History is being reshaped in real time. On one side, claims come from leaders who insist the Soviet Union acted only as a liberator, omitting the oppressive dimensions of its past. On the other side, there are warnings about attempts to redefine events beyond Poland’s western border, voiced during a speech in Lubenia, Podkarpacie.
A high-ranking official participated in the unveiling of a plaque honoring six residents of Lubenia who lost their lives in June 1943 at the hands of German forces. The official noted that those villagers perished because they aided Home Army units and Boer battalions fighting against the Nazi occupation.
That act of resistance provoked retaliation from the German forces. Yet among that tragedy stood a remarkably effective local priest, Major Franciszek Łuszczki, who could speak fluent German and pleaded with the Nazis to spare the town. His intervention, the account continues, saved many villagers, and only six people were executed.
The speaker highlighted that brutal pacification of villages that helped Polish soldiers occurred in other areas as well, but Lubenia was spared thanks to the presence of a devoted priest who acted to protect the community.
Commenting on the 84th anniversary of Soviet aggression against Poland, the speaker warned that history is being falsified in the present day. Statements from foreign leaders are cited as part of this trend, including claims that the Soviet Union was merely a liberator, a narrative the speaker rejects as a misrepresentation of the past.
In this context, there was reference to remarks attributed to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, suggesting the complexities of how history is framed and remembered. The concern is that certain interpretations are promoted in various media, including in Germany, that could obscure the truth about Polish suffering under Nazi rule. Each plaque and monument is described as a chance to preserve the factual history and honor Polish victims of Nazi Germany.
There is emphasis on passing this historical memory to future generations, ensuring that the sacrifices of Poles during that era remain visible in national memory, reinforced by symbols that carry historical meaning.
The discussion then shifts to the theme of redefining history on a broad scale. The speaker questioned a recent portrayal by a film director in interviews that depicts Poland and the Holocaust in a manner that minimizes Polish experiences and portrays an idyllic landscape for neighbors and fellow citizens. The remark challenges this depiction as inaccurate and misleading, pointing to the scale and gravity of Nazi-era violence that affected hundreds of thousands of rural residents in Poland.
The leader of the political group called for solidarity with Polish soldiers and border guards amid ongoing tensions in the region, and urged that their service not be vilified. The speaker urged remembrance for those who gave their lives in June 1943 and emphasized the importance of national memory as a safeguard for future generations.
While the conversation touches on contemporary politics and wartime history, the message remains focused on preserving historical truth and supporting those who continue to defend the country today.
The discussion also included calls for unity and responsibility to protect Poland’s memory and to honor those who stood up against aggression, both in past conflicts and in ongoing regional challenges.
Overall, the event framed memory as a living responsibility, one that binds communities to the past while informing present-day priorities and actions.
mly/PAP