Memorial to the Polish Airmen Who Fell in World War II
This is the national memorial to the Polish airmen who fell during the Second World War. The site is a prominent location in a park in central Warsaw. The Polish Air Force is famous in Europe for its contribution to the RAF and it gained a heroic status when it provided more than one in twenty of the Allied airmen who took part in the Battle of Britain.
Mark Dziewulski was awarded a medal, the Gold Order of Merit, by the Polish Government in recognition for his work on this memorial.
“A magnificent Memorial to the Polish Airmen Who Fell in World War II has been built. May this ‘symbolic resting place’ unite for ever all those who, fighting in the air, gave their lives in the service of their Country”. -- Aleksander Kwasniewski President of the Republic of Poland
Like an abstract sculpture set with the background of an arching curved wall with the names of the fallen, it perfectly expresses the meaning of the monument. -- Polish National Newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza Stoleczna
“The design is brilliant in its representation and simplicity. Most importantly, it will be a truly fitting memorial tribute to all those brave Polish Airmen who gave up their lives in the cause of freedom during the Second World War”. Air Vice-Marshal Terry B. Sherrington CB, OBE. “The form of this architectural monument is simple, readable and constitutes a coherent play of forms (a sequence of arcs) leaving room for the imagination”. Dariusz Bartoszewicz Gazeta Wyborcza “I have literally never seen anything more moving or impressive as that monument. It truly captures the freedom and graceful movement that is flight. Simple yet brilliant…” Alice Kornicka 13-year-old granddaughter of S/Ldr. Franciszek Kornicki, Commanding Officer of 308 and 317 Fighter Squadrons
This is the national memorial to the Polish airmen who gave their lives during the Second World War. The monument is set in a prominent location in Pole Mokotowskie, a park in central Warsaw that has special historical significance as the location of the first airfield of the Polish Air Force. Many of the pilots took off on combat missions from this very site.
The design of the memorial was conceived from ideas and emotions that were conveyed by surviving pilots and also takes its inspiration from Poland’s history. The sculptural forms convey the youthful spirit and energy possessed by those young pilots who flew for their country. The memorial is intended to be uplifting and optimistic, expressing the pilots’ inspiring passion for freedom, their courage and their faith in their eventual success. The memorial also reflects the sense of independent identity and passionate defence of freedom demonstrated by the Poles throughout their long history.
A gently curving wall of solid granite, engraved with the names of the fallen and their campaigns, is elevated on a platform, which is shaped in plan like the aerofoil section of an aircraft wing – the profile that makes flight possible. The use of a mound has its origins in ancient burial mounds or barrows. In contrast to the heavy wall, a dynamic stainless steel sculpture climbs and soars into the sky. The sculpture is an abstract representation depicting the dynamic movement of flight. Its shape evokes different images for each viewer. Some describe it as the vapour trails of fighter aircraft involved in air combat, twisting and turning around each other. Others see the actual moving forms of aircraft, blurred as if in motion. Technically, the sculpture is a dramatic feat of engineering, pushing the materials to their structural limits. The rear of the wall is planted with climbing English Ivy, since many of the pilots made their last flights from England. If the wall symbolizes the solidity of the earth, the sculpture represents the freedom of flight and the soaring human spirit, breaking free from the worldly realm. The curving energy of the sculpture is reflected in the parabolic silhouette of the wall, joining together the two basic themes: the fallen airmen and their heroic fight.
The memorial also serves functional requirements by providing a suitable setting for large remembrance ceremonies. It also creates a sense of place, a tranquil setting with special meaning, for contemplation of those who gave their lives and the historical events. It has already been put to use for full scale public events and it was unveiled in a spectacular ceremony attended by the President of Poland, military representatives of all the NATO countries and foreign dignitaries from all over the world. It was covered by the international press and the entire event broadcast on live television.
As an Architect I have worked on many buildings in different countries around the world, however, working on the memorial was a truly unique and personal experience. I have had the opportunity to collaborate on the design with my father, who was himself a fighter pilot in the Polish Air Force during World War II. It was an invaluable experience to gain insight from his memories as well having the privilege of meeting other surviving pilots and listening to their stories. I feel honoured to have been involved with this important endeavour. -- Mark Dziewulski
