Poland in South Africa

“(...) On November 11, 1918, after 123 years of partitions, we regained the Polish state, which reappeared on the map and the nation regained its freedom.

Today, both at home and abroad, we proudly celebrate this date. This day has a special character because as a nation, as over the centuries, we had to fight for our freedom and national identity very often and very bloody. Repeated attempts to destroy Polishness, deprive us of our statehood and national pride, paradoxically built our strength and patriotism. Experienced by fate, we are able to appreciate the importance of freedom and independence. Attacked many times in history, we know how important it is to fight for our future and national identity.

It would seem that the world, after the horrible times of the wars of the 20th century, learned a lesson and did its homework. The atrocities experienced by so many nations during the world wars should be a guarantee that no one will ever allow us to relive the images of war again.

Unfortunately not.

In February 2022, a war broke out in the immediate vicinity of Poland, caused by the brutal, immoral and unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Ukrainian people must fight for their future, statehood and freedom. Poland, as one of the European countries and neighbour, extended a helping hand and the Polish nation opened its hearts and homes to Ukrainians fleeing the cruelty of war. During World War II, Poles often had to seek refuge from the barbarity of war in very distant parts of the world. Many of them, thanks to the help of other countries and nations, have found peace and a safe haven. Today we reciprocate this generosity.

During the test and need, we were able to show our incredible empathy and unity by jointly organizing selfless help for over 7 million citizens of Ukraine who crossed the Polish border in recent months looking for shelter for themselves and their children.

Poles have this incredible power to unite us in our moments of trial, which we have proven beyond any doubt in the recent period. This unity and determination shows our strength as a nation that is able to stand side by side for a good cause in the name of a common goal (…) ”.

One of the elements of the celebrations was the presentation of the Polish-Ukrainian exhibition "Mum, I don't want war". The exhibition shows the war through the eyes of Polish and Ukrainian children.

As part of the exhibition, we present historical drawings of Polish children from 1946, which are a record of their experiences during World War II, and contemporary drawings of Ukrainian children. Children draw tanks, planes to drop bombs, fires and explosions. They draw the wounded and the dead, ruined houses, graves. They draw themselves and their family, they draw evacuation and escape. Children also draw hope and their dreams for the future. Let this hope and bright future for peace and freedom be the keynote each time we remember the dark times of our shared history …….

 

Photos: Michał Gierwatowski / Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria