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Poland marks 76th anniversary of outbreak of WWII

Xinhua, September 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

The 76th anniversary of the WWII outbreak was commemorated Monday in the Polish seaside city of Gdansk.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, and government representatives participated in the event.

The traditional morning commemoration began at 4:45 a.m. (0245 GMT) under the Monuments of the Defenders of Westerplatte, a peninsula on the Baltic Sea, where the first events leading to WWII began.

The commemorating events included remembering the fallen soldiers, a fire salute and the placing of wreaths.

During the commemoration, President Duda said commemorating was necessary "to remember the most dreadful cataclysm of the 20th century".

However, he added, much had been improved since then.

"I'd like to underline the fact that Poland has no eternal enemies. Let's take a look at our good relations with Germany nowadays, the relations of friendship," Duda said. "I believe such relations can be built with all nations, especially neighbor countries." Duda said such an effort was crucial for creating a lasting peace.

Prime Minister Kopacz pointed out the Polish political situation nowadays was entirely different than in 1939, mostly because of it's participation in the EU and NATO.

She added that Westerplatte continued to be an important symbol of duty, patriotism and courage, a courage to stand for values, which are most vital.

The attack of German battleship "Schleswig-Holstein" on a Polish military storehouse at Westerplatte on Sept. 1, 1939 was one of the first events of World War II. Polish troops, under the command of Major Henryk Sucharski, defended facilities against enemy attacks from the sea, land and air until Sept. 7, 1939. Endit