During a trip to Italy, Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda laid flowers at a Polish military cemetery at Monte Cassino in honour of troops who were killed there during fierce fighting in 1944.
Earlier, at the Polish embassy in Rome, Duda took part in the ceremonial unveiling of a bust of General Władysław Anders.
Anders commanded the 2nd Polish Corps, which captured Monte Cassino on May 18, 1944, after 123 days of fierce fighting.
The victory cost the lives of 923 Polish troops, with 2,931 wounded and 345 declared missing in action.
The hills of Monte Cassino with their fortified Benedictine monastery were a key German defensive position along the so-called Gustav line designed to prevent the Allies from taking Rome during World War II.
A Polish military cemetery was later established on the slopes of Monte Cassino, which today is a major site of national remembrance for Poles.
A total of 1,072 Polish soldiers are buried there, among them Gen. Anders, who died in London in 1970.
A sign on the cemetery wall says: "Go, tell Poland, O stranger passing by, that here we lie—having fallen faithful in her service."
During his three-day trip to Italy and the Vatican, Duda is also scheduled to meet Pope Francis.
(pk-gs)
Source: PAP