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Photo showing Memorial photograph of the Żwirki i Wigury chapel
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ID: DAW-000349-P/163233

Memorial photograph of the Żwirki i Wigury chapel

ID: DAW-000349-P/163233

Memorial photograph of the Żwirki i Wigury chapel

A short press release accompanied by the first picture showing the chapel of Żwirki i Wigury, erected in Cierlicko Górne to commemorate the plane crash that killed the Polish pilots. As the text states, these are the first images of this chapel. The photograph was published by the Krajowa Rodzina Opiekuńcza (National Tutelary Family) at its own expense with the aim "that a picture of the local chapel should be placed in every Polish home beyond the Olza river" (Source: "Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny", Kraków 1936, no. 127, p. 9, after: Małopolska Biblioteka Cyfrowa).

A modernised reading of the text.

The Polish and Czechoslovak populations honoured the memory of the hero aviators with dignity.


From Ostowa on cz. Siwek reports (Ad. F.): The Polish population and inhabitants from beyond the borders of the Olza River have already more than once given evidence of their attachment to the tragic place of the memorable crash in the Čierlicky forest, where Captains Żwirko and Wigura died a heroic death in September 1932. We have also reported many times on the numerous acts of reverence with which this population refers to the local small cemetery in the Cierlicki Forest, from where our great aviators took off for eternity. We also reported at the time that a memorial chapel had been erected at the site of the crash to proclaim the glorious deeds of the late Żwirki and Wigura and the glory of the Polish name forever. This chapel, erected with the contributions and generosity of the entire Polish population of Czech Silesia, was ready as early as last autumn, and it was then that the chapel was to be solemnly consecrated and officially opened on the third painful anniversary of the catastrophe. Unfortunately, due to the well-known political events that unfolded beyond the Olše River last year, the dedication did not take place. However, the Polish population of Czechoslovakia has not forgotten about Žvirkovík. Proof of this is the desire to disseminate illustrations depicting the crash site and the chapel newly built there. The local "National Welfare Family" undertook this beautiful task, and in these days they have circulated suitable photographs, depicting Žvirkovík and the chapel, throughout Czech Silesia. "The National Welfare Family, based in Orlová, published the photographs at their own expense and on their own initiative, with the sole aim of ensuring that a picture of the local chapel could be found in every Polish home beyond the Olše River. The photographs have had a widespread impact on the local community and are eagerly purchased, all the more so because the proceeds from their sale go towards the internal upkeep of the chapel in the Čierlický Forest. It is worth mentioning that these photographs are the first pictures of the chapel in Cierlický Forest and that they depict the place of the memorable catastrophe and the chapel itself very well.

Time of construction:

1936

Publication:

30.08.2024

Last updated:

10.07.2025
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