Across the Oder River, a silent monument stands. It’s the Pamięci Zesłanych na Sybir i Walczących o wolną, niepodległą Polskę. This memorial, erected in September 2018, is a concrete testament to a shared history between Frankfurt (Oder) and its Polish sister city, Słubice. Before the river became a dividing line, Słubice was the Frankfurt suburb of Dammvorstadt. A single town, cleaved in two by the aftermath of World War II. The Pamięci Zesłanych na Sybir i Walczących o wolną, niepodległą Polskę serves as a reminder of the deportations to Siberia and the struggle for a free and independent Poland. The inscription, a quote from Pope John Paul II, thanks the sons of the nation who spared no sacrifice, defending the highest values of freedom and human dignity. The memorial stands as a symbol of resilience, a tribute to those who endured hardship and fought for their homeland. It also represents the complex relationship between Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. Once united, then divided, these two cities are now finding ways to reconnect and rebuild their shared heritage. The Pamięci Zesłanych na Sybir i Walczących o wolną, niepodległą Polskę is a poignant symbol of this ongoing process of reconciliation and remembrance.
Stadion der Freundschaft
But the current state of the stadium is a sad reminder of the passage of time. Its original floodlights and