutes after Wielun. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz were there to honor the soldiers who bravely fought to protect the outpost. 

These soldiers were outnumbered but managed to fight for seven days before they had to surrender. Their bravery is remembered as a symbol of Polish heroism.

Prime Minister Tusk talked about how war is not just something from the past. He pointed out that there is still war happening today, like the Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022. 

He said that it’s not enough to just talk about peace and reconciliation. The world needs to take action to prevent aggression and protect people.

Tusk also talked about how Poland is working to build a strong military. He said Poland is creating one of the most modern and powerful armies in Europe. This strong army is important to protect Poland and to help keep Europe safe. He said that Poland is doing this to make sure that what happened 85 years ago never happens again.

World War II was a very hard time for Poland. The country lost 6 million people, including 3 million Jewish people. 

Poland also lost a lot of its buildings, factories, and farms. Even though the war ended long ago, Poland still feels the pain from those losses.

In the past, Poland asked Germany for $1.3 trillion in damages, but Germany says it already paid reparations after the war. Poland insists that it did not receive its fair share. 

Tusk’s government is now looking for a different kind of compensation, something that could help improve the relationship between Poland and Germany.

As the ceremonies ended, President Duda reminded everyone that forgiveness and justice are two different things. He said that while Poland has forgiven, it still needs compensation for the damage caused. Poland is determined to protect itself and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.