Aquila Polonica - Poland WW2

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

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.

11/11/2025

Today marks National Independence Day in Poland. For 123 years Poland was occupied by three great powers of Europe, but in 1918 the nations of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia all faced defeat in World War 1. Marshal Józef Piłsudski of the Polish Legions and the Polish Regency Council declared Poland an independent state once again on November 11, 1918. The date was celebrated thereafter until Poland again faced occupation during World War II. The November remembrance was banned by the communist government during the Cold War, but was still observed unofficially despite active suppression. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, November 11 has once again become the date to celebrate a free Poland.

11/10/2025

"A Warsaw Uprising veteran and the last surviving member of Poland's elite World War II battalion passed away on Friday at the age of 102.

"Lieutenant Colonel Zbigniew Wiesław Rylski was the last surviving member of the renowned 'Parasol' (Umbrella) Battalion, an elite Home Army unit that fought in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, a major resistance operation carried out by the Polish underground against German occupation forces."

Lt Col Zbigniew Wiesław Rylski finishes his long heroic life. Learn about it at TVP World:

After the war, Rylski was persecuted by communist authorities.

11/09/2025

"Archaeologists in Warsaw have unearthed the remains of a forgotten pre-World War II chocolate factory, including ceramic molds used to make pralines, in what officials have described as an 'extraordinary' find.

"The Office of the Warsaw Conservator of Monuments, a municipal body that oversees the protection of the city’s historical heritage, said the site revealed remnants of the 'Venus' Chocolate Factory, which operated in the early 20th century."

Incredible glance into Poland's 2nd Republic! Full story at TVP World:

The factory operated in the early 1900s and then vanished into history.

11/07/2025

"Archaeologists in northern Poland have stumbled upon dozens of ‘sanitary burials’ from WWII, with one containing the remains of a French prisoner of war.

"Tymiński said the remains of several dozen people were found, including civilians and German soldiers.

"One of the victims, a French prisoner of war, was identified thanks to the military dog tags he was wearing."

Poland continues to find the traces of history beneath it, story at TVP World:

The body of a French prisoner was identified thanks to his dog tags.