Aquila Polonica - Poland WW2

11/26/2025

"The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews has called for 'responsible' communication about the past, following online criticism of a weekend post by Yad Vashem that omitted a reference to German occupation in 1939 Poland.

"'Social media can reach millions around the world in an instant. A short message can spread rapidly and be taken out of context. This places even greater responsibility on institutions whose mission is to convey history,' Woźniak said.

"He stressed that even well-intentioned posts can lose nuance when phrased too briefly: 'Simplifications and omissions may distort meaning. Every communications team in a historical museum has learned this the hard way.'"

Important points when talking about history today. Full story at Polskie Radio:

The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews has called for “responsible” communication about the past, following online criticism of a weekend post by Yad Vashem that omitted a reference to German occupation in 1939 Poland.

11/25/2025

"A richly decorated 17th-century saddlebag linked to Polish King and Grand Duke of Lithuania Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki has been officially returned to the Kórnik Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences after being lost for more than 80 years.

"The object, a leather and velvet taszka dated 1670, formed part of a royal saddle set believed to have belonged to King Michał I, who ruled the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 1660s and 1670s."

An excellent recovery. Full story at Polskie Radio:

A richly decorated 17th-century saddlebag linked to Polish King and Grand Duke of Lithuania Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki has been officially returned to the Kórnik Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences after being lost for more than 80 years.

11/21/2025

"An abandoned fortress near Warsaw, which was initially constructed by Napoleon and later expanded by Tsarist Russia, will be turned into a hotel under plans announced by the developer that bought the site over a decade ago.

"Modlin Fortress is an imposing defensive structure located where the Narew and Vistula rivers meet, about 30 km north of Warsaw. Its fortified barracks, built by the Russians in the 1830s, are believed to be Europe’s longest building, stretching around 2.2 km."

An interesting development, Modlin Fortress has a lot of history behind it. Full story at Notes From Poland:

Abandoned 19th-century fortress near Warsaw to be turned into hotel Nov 4, 2025 | Business, History Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is....

11/20/2025

"A team of amateur archeologists have recovered a rare World War II-era V-2 rocket from a former N**i German test range in southeastern Poland.

"Local authorities asked the history and military enthusiasts to examine several craters at the site in Blizna near Rzeszów, which N**i Germany used to test its V-2 long-range missiles, the first to reach the edge of space."

An incredible find! Read about the discovery and the history behind it at TVP World:

German V-2 rockets were tested in occupied Polish territory during World War II.

11/19/2025

"Polish authorities have confirmed they will seek the return of artefacts linked to victims of N**i German concentration camps and Soviet atrocities, following the cancellation of a controversial auction in Germany.

"The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (MKiDN) told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) on Monday that all items listed for sale that should legally be returned to Poland will be reclaimed."

It is only right! Details at Polskie Radio:

Polish authorities have confirmed they will seek the return of artefacts linked to victims of N**i German concentration camps and Soviet atrocities, following the cancellation of a controversial auction in Germany.

11/18/2025

November 18, 1860: World famous pianist, philanthropist, and tireless advocate for the independence of Poland and it's people Ignacy Jan Paderewski was born.

Ignacy Paderewski rose to worldwide fame after his concert debut in Vienna, 1887. When World War 1 began, he became a fierce advocate for the creation of an independent Polish state. In particular, his meetings with Woodrow Wilson heavily influenced the Polish inclusion in the US President's famous Fourteen Points.

Once the war ended and the 2nd Polish Republic was established, Paderewski became Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the nation until proper elections could be held. In 1922 he decided to retire from politics, but returned when World War 2 broke out to advocate for support for beleaguered Poland and the war effort in Europe.

He passed away in 1941 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Following the fall of communism in Poland, his remains were transferred to St. John's Archcathedral in Warsaw.

11/17/2025

"Underwater archeologists have retrieved four spears, one of them encrusted with precious metals, from the bottom of a lake in western Poland.

"The four spears date back to the early Middle Ages and one is adorned with gold, silver and bronze, indicating that it may have been a symbol of power.

"It is also decorated with wings featuring spiral and triskelion motifs, which according to many historians is the oldest symbol of spirituality."

Incredible! Full details at TVP World:

One of the weapons, richly decorated with precious metals, may have been ceremonial.

11/14/2025

"The skies above Exeter are set to echo with remembrance this November, as a two-day event commemorates the brave Polish airmen of 307 Squadron – a night-fighter unit credited with saving the city during the Second World War.

"Taking place at the historic Guildhall, 'Night Fighters of Exeter – The Story of 307 Squadron' will mark the legacy of the Lwów Eagle Owls, who defended the South West between 1941 and 1943 as part of the Royal Air Force."

A great event to celebrate heroes! Full details at Devon Live:

They defended Exeter in the dark skies of war.

11/13/2025

Walesa
Man of Hope
a film by Andrzej Wajda—an Oscar winning filmmaker

Monday, Nov. 17
6.30pm pre-movie reception, 7pm movie starts
Cosford Cinema
University of Miami
5030 Brunson Dr., Coral Gables

The depiction of the life of Nobel Peace Prize winner and the legendary leader of Poland’s Solidarity movement, L**h Walesa, as events in the 1970s lead to a peaceful revolution.

Free event
The film is in Polish with English subtitles.

This event is part of Blanka Rosenstiel Endowed Program in Polish Heritage at University of Miami (UM)
Sponsored by The American Institute of Polish Culture in collaboration with College of Arts & Sciences, Center for the Humanities at UM

11/13/2025

"A woman from eastern England is trying to find the family of her late mother’s WWII Polish boyfriend after discovering a decades-old dictionary that led her to his grave in Norfolk.

"A gift from a Polish airman during the Second World War, on the book’s cover her mother Patricia had written: 'To Patsy, from Polish boyfriend. He was in Polish airforce, wartime 1940. His name Marian. Only way we could talk – this book.'"

A wonderful discovery and effort! Details at TVP World:

Władysław Kapuściński was a sergeant in the 307th Polish Light Bomber Squadron during World War Two.

11/12/2025

Our friends at The Kosciuszko Foundationare celebrating their centennial this year! Check out this event and their other celebrations over at their page. 100 years of friendship between two freedom loving countries!

🎉 Join Us to Celebrate 100 Years of the Kosciuszko Foundation at the Anderson House in Washington DC! 🇵🇱🇺🇸

Dear KF Members and Friends in the Washington, DC area,

We warmly invite you to an evening honoring the Centennial of the Kosciuszko Foundation,
held at the Society of the Cincinnati - the nation’s oldest patriotic organization, of which Tadeusz Kosciuszko was a founding member.

📅 Sunday, December 7, 2025
🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 The Society of the Cincinnati (Anderson House)
2118 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

✨ Enjoy a celebration of heritage, music, and community!

Elegant buffet dinner

Special piano performance including compositions by our versatile patron: Tadeusz Kościuszko!

Presentation of the 2025 Kosciuszko Foundation Pioneer Award and Appreciation Awards

🏅 Honorees:

Dr. Marek M. Pienkowski – 2025 KF Pioneer Award

Ewa Pietrasieńska, Martin Labazevitch, Waldemar Izdebski, Leszek Strzelecki – 2025 KF Appreciation Awards

Let’s come together to honor the Kosciuszko Foundation's legacy of promoting educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Poland built over the last 100 years!

Celebrate the enduring spirit of Tadeusz Kościuszko that continues to inspire us all.

🎟️ Tickets: $200
👉 Click below to purchase tickets or make a donation: https://pci.jotform.com/form/253025711247147

The event is partially financed by the Department for Cooperation with Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

11/12/2025

"On November 11, 1918, the guns fell silent. The Great War had ended, empires had collapsed, and a new Europe had begun to take shape. For Poland, absent from the map for 123 years, it was a moment when history and opportunity briefly aligned."

An excellent read at TVP World about the story behind Poland's rebirth at the end of World War 1. It is an incredible episode in history that is still celebrated today:

As Poland celebrates its Independence Day on November 11, TVP World looks at how a nation was re-born out of the ashes of war.