On Thursday, September the 1st , 2022, at the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast in Gdańsk, with the participation of the President of the Republic of Poland, the Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of National Defence, soldiers of the Polish Army, veterans and scouts, ceremonies were held to celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.

“Today, another terrible war is fought in Ukraine. Russia is killing thousands of people, ruining cities and villages. Imperial evil has reborn, and today part of Europe still does not learn from the tragedy of the war. For decades, many wondered how Germany, a civilized country, could make as many atrocities as Europe could allow and not react when there was still time. It was repeated that a similar nightmare and criminal carelessness could not happen again. Unfortunately, today another terrible war is fought in Ukraine. Russia is barbarously killing thousands of people , ruins towns and villages"

- said the Prime Minister during the ceremony.

Punctually at 4.45 a.m., as every year, alarm sirens were turned on, which refer to the beginning of the German aggression against Poland on September 1, 1939.

A special moment of this year's celebrations was the lighting of the "Candle of Generations" by soldiers, scouts and combatants, the fire of which symbolizes the living memory of the defenders of Westerplatte.

During the ceremony, President Andrzej Duda handed over the identification note to the representatives of the family of the soldier remains found in Westerplatte.

The March of the Heroes of Westerplatte was also played, which was composed especially for this ceremony by the Polish Army.

"World War II cast a shadow on Poles for decades. Who knows what Poland would look like today and how many of us would live here, if we had not been treacherously attacked by the Germans walking shoulder to shoulder with the Soviets. Yes, it was absolutely one of the most terrible tragedies in Poland. Not only because it took away our freedom, not only because it took the state from us - because after the Soviet attack on Poland and after Soviet and German soldiers shook hands, the Polish state disappeared from the map once again, unfortunately, another time in. But also because the war resulted in millions of victims among Polish citizens and countless, irreparable losses for our homeland and for our nation"

- President Andrzej Duda, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said during the ceremony.

After the reading of the Appeal of Remembrance, the heroism of the defenders of the Fatherland was celebrated with a cannon salute, and the scouts present at the ceremony read the message of Westerplatte.

Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Błaszczak called to honour the memory of the sacrifice that Polish heroes made during the defence of Westerplatte.

"Westerplatte is a model of courage and patriotism for Poles, and a warning to the world against despotism, imperialism and political assurance. It is our duty to remember"

- he said.

The celebration of the 83rd anniversary of the outbreak of World War II in Westerplatte ended with a common prayer and the ceremony of laying a wreath from the nation by delegations of Polish Army soldiers at the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast. The ceremony was also accompanied by the flight of American F-22 fighters and Polish F-16 aircrafts.

From 2020, the celebration of the anniversary of the outbreak of World War II in Westerplatte is organized by the Polish Army.