Poland remembers revolt against Germans 100 years on  

Polish President Andrzej Duda on Sunday attended commemorations in the south of the country to pay tribute to insurgents who revolted against their region’s German rulers a century ago.

President Andrzej Duda speaks during ceremonies on Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the Third Silesian Uprising.

Photo: PAP/Krzysztof Świderski

Sunday marked exactly 100 years since the last of the armed uprisings against the Germans started in what is now Poland’s southern Upper Silesia region.

Ethnic Poles in the area fought a series of three armed insurgencies from 1919 to 1921 to break away from Germany and join newly independent Poland.

Speaking during a ceremony on Sunday at Góra Świętej Anny, the site of the 1921 Battle of Annaberg against German forces, President Andrzej Duda paid tribute to "all those who fought ... and were ready to die for Poland" during the Silesian Uprisings.

Uroczystość z okazji setnej rocznicy wybuchu III Powstania Śląskiego oraz Dnia Flagi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej przy pomniku Czynu Powstańczego na Górze św. Anny. pic.twitter.com/7eO5Kdi6Qx

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) May 2, 2021

Duda said: “I bow my head to all those young men from Silesian towns and families who spilled their blood and sacrificed their lives as they fought to reclaim this region for Poland."

Złożenie wieńca od Narodu przez Prezydenta RP @AndrzejDuda przy pomniku Czynu Powstańczego na Górze św. Anny. pic.twitter.com/GsgPvhAcAW

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) May 2, 2021

Poland regained independence on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended, after 123 years of partition by Russia, Austria and Prussia.

Polish President Andrzej Duda. Photo: Marek Borawski/KPRP

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Source: PAP