Many heroes leave an indelible mark on the history of their nation. One such remarkable personage was General Władysław Sikorski, a prominent politician and leader of the Polish resistance during World War II. His life was full of heroism and struggle for Poland’s freedom. On the 80th anniversary of the General’s tragic death, a rally of Polish sailors will be held in Gibraltar to honour his memory.
Władysław Sikorski – a true leader
Władysław Sikorski graduated from the Lviv Polytechnic. He began his military career in the Austro-Hungarian Army. He was one of the organisers of the Riflemen’s Association. He took part in the battles for Poland’s independence during World War I, and later during the Polish-Soviet War. His leadership and strategic skills were quickly recognised, resulting in promotions and increasing responsibility.
During the 1920s he also held numerous government posts, including Prime Minister. After the May coup in 1926, he was gradually removed from military functions.
The most important moment in Sikorski’s political career was when he became Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Polish Government in Exile in 1939. Poland was under German and Soviet occupation at the time, and Sikorski headed a government that was working to fight the occupiers and regain independence.
Władysław Sikorski undertook the organisation of the Polish armed forces in exile. He worked with the Allies to gather as many Polish soldiers as possible to form a unified army that could contribute to the liberation of Poland.
General Sikorski was also a tenacious defender of Polish interests on the international stage. His diplomatic efforts were aimed at gaining support for the Polish cause and maintaining cooperation between the Allies. He was also a voice that demanded the truth about the Katyn massacre and the responsibility of the Soviet Union.
Gibraltar disaster
Sadly, Sikorski’s military and political service was tragically cut short on 4 July 1943 as a result of the plane crash at Gibraltar. The general’s death was a great loss to the Polish resistance and to the nation as a whole.
The official British investigation pointed to an airplane accident, but some of the circumstances of Sikorski’s death have raised doubts and speculation. There were many conspiracy theories about the causes of the crash. One of the most popular spoke of an assassination attempt on the general’s life, supposedly as a result of his intransigence towards Russia and his reluctance to reveal the facts about the Katyn massacre. Other theories involved the possibility of sabotage.
Although the causes of the tragedy are still the subject of controversy, one thing is certain – the death of Władysław Sikorski was a great blow to Poland. His passing meant the loss of a strong voice for the Polish government in exile and contributed to the strengthening of communist influence in Poland after the war.
Commemoration of the 80th anniversary of General Sikorski’s death
The year 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the tragic death of General Władysław Sikorski, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces. To honour the memory of this outstanding hero, Polish sailors are planning to once again organise a rally of yachts under the red and white flag in Gibraltar, called Sikorski Memorial Rally 80. Jerzy Knabe, Honorary Commodore of the Polish Yacht Club London, is taking up the initiative and the Polish Sailing Association has assumed patronage.
– Gibraltar remembers the General. This is evidenced by commemorative plaques placed both years ago and today. The upcoming anniversary provides an opportunity and causes an appeal to manifest our lasting memory as well and to reassemble the Polish yachts there. This does not require great preparations on the ground – only our coordination is needed. It is enough for more Polish yachts to gather in Gibraltar on 4 July 2023 and this will be noticed and the reason will be remembered. So I am already appealing to captains and shipowners to plan, to the best of their ability, to move their vessels so that our sailing presence in Gibraltar and the 80th anniversary will be significant,” said Captain Jerzy Knabe.
Those interested in participating are asked to contact Captain Jerzy Knabe to join the organising group. The first applications have already arrived. Bogusław Witkowski, vice-president of the Polish Sailing Association, president of the Pomeranian Sailing Association and owner of the Pogoria, has announced the participation of his sailing ship in the rally. Captain Andrzej Piotrowski on his yacht “Kpt. Wagner II” will be arriving from distant Chicago. The rally will also be attended by a large delegation of Polish sailors, representing YKP London.
On 4 July, ceremonies will be held in Gibraltar to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the death of General Władysław Sikorski and those accompanying him in the plane crash. The schedule for the event, whose main organisers are the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London and the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Repression:
16:00-17:00: Solemn Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen in Gibraltar,
17.30-18.30: ceremony in front of the memorial to the Gibraltar disaster at Europa Point.
The day before, on 3 July at 7pm, there will be a meeting between the Polish community and the Consuls at the Catholic Community Centre (next to the Downtown Parking). A tour of the Pogoria sailing ship is also planned (in groups of up to 30 people): 3 July from 16.45 – 17.15 and 4 July from 10.45 – 11.30.
General Sikorski Memorials
Gibraltar, located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, is a picturesque place with a rich history and strategic importance. It is also linked to the tragic death of one of Poland’s most important heroes – General Władysław Sikorski. There are sites in Gibraltar that remind us of this outstanding leader and his connection to Spain.
Air crash site: Near Gibraltar Airport is the site where the Liberator plane crashed, resulting in the death of General Sikorski. This tragic event took place on 4 July 1943 and marked a turning point in Polish history. There was a commemorative plaque on the airfield site, which was later moved to a memorial on Europa Point.
Polish memorial on Europa Point: This is a cape at the southern tip of Gibraltar from which you can see the African coast. On 4 July 2013, to mark the 70th anniversary of General Sikorski’s death, a monument – commemorating his service to Poland – was unveiled. The monument, featuring a propeller, an arch with the Polish military eagle and commemorative plaques, is a symbol of remembrance and at the same time an expression of gratitude for the General’s actions for the Polish nation.
A commemorative plaque is also placed in the Great Siege Tunnel, from where the crash site was visible.
The grave of General Władysław Sikorski is in Poland, in the Wawel crypt in Kraków. Funeral ceremonies took place on 17 September 1993. However, the first burial place of the General was the Polish Airmen’s Cemetery in Newark, near Nottingham, UK, where he was laid to rest on 16 July 1943. It was not until 1993 that Władysław Sikorski’s remains were exhumed and transported to Poland.
