The 1944 Warsaw Uprisig Remembrance Association

The photo report of the Sixth Inter-district School Competition for the pupils of Warsaw primary schools entitled
"Me, the soldier of the Uprising" - 2022

          In March 2022, after a covid-pandemic break, the sixth edition of the Inter-district School Competition entitled "Me, the soldier of the Uprising" was announced and organized by the SPPW 1944 Association. The competition was addressed to the pupils of Warsaw primary schools, divided into two age groups: - classes 4-6, - classes 7-8. Like its previous editions, it was held under the auspices of the Warsaw Insurgents' Association.
          The aim of the competition was to popularize the Warsaw Uprising, the knowledge of the Warsaw insurgents who fought for 63 days of the Uprising in 1944, as well as to encourage young people to read the insurgent memories placed in both the "Notebooks of the Remembrance of the Warsaw Uprising" and the SPPW 1944 website, and, moreover, to use the archives of the Warsaw Uprising Museum and participate in the meetings "The Witnesses of the History" in the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
          Concurrently, the competition was to promote the high culture of a spoken word, to develop oratorical talents of a Young generation and to teach the rivalry in a friendly atmosphere.
          The event had been prepared, as previously, by Mrs. Maria Poprawa, the vice-chairman of the SPPW 1944 Board, Polish philologist and historian of the 118 Primary School in Warsaw named after the Friends of Mazovia.

Mrs. Maria Poprawa

Fifteen participants from five Warsaw primary schools registered.
On April 11, 2022 in the exhibition room, 22 Długa street in Warsaw, the examination of the contestants occurred.

          The participants, having gained knowledge thanks to the "Notebooks of the Remembrance of the Warsaw Uprising", and the SPPW 1944 website, the archives of the Warsaw Uprising Museum and other sources, played the roles of the real soldiers (some of them were chosen few times):
          Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński a.k.a. "Krzyś", the Home Army battalion "Parasol";
          2. Barbara Bobrowiecka-Fricze a.k.a. Wilia, the Home Army battalion "Bończa";
          3. Zofia Dąbrowska a.k.a. "Zośka", "Myszka", the Home Army battalion "Zośka";
          4. Wiesław Gniazdowski a.k.a. "Wiesiek", the Home Army Group "Krybar";
          5. Halina Jędrzejewska a.k.a. "Sławka"; the Home Army battalion "Miotła";
          6. Zofia Książek-Bregułowa, the Home Army Group "Krybar";
          7. Jerzy Mindziukiewicz a.k.a. "Jur", the Home Army battalion "Miotła";
          8. Jerzy Nachtman a.k.a. "Kazimierz Olecki", the Home Army Group "Chrobry II";
          9. Danuta Antonina Przystasz a.k.a. "Skiba", II Regiment "Żywiciel";
          10. Danuta Szaflarska a.k.a. "Młynarzówna", the Home Army Headquarters (the Bureau of Information and Propaganda);
          11. Wanda Traczyk- Stawska a.k.a. "Pączek", the Home Army Headquarters;
          12. Władysława Urbaniak a.k.a. "Wiśka", the Home Army battalion "Kiliński";
          13. Henryka Zarzycka-Działkowska a.k.a. "Władka"; the Home Army battalion "Miotła".

           The Jury consisted of the following members: Mrs. Joanna Rawik - a singer, actress and journalist, our Association well-wisher, Mr. Jerzy Substyk a.k.a. "Jurny" - the Warsaw Uprising soldier - the Home Army Group "Bartkiewicz" and the president of the Jury Mrs. Cecylia Steczkowska - an artist, a member of the SPPW Association, an experienced member of the jury. They evaluated each performance. .

sitting from the left: Mr. Jerzy Substyk, Mrs. Cecylia Steczkowska and Mrs. Joanna Rawik

While evaluating, the Jury considered the following factors: presenting of a chosen person, composition and oratorical talent, esthetics and uniqueness of garment and the way of presenting it, as well as the general artistic impression.

          Here are the competition winners:

          the group of younger pupils (classes 4 - 6):
          1st place: Julian Łączyński - class 4, 26 Primary School;
          2nd place: Paweł Wesołowski- class 4, 41 Primary School;
          3rd place: Alkhaeir Naya - class 4, 26 Primary School;

          the group of older pupils (classes 7 -8):
          1st place: Julia Siwik - class 8, 118 Primary School;
          2nd place: Barbara Stypińska- class 7, 366 Primary School;
          3rd place: Natalia Osękowska - class 7, 366 Primary School.

          It is worth mentioning that the girl who was awarded the 3rd place in the group of younger pupils comes from Syria. She got interested in the history of her new homeland, Poland, in the events that occurred 77 years ago, to be precise.
          The pupils proved their wide knowledge of the Uprising Heroes. Music accompanied the event. A young violinist Weronika Mioskowska (class 6, 366 Primary School) gave an awesome recital.

The Jury member, Mr. Jerzy Substyk, was full of admiration. The quality of presentations and the fact that young people are interested in the Warsaw Uprising are to be marked. Mr. Jerzy Substyk presented the gathered pupils and teachers his insurgent fate.

The festive summary of the competition was organized in the Concert Hall of the Royal Castle in Warsaw on April 27, 2022.

Special diplomas and awards were handed over to the laureates.

All the contestants were given commemorative diplomas. In addition, they got some publications from the Białołęka Mayor. Another gifts for each contestant were two copies of the "Notebooks of the Remembrance of the Warsaw Uprising" issued by the 1944 Warsaw Uprising Remembrance Association.

The teachers of the pupils-contestants also received commemorative diplomas, historic books and two copies of the "Notebooks of the Remembrance of the Warsaw Uprising".

The Jury members received flowers from the competition organizers.

Our Association is giving many thanks to the competition participants, their teachers and especially the competition organizers.

compiled by: Maciej Janaszek-Seydlitz

pictures taken by: Wiktor Glinka
and Maria Poprawa
translated by: Monika Ałasa