80 years of Szczecin. Poland begins here

The 80th anniversary of Polish Szczecin began with a ceremonial session of the City Council. An important element of this celebration was the presentation of Medals for Merit for the City of Szczecin - a long-time journalist of "Kurier Szczeciński" Bogdan Twardochleb was also honored with this. There was also a clash between the Law and Justice club and the Civic Coalition, which had the majority in the council.

1,578 Poles against 80,000 Germans

Paweł Bartnik (KO), Chairman of the City Council, recalled at the beginning of the session that on July 5, 1945, when German officials handed over power to the Polish side, there were only 1,578 Poles in the city - compared to 80,000 Germans.

- On July 7, the then city council made its first decision. It was a special decision. The first cultural institution in the city was established, the city library. It had 200,000 volumes. Only one book was Polish - "Poland by the Sea" - said the chairman. - On July 8, in the Church of the Sacred Heart of the Lord Jesus, Father Kazimierz Świetliński celebrated a thanksgiving mass for Szczecin's return to Poland.

The mayor of Szczecin, Piotr Krzystek, recalled that traveling to our city in the 1940s was not easy. It took two days by train from Poznań. Such a trip was like traveling to the end of the world.

- Now we know that this is not the end of the world. Poland begins here - said Piotr Krzystek. And he added that the capital of Western Pomerania has written itself in history in golden letters. He mentioned the help for Hungarians in 1956, the events of 1970 and 1980, when "Solidarity" was founded and the August agreements were signed, and 1988, when strikes began in Szczecin, which ultimately contributed to the fall of communism, not only in Poland. The time of transformation, the president admitted, was not always kind to our small homeland. However: - Today, Szczecin is a completely different city. It is an important economic and academic centre, not only in Poland, but also in Europe.

Senator Tomasz Grodzki (KO) recalled the figure of Władysław Lisewski, mayor of Szczecin in the years 1991–1994, voivode of Szczecin in the years 1997–1999 and voivode of West Pomerania in the years 1999–2001. The politician funded the painting of the former mayor of the city and gave it to Piotr Krzystek.

Bogdan Twardochleb: "I feel like a brother to all those who were expelled, driven away, and running away"

On Friday, Medals for Merit for the City of Szczecin were awarded. One of them was awarded to Maria Czerepaniak-Walczak, professor of pedagogy at the University of Szczecin. As councilor Urszula Pańka (KO) said in her laudation, the scientist has a huge contribution to building the teaching staff in Szczecin, and due to her experience and successes, the Rector of the University of Szczecin entrusted her with the mission of creating third-cycle studies in the discipline of pedagogy.

- Education and learning are what build our community, build our sense of belonging - assessed Prof. Maria Czerepaniak-Walczak. - The award that you are presenting to me is both an honor and an obligation. My merits, which Urszula Pańka spoke about, would not have existed if it were not for the group of people with whom I had the opportunity to cooperate.

The second outstanding Szczecin resident who received the medal was editor Bogdan Twardochleb, who worked for three decades at "Kurier Szczeciński". The eulogy in his honour was delivered by Paweł Bartnik. He spoke about the journalist's wide interests, about the fact that he excelled in music, painting, poetry, and initiated various events related to these fields of art. And caring for Polish-German relations is a real mission for Bogdan Twardochleb.

- I came to Szczecin on September 1, 1960, on a trailer like that from Choszczno - recalled Bogdan Twardochleb. - My father was in this city for the first time in 1946 to take care of something. When he got off at the station, he was scared because he was greeted by a violent shooting. But then it happened that he settled here. My parents found a home in this city, coming from families that had not been able to find a place to live since at least the mid-19th century. - At that moment, our former editorial colleague was clearly moved. - They fled, moved, were expelled, were displaced, were exiled. And then, many years later, after such a terrible war, which they survived wounded, they stayed here, in this city. Today, to a large extent, I feel like a brother to all those expelled, expelled, fleeing, emigrants, refugees, because that was my family for over a hundred years.

On Friday, the titles of Honorary Ambassadors of Szczecin were also awarded to Barbara Jaskierska, an activist for people with intellectual disabilities, and Mirosław Lewiński, a sailor.

PiS wanted to appreciate Leszek Duklanowski

PiS councillors, appreciating the merits of the two who received medals, could not understand why the regional councillor Leszek Duklanowski, who in the 1980s was actively involved in "Solidarity", was not honoured in this way. As PiS stated, in the chapter awarding the medals, representatives of President Piotr Krzystek agreed to honour Leszek Duklanowski, but local government members of KO expressed their opposition.

- Undoubtedly, Mr. Leszek Duklanowski fought for a free Poland in the 1980s, at a time when some were on the other side, he was on the side of Poland - said Krzysztof Romianowski, chairman of the PiS club in the City Council.

Councillor Marek Duklanowski, son of Leszek Duklanowski, added that KO politicians were informed a year ago that Leszek Duklanowski would be reported, and they had no objections at the time.

- My father during "Solidarity", including the underground one, did not hesitate to risk his life - he said.

PiS MP Zbigniew Bogucki also demanded that Leszek Duklanowski be honoured.

- I don't know anything about any promises that anyone will receive a medal - replied Łukasz Tyszler, chairman of the KO club. - Mr. Leszek Duklanowski was one of many candidates. He did not receive the required majority in the vote. Why? You would have to ask each member of the chapter. On my behalf, I will only say that Mr. Leszek Duklanowski, despite his dignified age and certainly considerable merits, is an active PiS politician, a regional councilor, and he speaks out, so this is not a good time to bestow the Medal of Merit for the City of Szczecin on him. Such a time will certainly come. ©℗

Alan Sasinowski