Germany

August 27, 2022 is the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Union of Poles in Germany (Związek Polaków w Niemczech, ZPwN). Before the ceremonial gala begins, it is worth considering the problems that the Association has been struggling with since the end of World War II.

Protecting historical landmarks symbolizing freedom and horrors of genocide should be above reproach. However, the Jersey City monument commemorating the 1940 Katyn massacre of 22,000 Polish POW officers held by the Soviet Army after its 1939 invasion of Poland was challenged and plans were made for its removal in May last year.

While in the German press the current Chancellor Scholz is said to be performing "Eiertanz" — a dance with eggs: two steps forward, one step back — and about Schroder, that he is Putin's puppet, the media are very restrained about the former Chancellor Angela Merkel. She herself is absent from political life, especially after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

From the beginning of the partitions of Poland, the invaders tried to Germanize and Russify the Poles by all means. One of the basic methods was to fight the Polish language. In schools, students were subject to corporal punishment for using the Polish language during breaks between lessons, and their parents were fined.

May 25 this year is the 74th anniversary of the death of Captain Pilecki in the Mokotów prison.

Gerhard Schröder, in an interview with The New York Times entitled "The Former Chancellor Who Became Putin's Man in Germany," referring to his unsuccessful mediation attempt in Moscow, said: "Putin is interested in ending the war. But that’s not so easy. There are a few points that need to be clarified."

There is no unanimity in Berlin in the matter of helping the fighting Ukraine, especially when it comes to providing the so-called "heavy weapons". Let us recall that the most important figure in German politics, i.e. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said two days after Russia's attack on Ukraine: "February 24, 2022 is a turning point in the history of our continent."

The idea of ​​establishing the Center was born in 2011 by the Germans during the "round table" session on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the "Treaty between the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany on good neighborhood and friendly cooperation" of June 17, 1991. It was described as "a form of compensation for the harm done to Poles living in Germany before the outbreak of World War II by the Nazis."

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops entered Ukraine. The war which, according to intelligence analysts from the USA, Germany and France, was to last 4-5 days and end with the occupation of Ukraine and the complete subordination of Ukraine by Russia, and perhaps even the erasure of the name Ukraine from the map of Europe, began.

Putin recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics by breaking international law once again, and the European elite and its diplomacy still believe in the project of cooperation with Russia from Vladivostok to Lisbon. What will happen to Europe next? Will Germany stop feeding us pro-Russian demagogy and cynicism?

The event that I want to inform you about took place on November 13 and 14, 2021 in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. These were two days saturated with love and attachment to Poland and a sense of solidarity with the country of origin of the participants of this "Great Festival", which was organized by the "Poles in Essen" Group.