Multinational Corps Northeast

The delegation from the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) took part in the celebrations commemorating the events of 26 April 1945 in Szczecin.

The representatives of the regional and local authorities including the Voivode of the Westpomeranian Voivodeship Mr Marcin Zydorowicz, the City Mayor Mr Piotr Krzystek as well as the Deputy Commander of the 12th Mechanized Division Brigadier General Andrzej Gwadera and representatives of other uniformed services, the veterans and pioneers of Szczecin as well as inhabitants of the city and students gathered in front of the memorial “Brotherhood of Arms” at Szczecin’s Central Cemetery. Also the MNC NE Commander Lieutenant General Rainer Korff, his Deputy Major General Ryszard Sorokosz and the aide-de-camp to the Commander Captain Sebastian Bley were present there to prove the importance of the event for the members of the Corps.

 The ceremony commemorated the events of 26 April 1945 when the Russian Army entered Szczecin and took it over from the Wehrmacht. The Polish administration finally established their management on 5 July 1945. The ceremony is especially dedicated to those who died during fights for Szczecin and those who contributed to the rebuilding Szczecin after World War II.

 There were speeches, the Polish national anthem played by the Szczecin Military Band and wreaths laid at the memorial. The City Mayor emphasized the importance of those events as parts of Szczecin’s and Poland’s history and identity. A few words were also said by Mr Krzysztof Zaremba, a grandson of Piotr Zaremba who was the first City Mayor of Szczecin after the war. There was also the prayer said by the Archbishop Andrzej Dzięga and the parish priest of the Orthodox Church Paweł Stefanowski.