The second half of the year 2009 in Poland will be devoted to celebrations of the two important events – 70 years since the outbreak of WWII and 20 years since communist regime.  

The programme of celebrations held under the banner “It started in Poland” will encompass over 180 events in 89 towns and cities.  

In total the commemoration of the two anniversaries will cost some 42 million zlotys (9.1 million euros); celebrations of September’39 will cost some 12 million zlotys (2.6 million euros), while the celebrations of June’89 some 30 million zlotys (6.5 million euros).  

“The programme was prepared so that next to large events there could also be a place for smaller ones. Nation-wide celebrations apart there will also be some local events,” explains the minister of culture and national heritage Bogdan Zdrojewski.  

The main celebrations of the two anniversaries are to take place on June 4 in the northern city of Gdansk and on September 1 at Westerplatte peninsula where the first major battle of the Invasion of Poland in 1939 took place. (jm)

Source: Rzeczpospolita