On 8 June in Wrocław, the IPN President Karol Nawrocki Ph.D., opened the “History Point” - a centre for educational and scientific projects of the IPN Branch in Wrocław.
The initiative that will inaugurate the work of this IPN educational facility is a series of meetings called 'Holidays with the IPN', addressed to children and young people. The event is part of a nationwide project of the IPN called “Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom”. The opening of the “History Point” in Wrocław was also attended by the IPN Deputy Presidents Karol Polejowski and Mateusz Szpytma.
The event was full of attractions. The participants had the opportunity of participating in a several-hour re-enactment of the 1944 Allied landing on Utah Beach and the paratroopers 'drop near the town of Sainte-Marie-Du-Mont, played out on a huge battlefield using hundreds of scale models.
“We know that this great Allied operation could not have taken place without the contribution of the Polish airmen, Polish sailors, General Maczek, who fought at Falaise, and those who marched from different directions, retaining hope for a free and independent Poland,” said the IPN President Karol Nawrocki during the event.
Young history enthusiasts who attended the 'School of Commanders' went through the training for Bolt Action style gaming, took part in model-making classes and played one of the IPN educational board games.
The events were accompanied by lectures devoted to the invasion in Normandy and the participation of the Polish Armed Forces in this and other World War II operations. Allied uniforms and equipment were presented by members of renowned re-enactment groups. Additionally, infographics, depicting the combat trail of the 2nd Polish Corps of the Polish Armed Forces, archival photographs and films also enhanced the experience.
Find out more about the “Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom” project. The title should be understood as collective peregrinations of Polish citizens during World War II - of both military and civilian nature - which were motivated by the idea of restoring freedom to Poland and the world enslaved by the Third Reich and its allies, and related to the activities of the legal authorities of the Republic of Poland.