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27.10.2020

The IPN’s „Witness of History” Award granted

This year, the Institute of National Remembrance has awarded this honorary distinction to three individuals and three organisations from abroad. Please see them here below in alphabetical order:

Dom Kultury Polskiej w Wilnie
Teruo Matsumoto
Miejscowe Koło Polskiego Związku Kulturalno-Oświatowego Cierlicko-Kościelec
Muzeum Izba Polska
Frans C. K. Ruczynski
János Tischler

Fundacja Dobroczynności i Pomocy „Dom Kultury Polskiej w Wilnie” [The Charity and Aid Foundation "House of Polish Culture in Vilnius"] (Lithuania) – the most important institution for Poles and the Polish community in Lithuania responsible for the promotion of Polish history, culture and language.

Teruo Matsumoto (Japan) – is an outstanding Japanese historian interested in Polish history, especially the problems related to the fate of Poland and Poles during the Second World War, the issue of "Siberian children", the activities of Janusz Korczak and Bronisław Piłsudski. He also promotes recent Polish history in Japan.

Miejscowe Koło Polskiego Związku Kulturalno-Oświatowego Cierlicko-Kościelec [The Local Circle of the Polish Cultural and Educational Association in Cierlicko-Kościelec ] (Czechia) – it is located near the place where Franciszek Żwirko and Stanisław Wigura died, while flying to an air meeting in Prague, and these legendary Polish aviators are the main part of its commemorative activity. It also organises events related to the history, culture and tradition of Poland.

Muzeum Izba Polska [The Polish Baarack Museum in Taagerup] (Denmark) – the only place in Denmark, as well as in the world that commemorates and popularizes the heritage of the Polish community in Denmark. It shows the little known history of Polish seasonal workers. With the help of Polish-Danish social volunteers, it collects, protects and popularizes cultural resources related to the heritage of the pioneering generation of Polish emigrants. It promotes knowledge about the history of Poland.

Frans C. K. Ruczynski (the Netherlands) – the head of the General Maczek Museum Breda-Poland 1939-1945 Foundation in Breda. He belongs to the group of people who, with great commitment commemorate the bravery and valor of Polish soldiers in the liberation of the Netherlands. He is very active in popularizing knowledge about those events, and also struggles for support to develop the projects organized by the Foundation.

János Tischler (Hungary) – a true one-man-institution, who significantly contributed to preserving the remembrance of Poland and Poles in Hungary, with particular reference to the events of 1956 in Poznań and Budapest. He is the author or co-author of exhibitions and publications devoted to this issue. He often takes part in training courses in the field of historical education, in meetings with schoolchildren, students and residents of various cities. He closely cooperates with the IPN’s Branch Office in Poznań.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 related restrictions, the award ceremony that we usually organize in the "Palace on the Island" in Łazienki Królewskie Park in Warsaw has been cancelled. As soon as the conditions allow, we want to meet this year's winners at a date convenient for everyone, which, however, we are not yet able to determine.

We will send the distinctions by post.

Watch the film below to see this year’s laureates: https://www.myairbridge.com/en/#!/gallery/preview/YB0tyMQAoZf3O7TGkRhzmqWQ5ry42eVyMtqGlQWw

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The „Witness of History” Award is an honorary distinction established in March 2009 by the President of the Institute of National Remembrance. It is granted to individuals and organizations in recognition of their outstanding contribution to commemorating the history of the Polish Nation and supporting the IPN in its statutory activities in the field of education and research.


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