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Poland marks anniversary of victorious uprising against Germans

27.12.2021 11:00
Poland is on Monday marking a national day of remembrance for a victorious uprising against the Germans more than a century ago.
Audio
An annual re-enactment held in the western Polish city of Poznań to commemorate a 1918 uprising against the Germans.
An annual re-enactment held in the western Polish city of Poznań to commemorate a 1918 uprising against the Germans.Photo: PAP/Marek Zakrzewski

Under a law recently initiated by President Andrzej Duda and approved by parliament, December 27 is a new public holiday in the country, known as National Day of the Victorious Greater Poland Uprising, in tribute to the revolt's participants in 1918 and 1919.

The Greater Poland Uprising, in which Poles rose against the German state after the end of World War I, erupted on December 27, 1918.

The revolt started after the region's German authorities opposed a visit to the city of Poznań by Polish pianist and independence activist Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

The insurgents demanded the release of Prussian-occupied Polish land as the country recovered its independence after 123 years of foreign rule.

Fighting continued throughout the region until January 1919.

The Greater Poland Uprising was one of just a few Polish insurgencies that ended in victory for the country.

In marking the 103rd anniversary of the start of the fighting, Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak shared a special message via social media to pay tribute to the "Heroes of the Greater Poland Uprising."

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Source: PAP

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek.