Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that a triumphal arch commemorating the 1920 Battle of Warsaw, in which Poland defeated the Red Army, will be erected in Warsaw in a short period of time.
The plans have liberal Warsaw’s authorities voicing their skepticism over the idea.
The prime minister referred to the monument’s construction during his online Q&A on Facebook, saying, “The monument of the Battle of Warsaw should’ve been created 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 10 years ago, and should be done next year. It won’t, but I promise that it will be done shortly.”
Morawiecki added that Poles should ask Warsaw’s authorities as to why the monument still doesn’t exist, as they “have not been cooperative.”
The statesman believed that the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw on Aug. 15, 2020, should be commemorated in a special way, in the form of a triumphal arch.
Morawiecki underlined the importance of the battle on social media:
“There have been deciding moments in the history of Europe and the world. The 1920 Battle of Warsaw was one of them. Poles saved their homeland and the entire continent. We all owe them a huge debt. Without them, we wouldn’t be here and neither would Europe as we know it today. They deserve a huge commemoration.”
Warsaw’s authorities hesitant
Warsaw’s authorities have been hesitant to support the project, especially Deputy Mayor Paweł Rabiej, who criticized Morawiecki’s idea, claiming that Warsaw has more pressing issues to deal with than a triumphal arch.
“Given the mythomania and ineptitude of PM Morawiecki, I assume that THIS will not be created. But if it were to be Mister PM, then Warsaw has many needs and your government has robbed us and restricted needed investments, I ask you to finance the bypass road or the Sinfonia Varsovia,” Rabiej said on Twitter.
The Warsaw City Council has supported the project bill to construct a monument to the 1920 Battle of Warsaw. It was pointed out, however, that the project will not be completed in time for the 100th anniversary of the battle on Aug. 15, 2020, and will not be in the shape of a triumphal arch.
The Battle of Warsaw, also known as the Miracle of the Vistula, was a decisive Polish victory in 1920 during the Polish-Soviet War. Poland on the verge of total defeat, repulsed and defeated the Red Army in what Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik leader, called “an enormous defeat” for his forces.
