Address by the Chairman of the Foundation Driel-Polen,
Mr. A.J.M. Baltussen
at the Commemoration of the contribution of the 1st Polish Independent
Parachute Brigade to Operation Market Garden, 74 years ago
Driel, 22 September 2018

Ladies & Gentlemen
Also a warm welcome to you on this afternoon when we remember the contribution of the First Polish Independent Parachute Brigade to Operation Market Garden, 74 years ago.

This year, the theme of our national Remembrance is “resistance”. During World War Two there was resistance in all occupied countries. This varied from reading resistance newspapers to hiding pilots whose planes had crashed as well as confronting the occupying forces with armed resistance.
Many countries had groups dedicated in offering resistance to the occupier.

Here, in this area, there were also many different forms of resistance. A few days ago someone told me about his father’s experience.

On 14 September 1944, when his father had just become 18 years old, German soldiers came visiting and told him he would be transported to Germany. The 18 year old’s own father was a baker and when they gave him the option of baking bread for the occupier he accepted with both hands. Later when he started delivering bread to their positions he noted their exact locations and passed this information on to the resistance groups in his village. This may seem something small but it certainly involved danger and it was just one of the things he did.

In Warsaw, around this time, the Polish resistance army Armia Krajowa was offering considerable resistance to the Germans. Its objective was the liberation of Warsaw. Some 30,000 people were involved in this uprising, most were very young and only ten percent were armed.
The uprising began around the time the Soviet army was approaching Warsaw. By 10 September, it had reached the eastern part of the city. However, it made no attempt to help the Polish resistance army get across of the river and this made it possible for the Germans to break all resistance. An estimated 85% of the city was destroyed and on 2 October 1944 the Polish resistance army surrendered.

This was all taking place around the time that the First Polish Independent Parachute Brigade was preparing to support Operation Market Garden.
As they made their preparations their motto was “by the shortest way” and this made it clear that their ultimate objective was to liberate Warsaw.
Despite their extreme disappointment at not being flown to Warsaw on the 21 September 1944, they remained totally committed to supporting their First Airborne comrades and they succeeded in maintaining a land corridor that helped 2,300 soldiers to escape.
On their way back to England, the Poles realised that their countrymen had abandon resistance.

Two examples of resistance:

  • The first example: make use of opportunities to avoid deportation or transportation and help others by collecting factual information;
  • The second example: Make helping your countrymen your objective and after five years when you think you will see your own people again you discover you have to fight in the Netherlands and do that with total commitment.

Seventy-four years ago no one realised that this second act of resistance would be the reason for continuing to remember the bond of friendship and solidarity that developed in those days.

Girls and boys in the choir: It is fantastic that you are here this afternoon as a group and that you will sing and together with members of the Promyki Krakowa orchestra will – as a mark of honour – lay flowers. And a warm welcome to you young football club members who in your shirts made in the colours of the Polish flag and carrying the emblem of a parachutist will guide part of the wreath laying ceremony and also lay flowers yourselves.

For us all, and certainly for these three veterans, it is particularly special that you will sing two songs in Polish this afternoon and be supported by young Polish people of your own age.

Now success in what you are about to do!!