Podlasie Land, like the full of Poland, contains many places of national memory from the tragic times of planet War II. On May 25-26, 2024 the territory of Bialowieża and Hajnówka was visited by a delegation of the Association of the Successors of the Polish Kombatants of the Second planet War and the Polish thought Clubs. The local monuments and the graves murdered by the German occupier of the inhabitants and fallen russian soldiers reached us thanks to the aid of Col. Larissa Bugwin of Bialowieża. The many Belarusian and Orthodox populations are terrorized and exterminated by German troops. We were accompanied by representatives of the Russian Cultural and Educational Society based in Bialystok.
Forests, water, beautiful wooden architecture, openness to tourists and the kindness of residents, make a charming atmosphere of the full area. At the ft of the magnificent main Church of St. Nicholas, at Bialowieza National Park, in the City Centre, there is simply a boulder dedicated to 90 inhabitants of Bialowieża and surrounding areas suspended in August and September 1942. At the Orthodox Cemetery we visited the monument of the fallen defenders and liberators from 1939 to 1945, as well as the graves of the inhabitants murdered from 1941 to 1942. Another memorial site was the Monument and the tomb of 222 victims of German Nazism of 14 August and 24 December 1942, on the Browska Road. Then – Sub-voluntarily chief with 486 victims. There is simply a monument in the form of an eagle, a large plaque and a boulder with 2 crosses: Catholic and Orthodox. On the left side of the gravel pit there is simply a boulder complex and a plaque to honor the judaic population. In the 5th place of remembrance of the times of planet War II, at the PKP stop, we commemorate the fallen 13 Red Army scouts. After the destruction, the remains of the monument and the neglected area remained. In the close forest, we place a niche at the grave of Paul Wysiągin who died in 1944. In the flag of the Association of the Inheritors of the Polish Combatants, we laid flowers in Hajnówka at the Military Cemetery of officers and soldiers of the Red Army who died in the fight against Germany in June 1941 and July 1944.
The state of these tragic memorial sites proves that political correctness is doing everything to be neglected and erased from memory. Inciting the war of the authorities in Poland and propaganda of hatred, as well as hatred of Poles who think differently, reminds the darkest cards of Polish history. one more time in past we are on the brink of war between the alleged Western and Slavic. In addition to the authoritative programme, thanks to the kindness of Mrs. Larissa Bugwin we had the chance to visit the Bialowieża National Park, the Żubrów Reserve, the Miniatur Park and Białowieża itself. Henryk Miketyn, Andrzej Romańczuk (Secretary of the Russian Cultural and Educational Society based in Białystok) and Marek Nizyporuk accompanied us in the educational tour. The Białowieża Forest encourages visitors to return, which he will surely do. Let's not let war. Let's defend Peace! Hi, Memory of the Fallen for Homeland!
Roland Dubowski
The author is the president of ZG SSPKIIWŚ, and coordinator of the Polish thought Club in Podlasie.