Poland honors the memory of the victims of the Volhynia massacre on National Remembrance Day
On July 11, the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists against citizens of the Second Polish Republic is observed throughout Poland. It is one of the most important and difficult dates in the Polish historical calendar. This day serves as a reminder of the tragic events that took place in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during World War II.
The most tragic moment of this history was the so-called "Bloody Sunday" on July 11, 1943. At that time, units of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) carried out a coordinated attack on approximately 150 Polish settlements. As a result of these actions, thousands of innocent people died, including mainly farmers, women, children, and the elderly, who took no part in the armed conflict.
Every year on this day, official ceremonies are held in many Polish cities. Government representatives, historians, and families of the victims meet to lay flowers and light candles at monuments commemorating these events. The most important ceremonies traditionally take place in Warsaw at the Monument to the Victims of Genocide, where tribute is paid to all those murdered.
The Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) and other cultural institutions prepare numerous exhibitions, lectures, and film screenings for the occasion. The aim of these activities is not only to preserve the memory of the victims but also to educate the younger generation about the complicated Polish-Ukrainian history. As a result, knowledge of these events becomes part of the shared national consciousness.
The commemorations on July 11 are primarily intended to pay tribute to the deceased and to strive for full historical truth. Poland and Ukraine are currently engaged in a difficult dialogue about the past, seeking to build relations based on mutual respect. The memory of the victims is the foundation upon which both sides wish to build a future free from hatred.