Today, before 9 o'clock in the morning, from the Wrocław Centre for Training of Engineering and Chemical Forces, he set out for Monte Cassino Central Motorcycle Rally of Polish Army Bombers. The soldiers want to arrive on the 80th anniversary of the acquisition of the celebrated hill by General Anders' troops. The task is sponsored by Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish.
30 people on 25 motorcycles went on tour. They are mostly soldiers serving in engineering units. Motorcyclists from another military units and institutions and respective civilians, military sympathizers, besides joined the rally.
To the glory of the bomb squad
The main goal of the rally is to celebrate the memory of the soldiers of the 10th Bomber Battalion 2nd Polish Corpswho have fallen in conflict for the celebrated hill and monastery. According to modern engineering soldiers, their dedication and the crucial function they played during the fighting are inactive unknown. Inventor and rally commander Major Dr. Paweł Wasilewski believes that in historical studies the importance of bomb squads from the 10th Battalion is frequently overlooked. "We modern bombarders, inheriting the traditions of their accomplishments, began to browse the archives and discover fresh cards of their merit and glory," he explained.
An officer who is driving at the head of the motorcyclists before starting his journey spoke about the sacrifice of the 10th Baon Bombers at the conflict of Monte Cassino. – They were the first ones to decision on. In this very hard area they built and masked shelters, command and communications stations. They mined forfields, built and secured ammunition depots. They prepared reflection posts sometimes on almost vertical rocks – said Major Vasilewski.
Film: Dominika Celińska, Bogusław Politowski/ ArmouredTV
The merit of the bomb squad was besides emphasized by Colonel Artur Marcinkowski, acting as the Commandant of the Centre, who met with rally participants at the rally and then gave a signal to start it.
Among the participants of the expedition is St. Chor. Henryk Kalisz from Operations Command. The motorcyclist has been behind many races for years, including a military rally to Smolensk to commemorate the victims of a tragic plane crash. Today's journey is his first journey to Monte Cassino. That's quite a few emotion. From stories I know that the mountain and monastery itself, especially the cemetery of Polish soldiers, make a large impression on visitors – the soldier admitted. He'll be on his motorcycle alone. I prepared it well, but everything on the way is impossible to predict. However, I hope it will be without any unpleasant adventures – he spoke just before the start.
Not just Monte Cassino
The first phase of the expedition is to travel from Wrocław to the vicinity of Graz, Austria. That's where the military will stay for the night. The second phase will end close Italian Rimini. During the first days of travel They'll visit Ancona, where Polish bomb squads remainder on the Polish war cemetery there. They'll plant flowers and light candles.
Monte Cassino will arrive on May 18. They will then participate in state celebrations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the acquisition of the Gen. Władysław Anders hill – a key German defensive position blocking the Allied way to Rome.
The rally participants will stay on Monte Cassino for another day. They'll visit a museum dedicated to bloody battle. Among another things, they will leave there a miniature statue of the bomb squad, which stands in the premises of the Wrocław Centre for Training of Engineering and Chemical Forces, emblems of Polish bomb units and a metallic figurine of the Wrocław dwarf-saper.
On the way back, bikers will halt in Bologna, where in the cemetery they will light candles on the graves of Polish soldiers. They will besides visit places dedicated to General Władysław Anders. They'll drive through the street bearing his name.
For Agnieszka Stachelek, the rally actually started the day before, due to the fact that together with her husband – the rider had to scope Olecek, 600 km distant from Wrocław. What makes you think that? “This is my brother, Paweł Wasilewski, who gave love to everyone in the family’s motorcycles,” she said with a smile. Mrs. Agnieszka admitted that the rally would be an adventure for her. For the first time he will travel on a motorcycle so many kilometers. It's the first time she'll see Italy. For the first time in his life he will be on Monte Cassino and will participate in specified a lofty military celebration. – But the most crucial goal is to honor the memory of our soldiers who died during the war on Monte Cassino – she added.
The Central Motorcycle Sapper Rally of the Polish Army is simply a military-historical journey. Its participants will drive about 500 km a day. In total, they beat almost 3.5 1000 km of hard route, mostly through the Alps and Apeninas. The riders' return to the country is scheduled for May 23.
