The delegation of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) headed by the Corps’ Commander Lieutenant General Rainer Korff participated in the annual municipal celebration of 5 July, known as Szczecin’s birthday.
The celebration of 5 July commemorates events of 1945 when the Polish administration eventually assumed control over Szczecin, heavily destroyed after the war. “It is a very important day present in the heart of every Szczecin inhabitant,” said Mr Piotr Krzystek, Mayor of Szczecin. Among the guests who gathered in front of the Monument of Poles’ Deed, there representatives of municipal and regional authorities, uniformed services, pioneers of Szczecin, inhabitants of Szczecin and others. The Multinational Corps Northeast delegation was represented by the Corps Commander Lieutenant General Rainer Korff as well as Lieutenant Colonel Bjarne Jensen, Major Jacek Ciulęba, Captain Claus Vogel and Captain Sebastian Bley. “Let everybody live a better life in our city,” appealed Mr Piotr Krzystek. He also talked a lot about achievements and plans for the future.
After the speech, a solemn wreath laying ceremony started. A wreath with blue ribbon laid by the MNC NE delegation at the basement of the Monument symbolizes the Corps’ involvement in the matters of Szczecin, home garrison of Multinational Corps Northeast.
Afterwards, the MNC NE Commander participated in the special session of the City Council, during which two personages were awarded the honorary title of the Ambassador of Szczecin. It is worth mentioning that in 2008 such title was also given to Danish member of the Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Hans Teglers, whose contribution to the promotion of Danish culture in Poland and Polish culture in Denmark has been recognized and appreciated.
As a matter of fact, this year’s celebrations of Szczecin’s birthday lasted a few days and included, among other things, adaptation of historical battles, duel demonstrations, historical and modern military equipment display as well as tasting an enormous birthday cake.
