The National Day of Remembrance of the Cursed Soldiers is observed on 1 March, commemorating the Soldiers of the Polish Underground State from the World War II period who realised that the Soviet-imposed regime required resistance — both on the moral and political plane, and where possible, through continued armed struggle. The date is not coincidental — on 1 March 1951, seven members of the Fourth Main Board of the “Freedom and Independence” Association were murdered at the Mokotów Prison in Warsaw.
Among the Cursed Soldiers were many aviators, which is why today the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków especially remembers such figures as:
Wanda Modlibowska — an outstanding Polish sports aviatrix and glider pilot. Mobilised as a pilot of the staff squadron in September 1939, the first emissary of the Polish Government sent to occupied Poland in 1940, a Home Army soldier and participant in the Warsaw Uprising. Groundlessly arrested for an alleged attempt to illegally cross the border, she was sentenced as part of Stalinist-era repressions to 18 months in prison.
Jerzy Iszkowski — Second Lieutenant Pilot of the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków, Major Pilot of the Polish Armed Forces, is one of the heroes of Polish aviation. An officer of the Polish Armed Forces and the Home Army, pilot and “Silent Unseen” paratrooper, holder of the Virtuti Militari Order. He was repressed and imprisoned in the post-war period — rehabilitated in 1956 and in 1999.
Szczepan Ścibior — Colonel Pilot, participant in the September Campaign and the Battle of France, commander of the 1st Squadron of the 305 Bomber Squadron “Land of Wielkopolska and Lida” named after Marshal Józef Piłsudski. After the war, he served as commandant of the Officers’ Aviation School in Dęblin. In 1951, he was arrested and tortured for 8 months by the communist authorities, and in 1952 he was executed.
Honour their memory!
In Kraków, the celebrations of the National Day of Remembrance of the Cursed Soldiers will take place on 1 and 2 March 2025. On Saturday, 1 March, at 9:00 AM, a Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Wawel Cathedral, followed by a march through the Main Market Square to Jordan Park. At 11:15 AM in Jordan Park, a ceremony with military honour guard will take place, concluding with the laying of flowers and lighting of candles at the busts of the Cursed Soldiers. The organisers of the celebrations are Dr Eng. Krzysztof Jan Klęczar — Voivode of Małopolska, the IPN Branch in Kraków, and the Society of Dr Henryk Jordan Park.
On Sunday, 2 March, at 6:00 PM at the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Kraków, the 14th Gala Concert in Tribute to the Cursed Soldiers will be held. Laureates of the 9th Festival of Indomitable and Independent Song named after Henryk Rasiewicz “Kim” and artists of the Kraków Philharmonic will perform. Tickets are available at the Philharmonic box office and online. The concert is organised by the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Kraków, the IPN Branch in Kraków and the Passionart Association.
We cordially encourage you to participate in these events, paying tribute to the heroes who fought for the freedom of our homeland.
