Bolesławiec: speech by starosta Tomasz Gabrysiak and lesson from September 1, 1939 [VIDEO]

The starosta of Bolesławiec, Tomasz Gabrysiak, reminded that the history of 1939 poses difficult questions for the contemporary residents of Bolesławiec.

Obchody 87. rocznicy wybuchu II Wojny Światowej (fot. Kazimierz Marczewski)

The speech of the Bolesławiec County Starost Tomasz Gabrysiak, referring to September 1, 1939, was not merely a recollection of a date from a textbook. At the center of this statement was the normalcy of the day preceding the catastrophe. The sentence: - August 31, 1939, Poland was still alive - sounds simple, but it is precisely in this simplicity that the most important meaning of the speech lies. The war did not begin in people's consciousness when they were planning shopping, school, relaxation, or ordinary family matters. It began suddenly, although signals of danger had been present earlier.

This perspective is particularly clear even today in Bolesławiec and the Bolesławiec County. Residents live their daily lives: work, school, prices, health, local investments, road repairs, weekend plans.

The history recalled by the starost shows, however, that the sense of stability can be fragile. The speech resonates with the question: “What do we not know today?”. This is not a call to fear, but to responsible thinking about the state, the local community, and security.

The strongest fragment of this reflection concerns illusions. Before September 1939, Poles knew that the international situation was tense. They were aware of Hitler, the demands on Poland and Gdańsk. At the same time, they heard that there were alliances, an army, guarantees, France, and Great Britain. As stated in the text of the speech: “It sounded reassuring. Perhaps even too reassuring.” This sentence can be read as a warning against confusing declarations with real security.

The conclusion is not a rejection of alliances or closing oneself off within one's borders. On the contrary, Poland's history shows that international cooperation matters. But the speech reminds us that no state and no community can base their entire sense of security solely on others' promises. Security begins with an efficient state, resilient institutions, responsible administration, historical education, and citizen awareness. This also applies to local governments, such as the Bolesławiec County, which in peacetime are responsible for many elements of daily stability.

The moral dimension is also important. The speech reminded us that Poland did not stop fighting after the attack of two totalitarian regimes. Polish soldiers fought on many fronts, Polish pilots defended British skies, and the underground operated in the occupied country. At the same time, after the war, Poland did not regain full freedom to decide for itself. This experience teaches that historical memory is not a ritual for the sake of ritual. It is a tool for understanding politics, freedom, and the price paid for a lack of sovereignty.

For Bolesławiec, such anniversary reflection has an additional dimension. The city and region, whose post-war history was shaped by significant border shifts, migrations, and the rebuilding of social life, know well that decisions made far from local communities can change the fate of ordinary families. Therefore, the memory of September 1, 1939, is not a distant topic in Bolesławiec. It is part of the conversation about how to protect normal life, which we often only appreciate when it is threatened.

The most current question from the speech is: “What do we not know about the year 2026?”. The answer cannot be simple, as the essence of this question is precisely the lack of certainty. However, we can know what is worth doing despite the uncertainty: strengthen the community, take education seriously, not underestimate threats, respect institutions, and care for the language of public debate. The history of 1939 does not say that catastrophe must always come. It rather says that normalcy requires care before it is put to the test.