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06.08.2018

104th anniversary of First Cadre Company’s march out from Cracow’s Oleandry

Director of IPN Branch in Cracow took part in ceremonies with the participation of President Andrzej Duda

Saturday, 4 August 2018

On a hot 4 August 2018, in Cracow, three-day celebrations commenced, marking the anniversary of the First Cadre Company march out from Oleandry district of Cracow. In the jubilee year of regaining independence, the celebration program is particularly rich.

At the Polish Legion section at the Rakowicki Cemetery, a memorial roll call was held with the participation of the color party of the 53rd March on the Route of the First Cadre Company, under commandant Dionizy Krawczyński. Fr. Jerzy Pająk, chaplain of Home Army soldiers independence circles, red a prayer. The ceremonies were led by Edward Jankowski, president of the Małopolska Branch of Józef Piłsudski Society. Finally, delegations laid flowers at the Memorial to the Legionnaires. IPN branch in Cracow was represented by deputy director Cecylia Radoń.

On 4 August 2018, in the evening, Dionizy Krawczynski, commandant of the 53rd March on the Route of the First Cadre Company, led a roll call at the monument of Józef Piłsudski, and the Four Legionnaires Statue in Cracow. During the ceremony, Jan Kasprzyk, head of the Office for Veterans and Victims of Oppression, handed symbolic swords to two shooters and three troopers. At the end of the first day of the 104th anniversary of First Cadre Company’s departure from Cracow’s Oleandry flowers were laid at the monument. Again, IPN branch in Cracow was represented by deputy director Cecylia Radoń.

Sunday, 5 August 2018

On the second day, President Andrzej Duda took part in the celebrations, attending a solemn mass for the Homeland, Marshal Piłsudski and his soldiers, and President Lech Kaczyński, the Honorary Protector of the March in 2006-2009. Earlier, in a heavy rain, the participants of the 53rd March paraded from Oleandry to Wawel. The walkers were accompanied by military assistance and orchestra. After the service, President Andrzej Duda and the participants of the ceremony laid flowers at the sarcophagi of Marshal Piłsudski and President Kaczyński. Then, on the square of Father Adam Studzinski, flowers were placed at the Katyń Cross. At the end of the ceremony, in Sowiniec, an evening solemn roll call took place with the participation of President Andrzej Duda. It was combined with depositing soil in Piłsudski's Mound. Throughout Sunday celebrations, IPN Branch in Cracow was represented by its director, Prof. Filip Musiał.

Monday, 6 August 2018

On the morning of 6 August 2018, at the place from which 104 years ago First Cadre Company set off,  a patriotic ceremony took place with the participation of President Andrzej Duda. At Oleandry, the IPN Branch in Cracow was represented by its director, Prof. Filip Musiał. There were also representatives of state, self-government and military authorities. Then, the participants of the 53rd March walked alongside the military assistance to Matejko Square, where flowers were placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Around 9.45 in Michałowice, the ceremony began at the monument commemorating overthrowing border posts by the First Cadre Company.

From 6 to 12 August

The participants of the march will cover the route from Cracow to Kielce. The path will gather young people from the Riflemen's Association, scouts, students of the school named after Józef Piłsudski, soldiers from Polish Army units inheriting the Polish Legions’ traditions, as well as cavalrymen from associations cultivating the Uhlan traditions of the Second Polish Republic.

The event is held under the honorary auspices of the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda and Karolina Kaczorowska, the wife of the of Ryszard Kaczorowski, last president of the Second Polish Republic in exile.

From history

On 6 August 1914, at the order of Józef Piłsudski First Cadre Company marched out from Cracow’s Oleandry. The soldiers overthrew border posts of the partitioning powers in Michałowice and after liberating Słomnik, Miechów, Jędrzejów and Chęcin from Russians, arrived to Kielce on 12 August. First Cadre Company was the first regular branch of the Polish army since the January Uprising. It initiated the Polish Legions. To commemorate the events of August 1914, for more than fifty years (38 years after the war), March on the Route of the First Cadre Company is held every year.


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