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Zygmunt Stankiewicz, Monument to General Marian Langiewicz, 1963-1965, metal, concrete, Grenchen (Switzerland), photo Norbert Piwowarczyk, 2023, all rights reserved
Źródło: Instytut Polonika
Fotografia przedstawiająca Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen
Zygmunt Stankiewicz, Monument to General Marian Langiewicz, 1963-1965, metal, concrete, Grenchen (Switzerland), photo Norbert Piwowarczyk, 2023, all rights reserved
Fotografia przedstawiająca Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen
Zygmunt Stankiewicz, Monument to General Marian Langiewicz (fragment), 1963-1965, metal, concrete, Grenchen (Switzerland), photo Norbert Piwowarczyk, 2023, all rights reserved
Źródło: Instytut Polonika
Fotografia przedstawiająca Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen
Zygmunt Stankiewicz, Monument to General Marian Langiewicz (fragment), 1963-1965, metal, concrete, Grenchen (Switzerland), photo Norbert Piwowarczyk, 2023, all rights reserved
Źródło: Instytut Polonika
Fotografia przedstawiająca Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen
Zygmunt Stankiewicz, Monument to General Marian Langiewicz (fragment), 1963-1965, metal, concrete, Grenchen (Switzerland), photo Norbert Piwowarczyk, 2023, all rights reserved
Źródło: Instytut Polonika
Fotografia przedstawiająca Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen
Zygmunt Stankiewicz, Monument to General Marian Langiewicz,1963-1965, metal, concrete, Grenchen (Switzerland), photo Norbert Piwowarczyk, 2023, all rights reserved
Źródło: Instytut Polonika
Fotografia przedstawiająca Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen
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ID: POL-002082-P

Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen

ID: POL-002082-P

Monument to General Marian Langiewicz in Grenchen

Between Theatre Square and North Station, near the school building in Grenchen, there is a monument to General and dictator of the January Uprising Marian von Langiewicz (1827-1887). Arrested by the Austrians just over a week after becoming commander of the Polish army on 11 March 1863, he was soon imprisoned in Fortress Joseph (Josephstadt). Langiewicz was then met with great kindness by the small community of Grenchen, who, having learned of his fate, granted him honorary Swiss citizenship on 23 December 1863. Langiewicz arrived in Grenzen after his release from detention in 1865 and remained in his new homeland for another two years. As a token of gratitude for his support in a difficult situation, he made a donation of 600 Swiss francs to the local hospital.

The Marian Langiewicz monument in Grenchen was unveiled on 27 November 1965, marking the 100th anniversary of his arrival in the town. The inauguration ceremony of the monument was attended by local officials, including Mayor Eduard Rothen, and Polish soldiers, Colonel Wieczorkiewicz and Colonel Karolus. During the speeches, much attention was paid to the monument's creator, Zygmunt Stankiewicz (1914-2010), a Polish sculptor and soldier of the 2nd Foot Rifle Division, who was interned in Switzerland between 1940 and 1945 and tied his fate to Switzerland for the rest of his life.

The monument, made of bent aluminium, depicts a stylised eagle, symbolising victory and the domination of good over evil, as well as the Polish state. The pedestal bears the inscription in Polish and German: "To the town of Grenchen in honour of Marian Langiewicz Commander-in-Chief of the 1863 Uprising honorary citizen of this municipality grateful Poles" and an excerpt from a poem by Solur poet Frantz Joseph Schild from 1863: "Grüess Gott, du Bürger Langiewicz / mir hei di gärn in Unser Schweiz" (Welcome citizen Langiewicz / welcome to our Switzerland). The dates "30.03.1865-30.03.1965" appear below.

Related persons:
Time of origin:
1963-1965
Creator:
Zygmunt Stankiewicz(preview)
Bibliography:
  • J. Zieliński, Nasza Szwajcaria, Warszawa 1999, s. 95-96.
  • T. Zaniewska, Pan na zamku Muri. Zygmunt Stankiewicz (1914-2010). Żołnierz. Artysta. Myśliciel, Warszawa 2018.
Publikacja:
21.07.2024
Ostatnia aktualizacja:
14.08.2024
Author:
Muszkowska Maria
see more Text translated automatically

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