81st Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising - A Tribute to the Victims of the Wola Massacre and a Voice of National Remembrance

On the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, together with President-elect Karol Nawrocki, paid tribute to one of the most tragic chapters in the history of the capital, the Wola Massacre. This year’s commemorations began with a visit to the site of the mass murder of civilians in Warsaw’s Wola district.

During his speech, President Andrzej Duda emphasised the importance of restoring the memory of the genocide committed by the Germans in the first days of August 1944. As he recalled, in this one district of Warsaw, in factories, courtyards, and homes, between 50,000 and 60,000 innocent people were murdered, including women, men, children, and the elderly. One of the most harrowing memories was the story of a pregnant woman in her eighth month, whose three children were killed before her eyes. According to the President, these tragic events often fade into the background of the heroic image of the uprising itself, although they are an integral part of the historical truth.

Later in the ceremony, Karol Nawrocki, President of the Institute of National Remembrance and President-elect of Poland, addressed the audience. In his speech, he stated that the Warsaw Uprising was an expression of the quintessentially Polish tradition of insurrection, deeply rooted in the nation’s history. Nawrocki reminded listeners that German crimes originated not only during the time of the Third Reich but much earlier, in anti-Polish attitudes cultivated over decades. His words carried a clear commitment: remembrance of the victims should be not only an act of tribute but also a foundation of national unity.

Both leaders paid tribute not only to the insurgents who fought with weapons in hand but, above all, to the civilian victims of German extermination. This ceremony was deeply symbolic. It not only recalled the dramatic events of 81 years ago but also called for responsibility in preserving memory. As President Duda emphasised, it is thanks to the people of Warsaw, their neighbours, and subsequent generations who upheld respect and historical awareness that the truth about the Wola Massacre has not been forgotten even in times when official, institutional memory remained silent.

This year’s commemoration shows that the Warsaw Uprising is not only a story of combat but also one of sacrifice, suffering, and the helpless heroism of the civilian population. It also serves as a reminder that memory, when nurtured and passed on, is the most enduring monument we can raise to those who died for freedom.

Eternal memory to the victims.

Editorial Team, Wyspa TV