Every year, Poland pays respects to the people who decided to take up arms against the occupation forces in the summer of 1944. As Prime Minister Donald Tusk pointed out, their decision to rise against the invaders was extraordinary and incomparable to anything else in the history of Poland and Europe.   

“We need to treasure this memory, since it allowed us to build a better future. Our history has few of these moments, where we can state with full conviction that these people were our heroes, and that these events were truly remarkable. That is why we should keep these exceptions in our memory,” the Prime Minister said during a speech at the Warsaw Rising Museum. 

Mr. Tusk noted that in spite of continuing debates among historians, as well as the controversies regarding the sense of the Uprising, which have been going on for decades, we all share one belief - the respect for the Warsaw Insurgents. 

Cultivating the memory of the Uprising brings together all the people, regardless of their backgrounds, traditions or beliefs, while connecting generations. 

The Warsaw Rising Museum plays a crucial role in this process, showcasing the glory and tragedy of the Uprising for 20 years, highlighting the courage of young residents of Warsaw and the atrocities of the occupying forces, as well as heroism and everyday life. Most importantly, it does so in a way that is authentic to young people.  

“When we were watching carefully coloured photographs taken during the Uprising with the Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski and Director Jan Ołdakowski, I was truly moved. Director Ołdakowski mentioned that these leave a lasting impression on the youngest visitors, allowing them to truly empathise with the people, better understand the artefacts in the Museum, and stimulate their imagination,” said Donald Tusk. 

For years, the Museum’s activities exceeded the scope of the mission of a conventional facility of its kind. 

The Prime Minister decided to provide the funding sorely needed for the expansion of the Warsaw Rising Museum.

The need for financial support was brought to the Prime Minister's attention by the Mayor of Warsaw, after the realisation that some erroneous decisions made in previous years cause some difficulties in transferring the promised money to the Museum. 

“I would like to thank you for this very important declaration. As the Insurgents pass away, the remembrance of the Uprising and the values that they fought and died for becomes increasingly important. I am glad that there is now funding for expanding the Museum, which will enable it to carry on with its educational mission and continue growing,” Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski pointed out.  

Jan Ołdakowski, the director of the Warsaw Rising Museum, noted that the expansion concept has been ready for implementation for a while, with the lack of funding being the only thing that was holding it back. 

“We will launch the project tomorrow. Thank you on behalf of all the Museum staff, as well as on behalf of the new generation and the future visitors, who will come to the Museum to prepare for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising,” said Jan Ołdakowski.  

The project is expected to take approximately 3.5 years.