Multinational Corps Northeast

The multinational delegation from the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast with the Commander Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral in lead, participated in the official commemoration of the Polish Independence Day, which took place on November 11th, 2008 in Szczecin.

The Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast (HQ MNC NE) is closely connected with its home garrison Szczecin. It is reflected in expressing mutual support between the HQ MNC NE members and the City authorities as well as building casual relations with the citizens of Szczecin. Last but not least, it is also observable in common celebration of holidays of national or regional importance. This time, the multinational delegation from the Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast with the Commander Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral in lead participated in the official commemoration of the 90th Anniversary of restoration of Poland’s Independence. After 123 years of partitions between Austro-Hungary, Prussia and Russia, Poland returned to the map of Europe.

The celebrations were organised close to the place where the bust of Józef Piłsudski is located. He played an important role in the fighting for Polish independence; he also became the first Poland’s Head of State after the restoration of the country. The city officials, the Corps’ representatives, veterans and ordinary citizens of Szczecin laid wreaths under the memorial to Józef Piłsudski to commemorate the events of 1918. The Corps’ delegation was represented by General Officers and Senior National Representatives from 9 nations – Polish Lieutenant General Zdzisław Goral, the MNC NE Commander, German Brigadier General Josef Heinrichs, the Chief of Staff MNC NE as well as Colonel Søren Bojesen from Denmark, Major Jan Matula from the Czech Republic, Master Sergeant Ivo Kask from Estonia, Major Aleksandras Petrulis from Lithuania, Major Adrian Sileanu from Romania, Major Patrik Adamec from Slovakia and Lieutenant Colonel George Markos from the USA. Standing in one line, they paid a tribute to the Polish heroes of 1918.

To get a feeling of those years, a staging/reconstruction of fighting for Lviv between Polish and Ukrainian soldiers in 1918 was presented to all the gathered. There were soldiers dressed in historic uniforms and cannon shots.

There was also Józef Piłsudski present at the celebrations. He addressed his soldiers to spur them to action. Obviously, it was an actor playing this role; nevertheless, his appearance caused applause.

Apart from that, there were static displays of equipment prepared by the uniformed services – the Army, the Police, the Fire Brigade, the Municipal Police and the Border Guards.  

It is important to notice that apart from the Corps’ participation in those celebrations, a few days ago, on November 6th, the HQ MNC NE personnel gathered to celebrate the events of 1918 in the Baltic Barracks.