On March 23, Hungary and Poland celebrate Friendship Day, a holiday born from a 2007 agreement between the Polish Sejm and the Hungarian Parliament. The idea emerged after a joint meeting of Polish President Lech Kaczyński and Hungarian President László Sólyom, setting the stage for a lasting bond grounded in shared history and common values.
Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day today stands as a reminder of a centuries-old alliance. A well-known Hungarian proclamation captured the spirit: a Pole, a Hungarian, two friends, united by wit, courage, and mutual respect.
Poland and Hungary are often described as connected by a bridge built on steadfast support and solidarity, a view echoed by leaders who emphasize continuity despite political tensions elsewhere. The day underscores the enduring links that bind the two nations, across generations and circumstances.
Funeral of Hungarian soldiers
During Polish-Hungarian Friendship Day, three Hungarian soldiers who died in 1944 while defending Polish territories against the Red Army were laid to rest in Kobyłka, near Warsaw. In a message to participants, a senior Polish defense official highlighted that tending to the graves of Polish and Hungarian soldiers is a tangible sign of the bilateral closeness that history has forged between the two peoples.
The friendship between Poland and Hungary rests on a strong historical foundation. Officials noted that Poles and Hungarians share a memory of bravery and sacrifice that continues to shape their present and future cooperation.
Following a funeral service at the Basilica of St. Trinity in Kobyłka, a representative of the Institute of National Remembrance reflected on the Hungarian troops stationed in Polish lands occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. The historian recalled that Budapest had opposed any German collaboration aimed at Poland as early as 1939, emphasizing solidarity with the Polish people.
The Hungarian and Polish narratives are intertwined by the simple motto that guided Hungarian troops and their commander near Warsaw in 1944: Poland and Hungary are friends. The same sentiment was echoed by the guests and diplomats who stressed the provision of weapons to the Home Army and humanitarian aid to civilians as acts that demonstrated real friendship.
Today, three unknown Hungarian soldiers rest on consecrated ground—honored for their sacrifices and remembered for their role in a larger history of mutual respect. Local communities have maintained the grave, with ongoing support from institutions dedicated to youth welfare and remembrance. A community leader described caring for this grave as a living history lesson for young people, citing memoirs that recount Hungarians’ presence in the Wołomin area and their later burial near Zielonka.
At the cemetery ceremony, the Hungarian ambassador reflected on the nature of ties between the two nations, drawing on the story of 1848 and a shared sense of purpose. The ambassador expressed hope for future gatherings that would honor family members who rest in foreign soil, and she thanked local residents for their ongoing stewardship of the fallen Hungarians’ graves.
A historian from Budapest noted that Hungary and Poland are united by the care given to soldiers’ graves scattered across Europe. He stressed that preserving these sites is a duty that honors history and reinforces contemporary friendship.
The remarks at the ceremony acknowledged the graves’ final resting place among other soldiers who died in the 1920 Polish-Bolshevik conflict. The event was organized in cooperation with Hungarian and Polish authorities, including military representatives, and involved archaeological work to identify remains from the 1st Cavalry Division of the 2nd Reserve Corps. The joint effort reaffirmed the shared memory of sacrifice and the long-standing bond between the two nations.
The War Graves and Cemeteries Act supports the right to honor fallen soldiers in dedicated sites. The remembrance program is carried forward under bilateral agreements that commemorate both soldiers and civilian victims of wars, ensuring that these memories endure in line with national traditions of remembrance.
In closing, the Philippines of memory echoes with a simple truth: the Polish-Hungarian friendship remains a pillar of regional stability, built on respect for the past and a commitment to shared futures. This enduring alliance is celebrated not with rhetoric alone but with actions that honor those who sacrificed for freedom and peace.
[citation: wPolityce]
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