WW2 outbreak marked in Belgrade

Wreaths have been laid at the Yugoslav-Polish League memorial in Belgrade to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War 2. Wreaths were laid by Labor State Secretary Zoran Martinovic, Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas amd Polish Charge d’Affaires Pawel Czerwinski. WW2 outbreak marked in Belgrade Czerwinski recalled that Uzun Mirkova Street in Belgrade had been home to the Yugoslav-Polish League Center, which had helped smuggle Polish refugees into France and the Middle East between 1939 and 1941. He said that the Serbian people, despite pressure from the German envoy to Belgrade and the Nazi secret services, had afforded support and financial assistance to Poles, adding that the anniversary of the German invasion of Poland was a chance to recall the close ties between Serbia and Poland. “It is our duty to remember, especially now that Europe is seeing the rise of movements and organizations glorifying totalitarian regimes, while in the capital cities of certain countries that shoulder responsibility for the tragedy of 70 years ago, there are attempts to falsify history and vindicate the criminals,“ the charge d’affaires stressed. Djilas said that the Polish and Serbian peoples were among those that had suffered most in World War 2. He added that one should never forget those people who had helped the Poles to safety, since many of them had paid with their lives, including Milan Popovic who had been in charge of the center. “The friendship that existed then between the Polish and Serbian people continues to grow today,“ said the mayor. Today’s central ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of war is taking place in Gdansk. Today's ceremony in Belgrade (Beta)

WW2 outbreak marked in Belgrade

Czerwinski recalled that Uzun Mirkova Street in Belgrade had been home to the Yugoslav-Polish League Center, which had helped smuggle Polish refugees into France and the Middle East between 1939 and 1941.

He said that the Serbian people, despite pressure from the German envoy to Belgrade and the Nazi secret services, had afforded support and financial assistance to Poles, adding that the anniversary of the German invasion of Poland was a chance to recall the close ties between Serbia and Poland.

“It is our duty to remember, especially now that Europe is seeing the rise of movements and organizations glorifying totalitarian regimes, while in the capital cities of certain countries that shoulder responsibility for the tragedy of 70 years ago, there are attempts to falsify history and vindicate the criminals,“ the charge d’affaires stressed.

Đilas said that the Polish and Serbian peoples were among those that had suffered most in World War 2. He added that one should never forget those people who had helped the Poles to safety, since many of them had paid with their lives, including Milan Popović who had been in charge of the center.

“The friendship that existed then between the Polish and Serbian people continues to grow today,“ said the mayor.

Today’s central ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of war is taking place in Gdansk.