Monument to the Memory of Cursed Soldiers of Sieradz Land

The Monument to the Memory of Cursed Soldiers of Sieradz Land commemorates soldiers who after the Second World War resisted Sovietisation and the communist regime, maintaining independence traditions. The monument was unveiled and consecrated on 24 September 2016 in front of the building of Liceum nr 2 imienia Królowej Jadwigi [Queen Jadwiga Secondary School No. 2] at Rycerska 1 in Sieradz. The monument bears 20 names of cursed soldiers from Sieradz and Sieradz County who fell or were executed as a result of communist repression.

History of the cursed soldiers

Cursed soldiers were soldiers of the Armia Krajowa [Home Army] and soldiers of other independence formations who after Poland's capitulation continued armed struggle against Sovietisation. Many such soldiers operated on Sieradz Land, mounting armed resistance underground against the Red Army and the PRL security apparatus. The monument pays tribute to their sacrifice and loyalty to independence ideals, to the traditions that each of them defended, knowing the risk and consequences of their choice.

Creators and social initiative

The monument was created through the work of a Social Commission composed mainly of families of cursed soldiers who were engaged in commemorating the victims. The stonemasonry was carried out by Sławomir Kawczyński from Sieradz-Woźnika, and metalwork was entrusted to Józef Janik, a blacksmith artist from Kalinowa near Błaszków. Their joint effort resulted in a monument which, while being a work of art, stands as evidence of social engagement in the process of remembrance.

Ceremony and symbolic significance

The unveiling ceremony on 24 September 2016 combined an appeal to the fallen cursed soldiers with an appeal to the victims of the Smoleńsk air disaster, creating one shared thread of remembrance for victims across different periods of history. This connection emphasised that the struggle for Polish independence and dignity continues through the centuries, and each generation has the duty to remember those who made sacrifices in the name of freedom.

Neighbourhood and memory trail

The Monument to Cursed Soldiers is located in central Sieradz, near the Monument to Heroes of 1939 and the Monument to the Memory of Siberian Exiles. Liceum nr 2 imienia Królowej Jadwigi provides a worthy setting for the monument, being an educational institution where history and independence traditions are passed on to young generations. Three monuments in Sieradz create a journey through different dimensions of the struggle for Polish independence.

Practical information

• Address: Rycerska 1, 98-200 Sieradz (in front of Liceum nr 2 imienia Królowej Jadwigi)
• Access hours: The monument is accessible 24/7 as a public monument
• Getting there: Central Sieradz, on Rycerska Street, close to the city's main tourist routes, well connected by public transport
• Context: Place of remembrance for cursed soldiers from Sieradz and the county, list of 20 names of outstanding underground soldiers, anniversary event on 24 September
• Nearby attractions: Liceum nr 2, other monuments in Sieradz dedicated to military remembrance