Andrzej Duda joined dignitaries from various countries at the Mardasson Memorial near the southern Belgian town of Bastogne, where thousands of Allied soldiers were killed 75 years ago.
He told reporters during the anniversary event that the ceremony "in a symbolic sense" paid tribute to Polish soldiers who fought shoulder to shoulder with American and British forces on the western front of World War II.
“We are meeting today—Western European leaders as well as the US defence secretary and veterans—to commemorate all those men who fought here for a free world, a free Europe,” Duda said.
Andrzej Duda talks to reporters after a ceremony of remembrance at the Mardasson Memorial near the southern Belgian town of Bastogne on Monday. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper were among those gathered for an official ceremony of remembrance.
Later in the day, another memorial ceremony was scheduled to take place at a nearby American military cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg.
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Battle of the Ardennes, was fought from December 16, 1944 until January 25, 1945. It was the last major German offensive of World War II.
The town of Bastogne in Belgium’s southern Wallonia region, close to the Luxembourg border, was the scene of a heroic defence by Allied troops including Polish airmen.
The bloody battle raged across the Ardennes forest for six weeks until the Allies prevailed in January 1945.
Poland's presidential couple in September attended events to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belgium’s northern region of Flanders by the Polish 1st Armoured Division during World War II.
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Source: IAR, prezydent.pl