Poland recently commemorated over 700 victims of Nazi Germany’s atrocities during a ceremony marking the onset of World War II.
This past Monday, a state burial was held for the remains found in what is referred to as the Valley of Death in northern Poland.
The poignant event took place in Chojnice, featuring a funeral Mass at the local basilica followed by an honorable interment at a nearby cemetery. Each victim was laid to rest in small coffins draped in Poland’s national colors of white and red, with family members present to pay their respects.
Attendees included an aide to President Andrzej Duda and various local officials. Bishop Ryszard Kasyna, who led the Mass, highlighted the significance of restoring dignity and honoring the victims: “We want to give back memory, we want to give back dignity to the victims of the crimes in Chojnice.”
AP Photo/Wojciech Strozyk
From 2021 to 2024, exhumations uncovered the remains of Polish civilians, including 218 asylum seekers. Among those identified—approximately 120 in total—were teachers, priests, police officers, and landowners, all executed in early 1945 during the war’s final days as German forces withdrew.
Historians indicate that, following the Nazi invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, mass executions of civilians were part of their oppressive strategy. Evidence confirming witness accounts includes preserved wood fragments that suggest the bodies were set ablaze after execution, as reported by the journal Antiquity.
An additional 500 victims, linked to mass executions at the war’s end, were discovered and are evidenced by bullets and shell casings from German weaponry.
In a video message during the ceremony, President Duda stressed that these tragic deaths were a consequence of being Polish: “The only reason they were killed by the Nazis was the fact that they were Polish.”
AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski
Poland suffered immensely in WWII, with around 6 million citizens lost, including 3 million Jews, and widespread damage to the nation’s infrastructure and agriculture.
The National Remembrance Institute is dedicated to investigating Nazi war crimes and preserving the memory of victims through exhumations, historical studies, and documentation efforts. Established in 1998, it plays a crucial role in addressing the complex legacy of both Nazi and Soviet occupations.
Their publications often focus on lesser-known historical topics, including works on Polish-Jewish history and the remarkable story of Witold Pilecki, the only known inmate who voluntarily entered Auschwitz.
Current efforts continue to unearth and document more mass graves related to the Pomerania crime.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press