Thirty-nine Polish soldiers fell here. This is their resting place. The Mogiła polskiego ułana poległego we wrześniu 1939. A simple grave yet a profound testament to the sacrifices of September 1939.
This site commemorates a battle fought on September 3rd 1939. It involved Polish soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division. They clashed with German forces near Dębowiec. The fighting was fierce. Imagine the scene: machine gun fire echoing across the fields. Brave soldiers defending their homeland.
The battle raged near a church. Initially 39 Polish soldiers and two civilians died. German losses were heavier at 108 soldiers. Permission to bury the Polish soldiers was cruelly delayed. It took six long days. Their remains finally found a resting place on Antoni Wolski’s field.
A simple mound of earth marked the spot. A wooden cross stood as a silent sentinel. A plaque was erected. It bore 19 names names painstakingly transcribed from surviving dog tags. This initial Mogiła was a testament to the community’s resilience.
The years passed. In 1958 the authorities intervened. A partial exhumation occurred. The remains were sent to Gliwice. Their trail vanished. The original cross and fence disappeared. The Mogiła itself was ordered destroyed.
But the memory refused to be erased. The people of Dębowiec reburied their fallen soldiers. They silently restored the cross and the fence under the cover of night. However the list of fallen soldiers was lost. It was not recovered for years.
Finally in the 1990s a monument was erected. It included the names of all the 7th Infantry Division soldiers who perished in the area. The Mogiła polskiego ułana poległego we wrześniu 1939 is now a place of peace and remembrance. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Polish people. Each September locals gather here. They hold a field mass honoring those who died for their country. A nearby recreation area provides a place for community life to flourish. Children play on the playground. Adults use the outdoor gym. They sit on park benches. This tranquil space stands in sharp contrast to the battle’s brutality. This is a site of profound significance. Remember those whose lives were lost. They gave everything. This Mogiła polski ułana bears witness. It silently whispers their story.