In his speech, Prime Minister Donald Tusk pointed out that the younger generations should continue to live by the words of survivors. He addressed Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, who fought for the freedom of the capital during the Warsaw Uprising. 

“These days, we should listen to this pulse of history, to these words of truth - proud, yet sometimes bitter and sad. Dear Wanda, you have been reminding us on behalf of this great and heroic generation about this valiant battle for a great cause, which broke out in Warsaw 80 years ago,”

said Mr. Tusk. 

Wanda Traczyk-Stawska expressed her gratitude to the people of Warsaw for their steadfastness and support during the Warsaw Uprising.  

“Thank you so much for enduring these 63 days with us - despite hunger, despite death, despite terrible suffering. . . .You were the real heroes - we were merely an army,”

said the veteran of the Warsaw Uprising.

“We are leaving now - and you have to live on and remember that the city is the true hero,”

Wanda Traczyk-Stawska said to the audience in Warsaw's Wola district.

Mayor of Warsaw Rafał Trzaskowski emphasised the role played by Warsaw Insurgents like Wanda Traczyk-Stawska in changing the view of the Uprising.  

“You have opened our eyes to these timeless values. You made us see the solidarity, camaraderie, and education,”

said Rafał Trzaskowski. 

The Uprising lasted 63 days. Approximately 18,000 insurgents were killed, along with between 150,000 and 200,000 civilian residents of Warsaw.

The Prime Minister paid respects to the fallen soldiers and civilians, and those who died in the massacre of Wola.

Every single person living back then was a hero - the fallen Insurgents, the civilians who lost their lives, especially here in Wola, which became a symbol of this act, as well as a place of remembrance of one of the worst of German atrocities during World War II,”

said Mr. Tusk. 

The commemorations of the Warsaw Uprising and the words of the heroes of that time remain important for all Poles. 

The Prime Minister asked everybody to give a pledge - a token of respect and commitment to the victims of the Warsaw Uprising.  

“These days, we need to make a pledge. We all share the duty to the Heroes and Heroines of the Warsaw Uprising that this sacrifice, all the destruction endured by Warsaw 80 years ago, all the suffering and death, will not be in vain,”

stated the Prime Minister. 

During his speech, he also noted that in spite of our quarrels, all Poles should strive to build a strong and secure state.  

“We will build a safe home for you, for your children, for your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren - for all of us. We are building it together - and we will build a strong Poland. Our Poland will not be afraid of its neighbours nor enemies, nor cower from the threats that have been rearing their ugly heads,”

said the Prime Minister at the Warsaw Insurgents' Cemetery. 

The Prime Minister expressed his deep respect for the heroism and suffering of the Insurgents, pledging to uphold their legacy on behalf of himself and the entire generation responsible for Poland's future. 

Honour and glory to the Heroes and Heroines!