“Brotherhood of arms.” This phrase echoes through time at the Denkmal für die Soldaten der 1. Polnischen Armee, Division “Tadeusz Kościuszko”. Here we stand before a monument. It embodies a complex history of Polish soldiers fighting alongside the Red Army.
This Denkmal commemorates the soldiers of the First Polish Army. They were part of the Division named after Tadeusz Kościuszko. Understanding its story requires delving into the turbulent years of World War II. It also means looking at Poland’s place in the Soviet sphere.
In the summer of 1943, the 1st Infantry Division “Tadeusz Kościuszko” was formed in the USSR. It was under the command of General Zygmunt Berling. The ranks swelled with Poles. These were exiles and prisoners from Russian camps. Some had failed to join General Anders’ army. For many ordinary soldiers, this was their only path back to their homeland.
The division faced its first major battle at Lenino in Belarus. It was October 12th and 13th, 1943. The soldiers were largely civilians. They were exhausted by forced labor. Poorly prepared and lacking artillery support, the division suffered heavy losses. Mistakes in command contributed to the tragedy.
The division had a political mission. They were to enter Poland alongside the Red Army. They would proclaim brotherhood of arms. Also they would form the nucleus of a communist regime. Officers of the 1st Division later formed the Polish National Liberation Committee. Soldiers had no say in how their units were used. Stalin used them in his policies toward Poland.
After reformation, “Kościuszko” soldiers joined the 1st Army of the Polish Army. They fought for Warsaw and Kolobrzeg. They also participated in the assault on Berlin. Few know that 180,000 Polish soldiers were involved in seizing Berlin. They fought alongside the Red Army in the 1st and 2nd Polish Armies. On May 1, 1945, these soldiers had to fight to take the Technical University.
Ksawery Dunikowski created the Denkmal in the 1960s. It was commissioned by Minister of National Defense, General Marian Spychalski. The unveiling occurred on October 12th, 1963. It marked the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Lenino. During the Polish People’s Republic, this lost battle was presented as a great victory. October 12th was celebrated as the Feast of the Polish Army. Free Poland abolished this holiday in 1992.
The Denkmal stands as Dunikowski’s last work. It prompts reflection on Poland’s complex history. It forces thinking about the soldiers’ sacrifices and political realities. It shows the shifting narratives of victory and loss.