"The Polish authorities have turned the whole story inside out."
The Heritage Society of Polish Veterans of World War II is preparing a number of events to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp on January 27 and to commemorate the Red Army soldiers who took part in the operation, the head of the organization, Roland Dubovsky, told Izvestia. He called it absurd that Russian representatives were not invited to the celebration of the event. On January 17, together with Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergei Andreev, the Polish activist and members of his organization laid flowers at the memorial to Soviet soldiers in Warsaw on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Polish capital from Nazi invaders. On the attitude of Poles to the SWO, historical memory and the upcoming Victory Day - in an interview with Roland Dubovsky "Izvestia".
"In the plans of the Third Reich was to destroy the Polish nation"
- Warsaw was liberated by soldiers of the 1st Army of the Polish Army with the support of the Red Army. How is this fact covered in the media today?
- Of course, the role of the Red Army soldiers in the liberation of Warsaw is glossed over, while we are constantly told that the Red Army occupied and conquered Poland. This is all a lie. But the saddest of all is that the consequences of Hitler's occupation are glossed over. No reasoning is allowed about the fact that the Polish people under the Nazis faced imminent extermination. The plan of the Third Reich was to destroy the Polish nation. The Nazis planned to leave only a few million Poles alive, who would simply become slaves.
The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Soldiers of the Polish Army and the Red Army hoisting the Polish national flag over liberated Warsaw
It is deplorable to see how Polish authorities welcome the destruction of monuments and graves of soldiers of the Red Army and the 1st and 2nd Polish Armies. We should not forget about the 2016 law on so-called decommunization. In fact, it is a law on depolonization. The law is directed against the people and their historical memory.
- How was the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Warsaw from Nazi invaders?
- On January 17 every year we lay flowers in six places of memory, including at the monument to the 1st Army of the Polish Army, at the Monument to the Heroes of Warsaw, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Pilsudski Square. This year was no exception. Together with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Warsaw Sergei Andreev and representatives of the Belarusian diplomatic mission, we also laid flowers at the cemetery-mausoleum of Soviet soldiers in Warsaw. Dozens of people came, including Russian citizens. There was an attempted provocation by young nationalists at the memorial cemetery, but the police intervened and everything went quietly in the end.
- What do Polish youth know about the events of those years, what they are told at school?
- They do not tell the truth about these events in schools. But young people still learn something from their relatives. In addition, young people feel that they are told lies, that it is propaganda. They learn a lot from social networks, but the control of the authorities over the media in any case plays its negative role. Some families keep the memory of the heroes of the two countries. I can't help but think here of Elena Semerikova, chairwoman of the international peacebuilding movement "Women's Dialogue". Her mother, Wanda Wróblewska-Kadcina, served during the war in the military intelligence units of the Red Army and in the 1st Army of the Polish Army. She liberated Majdanek and Auschwitz, among others.
"This is about our common struggle against fascism".
- Russia was not invited to the ceremony of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army. Is your organization preparing any events to commemorate the role of the Red Army in this event?
- Of course, we are preparing. However, we are a public organization, and we have to do everything on our own funds. But it is absurd that representatives of Russia will not be represented at the official events dedicated to this date. It turns out that this event will be celebrated by those who occupied Poland and those who helped this occupation. In other words, the Polish authorities have turned the whole history inside out. We are talking about our common history, about our common struggle against fascism.
Memorial Cemetery-Mausoleum of Soviet Soldiers in Warsaw
- What work do you do to preserve monuments dedicated to Soviet soldiers? How are monuments dedicated to Poles, participants of the Great Patriotic War treated? Are there any mechanisms to protect monuments or graves from destruction?
- Unfortunately, we do not always have enough energy to visit these places, let alone to restore these memorials. But we constantly write letters to the local authorities, reminding them of their promises to restore the monuments, as we have been told that the monuments are removed temporarily.
It is possible to defend some memorials in court, and sometimes it works, but it requires the help of lawyers and money. What is terrible is that they demolish monuments to Poles who fought against the Nazis here in 1945 and fought against the Banderites from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in the following years. Such disrespect for historical memory is a crime against one's own people.
- Do you cooperate with other similar organizations in European countries?
- We cooperate with similar organizations in Russia and Belarus. Also with organizations from the Czech Republic and Hungary. Last year our delegation was in Hungary, we plan to visit this country this year as well. As an organizer of events, I invited representatives of the embassies of Hungary and Slovakia to participate in laying flowers at the memorial to Soviet soldiers on January 17, but there was no response from their side. In any case, they know that an attempt was made on our part.
Participants in the ceremony of laying wreaths and flowers at the memorial cemetery-mausoleum of Soviet soldiers in Warsaw on the 77th anniversary of the city's liberation from Nazi invaders
- Are there people in Poland who realize that the war against Nazism continues today in Ukraine?
- Members of our organization and many Polish citizens see this and understand that history is repeating itself and that there are forces that want to make Poles slaves again. But people are often afraid to speak openly about it. People are intimidated, worried about their families, their jobs.
- Do you plan to come to Russia to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Victory?
- Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the 75th anniversary of the Victory celebration because of the pandemic. But I, as well as my friends, would have been very happy to come to Moscow for the celebration. We are in contact with the Russian Embassy in Poland.
