The Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) Lieutenant General Rainer Korff participated in the 65th anniversary celebrations of the battle for Kołobrzeg held on 18 March 2010.
The MNC NE Commander Lieutenant General Rainer Korff met the Mayor of Kołobrzeg Mr Janusz Gromek and talked among other things about the history of Kołobrzeg. As a memento of the meeting, Mr Gromek gave to the MNC NE Commander a coin of the town, whereas the Mayor received the MNC NE Crest.
Afterwards, the Commander took part in the Catholic holy mass for the intention of the participants of the battle in 1945, which was held at the Cathedral. Some parts of the mass were said in German proving the excellent Polish-German relations.
The next point in the itinerary was the patriotic ceremony organised at the courtyard of the City Hall with the participation of the Guard of Honour and the Military Band of the Polish Army. The gathered veterans, inhabitants of Kołobrzeg and guests listened to several speeches, after which the veterans were awarded the state decorations.
The highlight of the celebrations was the historical adaptation of the Marriage to the Sea Ceremony of the servicemen of the 1st Polish Army, during which a ring was thrown into the sea. Originally, the ceremony was held on 18 March 1945 and it symbolized the regained access to the Baltic Sea by Poland.
