Heroes of 1939 Monument

The Heroes of 1939 Monument commemorates soldiers of the Łódź Army who defended Sieradz in fighting over the Warta River on 4-5 September 1939. This first armed conflict of the September Campaign is remembered on the monument located on the defensive embankment above the Warta, in direct proximity to wartime bunkers and a bridge rebuilt by the Germans in 1941. The monument was unveiled on 28 May 2012 as a tribute to those who fell in defence of the city.

History of the Battle for Sieradz

The Battle for Sieradz on the Warta was one of the first armed clashes of the war. Soldiers from the 31st Kaniów Rifles Regiment mounted armed resistance to the Third Reich from a strategic position over the river. Particularly commemorated is private Teofil Jurek from the 31st Rifles Regiment, who fell defending the city on 4 September 1939. His name on the monument symbolises the sacrifice of many soldiers who gave their lives in defence of the Sieradz county territory.

Location and topographical context

The monument stands on public land at ul. płk. Marcina Amora Tarnowskiego, above the Warta, near the Brzeski Bridge. It is erected on a defensive embankment which served as a natural defensive position for the soldiers. Traces of war remain in the area—bunkers from 1939 and a bridge rebuilt by the occupier—making this place important for understanding the history of the September Campaign in Sieradz.

Condition and repairs

The monument has been repeatedly damaged through vandalism—thieves have stolen copper rails and others have attempted to destroy it. Despite these difficulties, the city of Sieradz has systematically repaired the monument, which testifies to its lasting significance in local memory. The Sieradz City Office maintains constant care of the monument, keeping it in proper condition.

Among Sieradz's monuments

The Heroes of 1939 Monument is part of Sieradz's collective landscape of remembrance. Nearby stand the Monument to the Memory of Cursed Soldiers of the Sieradz Land and the Monument to the Memory of Siberian Deportees, which commemorate different periods and forms of oppression. Three monuments in the city centre form a route of remembrance dedicated to soldiers and victims of repression.

Practical information

• Address: ul. płk. Marcina Amora Tarnowskiego (Brzeski Bridge over the Warta), 98-200 Sieradz
• Access hours: The monument is accessible 24/7 as a public monument
• Getting there: Sieradz city centre, by the Warta, near main city streets, well served by public transport
• Context: site of remembrance for the September Campaign, alongside wartime bunkers and bridge, with the opportunity to walk along the defensive embankment above the Warta
• Note: Ground conditions depend on weather—the embankment may be muddy after rain