They commemorated Witold Pilecki

- For me personally, he is the bravest soldier of World War II. What courage, what heroism was needed to willingly allow himself to be imprisoned in a German concentration camp and see hell on earth - said Krzysztof Męciński, director of the Szczecin Branch of the Institute of National Remembrance, during the ceremony commemorating Captain Witold Pilecki.

The celebrations, organised by the Szczecin Branch of the Institute of National Remembrance in cooperation with the Witold Pilecki Economic Technical School in Szczecin, took place under the commemorative plaque unveiled last year on the school wall.

The event was attended by representatives of the West Pomeranian Voivode, the deputy education superintendent, representatives of the army and uniformed services, as well as numerous teachers and students of the school. The honor guard was provided by the 12th Szczecin Mechanized Division.

Director Męciński reminded the audience of the extraordinary heroism of the captain:

– We should remember him not only for his mission in Auschwitz, but for his entire life path – from fighting in the Polish-Bolshevik war, through his activities in the Polish Underground State, to the Warsaw Uprising. He was not only a soldier, but also an outstanding social activist.

He also emphasized the tragic end of the captain's life:

– The communist authorities “repaid” him with a brutal investigation, torture and a death sentence, carried out by a shot to the back of the head in the prison in Mokotów – he recalled.

In his appeal to the youth, he stressed that Pilecki remains a symbol of the fight against two totalitarianisms.

"He was rebellious, like every young man, but true to his ideals. I hope that his students will remember him," he said.

During the ceremony, a student from the school, Anna Witkowska, recited her own poem “When I Will Be Afraid,” dedicated to the memory of the captain. The soldiers read the Roll Call of the Fallen and fired a salute. Delegations laid flowers under the plaque commemorating the hero.

Witold Pilecki – a hero of the struggle for independence – began his service to Poland as early as 1920. He fought in the September Campaign, and was active in the structures of the Union of Armed Struggle and the Home Army. He voluntarily allowed himself to be imprisoned in Auschwitz to gather information about German crimes and organize a conspiracy. After escaping from the camp, he fought in the Warsaw Uprising, and after the war – on the orders of General Anders – he was active in the country, for which he was arrested, tortured and murdered by the communist authorities on May 25, 1948.

Until 1989, his story was subject to strict censorship. Today, his figure is regaining its rightful place in national memory. In 2006, he was posthumously awarded the Order of the White Eagle, and in 2013, he was promoted to colonel.

(dg)