| On the occasion of the Independence Day in Poland the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland and the Kresy-Siberia Foundation
will host a WW2 70th ANNIVERSARY EVENT to commemorate the nations
who helped Poland in the evacuation of its exiles from the USSR in 1942. On Friday 9th November 2012, at 7pm EST, His Excellency, Ambassador Andrzej
Jaroszyński will host a commemorate event at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland,
Canberra. In association with the Kresy-Siberia Foundation the event will commemorate
the nations who helped Poland in the evacuation of its wartime exiles from forced captivity
in the USSR in 1942. Approximately 25 Ambassadors from these nations will attend the
event, with Mr Paul Madden, British High Commissioner, responding on behalf of the host countries.
Between1-2 million Polish citizens were arrested by Soviet occupation forces in 1940-41
and exiled to forced labour in Siberia. They included the families of the 22,000 Polish
Officers and intelligentsia who were executed in the “Katyn Massacres”. About 74,000 of
the exiled Survivors were evacuated in 1942 to Persia (Iran) and beyond to form the Polish
Second Corps (“Anders Army”) who fought against Nazi Germany, along with 42,000
accompanying civilians.
The event will be part of the celebration of Polish Independence Day which falls on November 11. In addition Ambassador Jaroszyński will introduce the Order of Merit to recipients Mrs Anna Wierzbicka and The Hon. John Aquilina.
Mr Stefan Wiśniowski, Founder & President of Kresy-Siberia will be a guest speaker. The Kresy-Siberia Foundation and Virtual Museum. www.kresy-siberia.org, was established in 2001 to research, remember and recognise the struggle for freedom and survival of Polish citizens under occupation and in exile during World War II, with a special focus on eastern Poland. It is headquartered in Warsaw, Poland and operates throughout the world with membership of over 1,000 survivors and their children as well as experts in Polish history, writers, and archivists.
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Mr Henryk Franek Kustra, a “survivor” from USSR exile and a veteran of the famous battle at Monte Cassino, Italy in 1944 with the Polish 2nd Corps (“Anders Army”), will make a speech reflecting on his freedom from Soviet captivity.
Guests will include 25 Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Canberra, key leaders from the Polish community in Australia, Polish and Australian WW II veterans and Survivors of the Soviet captivity. The event has been prepared in association with the Council of Polish Organizations in the ACT, the Australian Institute of Polish Affairs and the Polish Historical Institute in Australia.
For further information please contact:
Witold Krzesiński, First Counsellor/Deputy Head of Mission
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
7 Turrana Street
Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6272 1010
Fax: (02) 6273 3184
witold.krzesinski@msz.gov.pl
www.canberra.polemb.net
Anna Pacewicz, Director Kresy-Siberia (Australia) Limited
02 9810 8189 M 0414 258 022
53 Grove Street, Lilyfield, 2040, NSW
Anna.Pacewicz@Kresy-Siberia.org
www.Kresy-Siberia.org
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