On 1st September 2010 Commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) Lieutenant General Rainer Korff with the delegation of soldiers from the nations represented in the Corps, participated in an annual celebration of the outbreak of World War II held at the Central Cemetery in Szczecin.
In the ceremony held next to the “Memorial in Homage to Heroes of September 1939” participated: Commander of the MNC NE Lieutenant General Rainer Korff, the President of Szczecin Mr. Piotr Krzystek, the bishop Błażej Kruszyłowicz as well as representatives of the uniformed services, combatants and residents of Szczecin.
The ceremony commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the outbreak of the World War II started with a report given to the Chief of Staff of the 12th Mechanized Division Colonel Sławomir Dudczak.
During the ceremony the invited guests had an opportunity to listen to the speech by the chairman of the association of the regional veterans and political prisoners Mr. Ryszard Tabor. He described honor and bravery of Polish soldiers who, with no hesitation, put up resistance against the aggressors. “Let the September day of veteran will be the day of reconciliation of all combatant environments“- said Mr. Ryszard Tabor. “Today on Veterans’ day we pay tribute to our brothers in arms” - he added.
To honor victims of the World War II, a military appeal to the fallen was performed and honorary salves fired. During the ceremony, various delegations including the delegation from MNC NE headed by the Commander and assisted by soldiers from the nations serving in the Corps, laid wreaths at the monument to commemorate events of 1939. The celebration was splendored by the garrison orchestra of Szczecin as well as guards of honor of the Police and 12th Mechanized Brigade.
Multinational character of the Corps’ delegation and its participation in the event strongly underlines the great significance soldiers from different countries attach to the Host Nation and the local and regional celebrations.
