Poland commemorates 85th anniversary of WWII outbreak

WARSAW, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) — Poland marked the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II on Sunday with major ceremonies at Westerplatte and Wielun.
In the early morning at Westerplatte, a peninsula in the Baltic city of Gdansk, the event began with the sound of alarm sirens just before 4:45 a.m., echoing the exact moment 85 years ago when Nazi Germany launched an attack on the Polish military transit depot there.
The ceremony, organized by the Ministry of National Defence and the City of Gdansk, was attended by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
During his address, Tusk emphasized the importance of unity in the face of aggression. He stressed that Poland must never again face aggression alone and highlighted the need for full dedication to defense.
Meanwhile, in the central city of Wielun, a ceremony began at 4:40 a.m. to commemorate the anniversary of the city’s bombing in 1939, one of the first major acts of World War II.
Polish President Andrzej Duda addressed the gathering in Wielun, underscoring that while forgiveness and recognition of guilt are important, the issue of compensation for the damages suffered during the war remains unresolved after 80 years. Duda expressed hope that this matter will eventually be addressed.
The coordinated attacks on Wielun and Westerplatte are widely regarded as the first significant acts of World War II. An estimated 5.5 to 6 million Poles lost their lives during the conflict. ■