Visit of the Permanent Representative of Poland to NATO in Hohenfels
27.01.2020
On January 27, Ambassador Tomasz Szatkowski took part in the ceremony of unveiling of the renovated memorial plaque in honor of American soldiers who liberated the Hohenfels camp in 1945. The monument was erected by former prisoners of German Nazi concentration camps.
The monument was renovated on the initiative of Ambassador Szatkowski, who as deputy minister of defense visited Hohenfels in 2018 and noticed a neglected plaque dedicated to American soldiers. The monument was renovated thanks to the involvement of the Institute of National Remembrance and the Ministry of National Defense, with the support of the US Army stationed in Hohenfels.
I am really touched that the US Army was so open and together we were able to renovate this monument, which reminds us of both the difficult Polish history and the involvement of the US in freedom - noted Ambassador Szatkowski. In his speech, he also emphasized the importance of constantly reminding the next generation of the truth about the history of World War II, especially in the face of disinformation attacks by Russia.
As Allies, we must defend the truth. And this monument reminds us well what the truth is: in 1945, US soldiers freed many Europeans, including prisoners of this camp - he noted.
The ambassador also stressed that the history of the monument in front of the staff building of the largest American military training center in Europe also has a personal dimension for him. Great-grandfather and grandfather of Ambassador Szatkowski - soldiers of the Home Army and National Armed Forces - after being sent to forced labor during the war to the Third Reich, they were liberated by the Americans.
During World War II, Hohenfels hosted a German Nazi prisoner of war camp known as Stalag 383. Approximately 5,000 prisoners from many Allied forces were held here, with Polish prisoners making up more than half. In the years 1945–1949, displaced and former prisoners of war stayed in Hohenfels.
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to NATO visited Hohenfels during Combined Resolve XIII multinational exercise. Also present were General Commander of Polish Armed Forces Lt Gen. Jarosław Mika and Commanding General of US Army Europe Lt Gen. Christopher Cavoli.
Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Poland to NATO
