“Standing Guard Over Remembrance” Military Ceremonial Roll Call Marking the 86th Anniversary of the Soviet Invasion of Poland
On 17 September 2025, marking the 86th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland, the Katyn Museum – a branch of the Polish Army Museum, located within the historic Warsaw Citadel – hosted the Second Military Ceremonial Roll Call “Standing Guard Over Remembrance”. Co-organised by the Polish Army Museum and the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression, the event paid tribute to the victims of Soviet aggression and reaffirmed the importance of preserving historical memory for future generations.
The ceremony brought together representatives of the Katyn Families and Families of State Police victims, war veterans, serving military personnel, representatives of military commands and institutions, defence-oriented civic organisations, as well as delegates from museums, cultural institutions and organisations dedicated to commemorating Poland’s twentieth-century history. Around 500 students from uniformed service classes — secondary-school programmes preparing young people for careers in the armed forces, emergency services and public service — and members of pro-defence organisations also took part in the commemorations.
Among the distinguished guests were Lech Parell, Head of the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression; Major General Sławomir Drumowicz, representing the Commander General of the Polish Armed Forces; Captain Janusz Komorowski “Antek”, President of the Main Board of the World Association of Home Army Soldiers; and representatives of the military chaplaincies of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches. Guests were welcomed on behalf of the Director of the Polish Army Museum by Paweł Żurkowski, Deputy Director of the Museum.
The ceremony served as an occasion to honour all those who lost their lives in defence of Poland, as well as the countless victims of Soviet repression — soldiers, civilians, and those deported to Siberia and the Soviet labour camp system, many of whom paid the ultimate price for their loyalty to their homeland. It was a solemn expression of remembrance, gratitude and commitment to safeguarding historical truth.
A letter addressed to the participants by Poland’s Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, was read during the ceremony by Magdalena Rochnowska, Deputy Director of the Polish Army Museum. In his message, the Minister recalled the devastating consequences of the Soviet invasion of 17 September 1939 and stressed the importance of remembering the inhabitants of Poland’s former eastern borderlands — communities whose world was shattered by violence, dispossession, deportation and exile to what many survivors called the “inhuman land” of Soviet captivity. He also underlined the enduring duty to defend Poland’s independence and sovereignty through national unity, preparedness and determination.
During the Appeal, tribute was paid to all victims of Soviet aggression and repression. Delegations laid flowers and lit candles at the Katyn Epitaph Memorial, while the ceremonial setting was enhanced by a performance from the Representative Orchestra of the Polish Armed Forces, lending the occasion an especially dignified atmosphere.
One of the most moving moments came with an address delivered on behalf of the young participants by Kamil Szymański, a student from a military-profile secondary school in Wołomin. Reflecting on the lessons of history in the context of present-day events in Eastern Europe, he emphasised that freedom and peace can never be taken for granted, and that remembrance carries with it a responsibility to prepare future generations for service, civic duty and the defence of democratic values.
This year’s “Standing Guard Over Remembrance” Military Ceremonial Roll Call was not only a commemoration of the tragic events of September 1939, but also a powerful reminder of the responsibility borne by contemporary generations: to preserve historical truth, honour the memory of those who suffered, and remain vigilant in safeguarding peace and national security.
The ceremony was further marked by the participation of youth cadet formations, flag-bearing units and representatives of Polish pro-defence organisations, including the Riflemen’s Association “Strzelec” and the Combat Alert Foundation for National Defence and Security, whose presence underscored the continuing link between remembrance, civic responsibility and service.
