The press conference dedicated to the initiatives of the Institute of National Remembrance in connection with the 100th anniversary of the plebiscite in Warmia, Masuria and Powiśle was held on 9 July 2020 at the Janusz Kurtyka "History Point", 21/25 Marszałkowska Str., Warsaw.
The participants includeed Jarosław Szarek, Ph.D., President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Paweł Warot, Ph.D., head of the IPN Olsztyn Sub-branch, and Krzysztof Kierski, co-author of the exhibition ”The Plebiscite of 1920. Fight for the Polishness of Warmia, Masuria and Powiśle." The meeting was moderated by Prof. Mirosław Golon, director of the IPN Branch in Gdańsk.
“For some of the lands inhabited by Poles the plebiscite was one of the most dramatic events in the era of the rebirth of the Polish state. The attempt to gain the widest possible support of the Warmian and Masurian populations met with very brutal actions at the hands of Germans. During World War II, Nazi Germany began repression again, murdering some plebiscite activists.
The purpose of commemorating this event is to remind the whole process of Germanization of the Warmian and Masurian population which had lasted several centuries. It was particularly intense in the 19th century and it was deepened in the 20th century. If it were not for the Partition of Poland, the process of Germanisation would not have been so widespread, and the weakening of Polish identity, would never have happened,” says Prof. Mirosław Golon, Director of the IPN Gdańsk Branch.
During the conference, a plan of the celebrations connected with the100th anniversary of the plebiscite was presented. They are being held on the initiative of the President of the IPN and the head of the Lubawa commune Tomasz Ewertowski on 10 July in Lubstynek. During the ceremony, a commemorative plaque funded by the IPN will be unveiled alongside with the opening of the exhibition by the IPN and the Northern Institute in Olsztyn entitled "The Plebiscite of 1920. Fight for the Polishness of Warmia, Masuria and Powiśle." The second part of the celebrations is taking place on 11 July 2020 in Olsztyn.