On Saturday, 24 May 2025, the grounds of the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków became the setting for an exceptional event – the military oath ceremony of new soldiers of the 11th Małopolska Territorial Defence Brigade and celebrations marking the 7th anniversary of the formation’s establishment. The ceremony took place in the spaces around the newly built Hangar No. 5, a contemporary reinterpretation of the historic buildings of the 2nd Aviation Regiment.
The event was attended by representatives of state and local government authorities – Małopolska Voivode Jan K. Klęczar, Marshal of the Małopolska Voivodeship Łukasz Smółka, as well as numerous commanders of military units, including the 2nd Polish Corps, the 6th Airborne Brigade and the NIL Military Unit. The Polish Armed Forces were represented by General Maciej Klisz and General Krzysztof Stańczyk. Delegations of territorial defence forces from Hungary and Slovenia – countries cooperating with the 11th MBOT – were also present.
During the official part of the ceremony, the commander of the 11th MBOT, Colonel Mariusz Siudziński, recalled the role of the Brigade over the past seven years – during the pandemic, natural disasters, and operations such as “Operation Phoenix”, in which over a thousand territorial soldiers participated. The speeches strongly emphasised the unit’s connection with the local community and the heritage of the Home Army. A particularly moving moment was the welcoming of Home Army and Warsaw Uprising veterans – Major Hanna Zawistowska-Nowińska and Captain Barbara Grocholska-Kurkowiak.
In the presence of families, school delegations and representatives of uniformed organisations, 35 volunteers who had completed 16-day basic training took the oath. They were joined by graduates of the SONDA non-commissioned officers’ course. The ceremony had full military honours – it was accompanied by the Territorial Defence Forces Orchestra, a representative company, colour guards, as well as a parade of units and historical horse-mounted re-enactors.
After the official part concluded, a parade took place – companies of the 11th Brigade, historical re-enactors and a mounted sub-unit marched through the grounds of the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield. Musical accompaniment was provided by the Territorial Defence Forces Orchestra.
The next part of the programme was a military picnic with displays of combat, logistic and specialist equipment. Alongside the soldiers, stands were also prepared by, among others, the Police, the Fire Service, the Institute of National Remembrance, the Home Army Museum and the Tarnów Mechanical Works. There was also military pea soup, sausages and educational attractions for children.
The Polish Aviation Museum proudly supported this event as a partner, making available the space around Hangar No. 5 – a place whose architecture and function reference the heritage of the 2nd Aviation Regiment and the history of the Polish air forces. The cooperation with the 11th MBOT is in line with the Museum’s mission as an institution engaged in the dialogue between heritage and the present, as well as in joint activities with institutions of culture, education and defence.
On Sunday, 25 May, the second part of the celebrations marking the anniversary of the 11th Małopolska Territorial Defence Brigade took place. In Wierzbno, near Proszowice, tribute was paid to the unit’s patron – General Leopold Okulicki, codename “Niedźwiadek” (Little Bear) – commemorating the 81st anniversary of his parachute jump into occupied Poland.
The event had a particularly symbolic character – the parachute drop was carried out from the historic An-2 “Wiedeńczyk” aircraft, made available specially for this occasion by the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków.
We congratulate the 11th Małopolska Territorial Defence Brigade on its wonderful anniversary and wish it many more years of service under the motto: Always ready, always close!
