Foreword by Mr. Lech Parell
Head of the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentleman,
We are meeting here today, on Dutch soil, to pay tribute to the soldiers of the First Independent Parachute Brigade and its commander, General Stanisław Sosabowski.
However, our hearts are torn. Our thoughts are also in Poland, in Lower Silesia, in the Kłodzko region, in the Opole region. In the destroyed Głuchołazy, in Lądek Zdrój, in Stronie Śląskie. In Bystrzyca, Cieszów and many other places where a huge flood has been passing through. It destroyed roads and bridges. Residential houses and enterprises that provided employment for people. Thousands of people lost part of their lives. We are facing a great challenge to rebuild what was ruined.
This is why the head of the Polish government, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who stayed in the flood-affected areas of Poland, is not with us today. There, as the head of the rescue services and among the inhabitants of flooded areas, together with people rushing to help from all over Poland, he coordinates rescue operations.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Driel has been prepared for many weeks. The Prime Minister was very interested in being here. So let me present the letter prepared by Prime Minister Donald Tusk for today’s occasion.
Letter by Prime Minister Donald Tusk read out on the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden
Driel, 21 September 2024
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The purpose of today’s official commemoration here in the Netherlands is to pay respects to the soldiers of the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade and its commander, General Stanisław Sosabowski. In early fall of 1944, Polish paratroopers set off for the Netherlands to take part in the largest Allied airborne operation of World War II, which became known as Operation Market Garden.
I am grateful to the central and local authorities, who invited me to this ceremony. I want to express my sincere greetings to the people of Driel, whom I want to thank for keeping up the memory of the Polish paratroopers and their commander.
I also want to say welcome to the veterans of the 1944-1945 battle for the liberation of the Netherlands attending the ceremony, including Polish veterans represented by Lieutenant Eugeniusz Niedzielski-Nead and Captain Jan Brzeski, soldiers of the 1st Armoured Division led by General Stanisław Maczek. Please accept the words of my highest consideration for your courage, bravery and commitment.
As you may recall, I have already had the opportunity to participate in the ceremony in Driel. I still vividly remember the warm welcome I have experienced here 15 years ago, as well as your genuine commitment to commemorating the landing of Polish soldiers with due respect. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking care of Driel, which became a Polish memorial site due to the events that transpired 80 years ago.
The events of 21 September 1944 are considered iconic and legendary in Poland. The memory of the landing of Polish paratroopers led by General Sosabowski near Driel, where they established a bridgehead which they fiercely defended for four long days, while suffering heavy losses, still lives on to this day.
Today, Poland pays respects to the soldiers who fought for the freedom of all. The deeds of the paratroopers became a symbol of the sacrifice and bravery of the Polish soldiers throughout World War II, not unlike the defence of Westerplatte in 1939 and the capture of Monte Cassino in 1944. You might not realise it, but General Sosabowski’s paratroopers live on in the collective imagination of Poles. This can be arguably attributed to Cornelius Ryan’s A Bridge Too Far and the subsequent film based on the text. I do not think that I am exaggerating when I say that many Poles still think that General Sosabowski looks like Gene Hackman, who played the Polish commander.
As I have already mentioned, we remain grateful for your memory of the Polish brigade and its general. In particular, I would like to thank you for your efforts to commemorate the Poles who fought at Arnhem, which resulted in Queen Beatrix awarding the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ highest military award – the Military William Order – in 2006, with General Sosabowski being distinguished with the Bronze Lion Medal.
However, there is one more reason for our gratitude, namely the push to recognise the contribution of Polish paratroopers in Operation Market Garden and to acknowledge their efforts, with the letter calling for such recognition sent to the government of the United Kingdom this July. Many mayors of Dutch cities signed the letter.
On behalf of the Polish Government, I want to thank you for these tokens of remembrance.