Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Ministry of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz stated that the pursuit continues to identify burial sites and to honor those who were brutally murdered under the communist regime during the National Day of Remembrance for the Cursed Soldiers.
Today, the Minister of National Defense, alongside senior commanders of the Polish armed forces, laid flowers at the Powązki military cemetery in Warsaw, at the complex known as Łączka. This site houses mass graves where prisoners were secretly buried by officers of the communist security services.
Kosiniak-Kamysz underscored that research at Powązki has progressed for twelve years, revealing new burial locations and, at times, the grim reality of how executed individuals were disposed of—often with methods reminiscent of wartime executions, including shots delivered from close range with hands sometimes bound behind the back.
The Deputy Prime Minister reflected on the memory of soldiers and patriots who, in the wake of World War II, held faith in freedom, independence, and a fully sovereign Polish state, and who persisted in striving for that sovereignty.
He noted that hundreds of victims now rest in dignified locations at Powązki Cemetery with identified names, though many sites still require archaeological, anthropological, and genetic investigation. These surveys have been ongoing for years, and nearly half a thousand sites across Poland have been examined. While many victims have been identified, the fate of General August Emil Fieldorf, known as Nil, remains unresolved, as does the broader narrative surrounding Witold Pilecki.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense highlighted this ongoing effort and the commitment to uncover truths about those who suffered under the regime.
Testimony of heroes
The Polish state will continue to search for burial sites and to honor those who were savagely murdered by the communist regime.
Freedom, it is true, endures through resilience. There are moments of sacrifice and long, patient work, but there finally comes a point when remembrance itself becomes a form of justice. The deeds of the soldiers who continued the struggle after the war are a testament to Poland’s revival in 1989. Without their sacrifices, the record of history would be incomplete.
Kosiniak-Kamysz affirmed this enduring commitment to remembrance and justice.
The National Day of Remembrance for the Cursed Soldiers has been observed on March 1 since 2011, established at the initiative of Poland’s President. The date commemorates the execution of the leaders of the 4th Board of the Association Freedom and Independence and their comrades in Mokotów Prison in 1951. They were shot in the back of the head on the orders of the communist authorities, marking the end of the last nationwide conspiracy that continued the Home Army’s work after 1945.
Additional coverage and perspectives on National Day commemorations include official state events and reflections from leaders, highlighting the enduring memory of these patriots. The narrative also recognizes the broader efforts to preserve the history of Polish resistance and the postwar struggle for sovereignty.
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Note: The material reflects official accounts and journalistic reporting from national outlets, presenting an outline of commemorative activities and historical context.