Maczek Memorial Breda
The fact that Polish fighters also played a key role in liberating large parts of our country has long been overlooked. But a new tribute to Polish heroism is changing that.
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The fact that Polish soldiers also fought to liberate large parts of our country has long been overlooked. But a new tribute to Polish heroism is changing that; the Maczek Memorial in Breda can be visited at the Polish Military Cemetery. It is named after Polish General Stanislaw Maczek (1892–1994), commander of the 1st Polish Armored Division, which successfully liberated Breda in October 1944.
Maczek and his regiment had already fought against the Germans in various locations across Europe. He wit…
The fact that Polish soldiers also fought to liberate large parts of our country has long been overlooked. But a new tribute to Polish heroism is changing that; the Maczek Memorial in Breda can be visited at the Polish Military Cemetery. It is named after Polish General Stanislaw Maczek (1892–1994), commander of the 1st Polish Armored Division, which successfully liberated Breda in October 1944.
Maczek and his regiment had already fought against the Germans in various locations across Europe. He witnessed so much destruction along the way that he decided to liberate Breda house by house. He did not want to use the full firepower of his tanks to destroy even more homes and buildings. Many Polish soldiers were killed in the battle for Breda, but the city was ultimately liberated without any civilian casualties. Maczek was honored as an honorary citizen of Breda, but he was no longer welcome in Poland. The postwar communist regime in Poland, which was under Russian influence, viewed him as a traitor because he had
fought alongside the Allies. The general spent his later years working menial jobs in Scotland just to make ends meet. It was only when Poland became a democracy again that Maczek received his well-deserved rehabilitation from the Polish government.
The Maczek Memorial Breda provides a space to recognize and commemorate the struggle of Polish soldiers for the liberation of Breda and other parts of the Netherlands. It is a renovation of the long-standing Maczek Museum, featuring a fresh layout and contemporary design by Oomen Architecten of Breda and design firm Kinkorn of Tilburg. Through an exhibition and a film theater, the Memorial
tells the story of the Polish liberators and the struggle they had to endure in a contemporary way. For example, personal stories of some Polish liberators are projected onto a massive multimedia wall.
The ‘Chambre de Reflection’ is a room designed for contemplation and reflection. There is an auditorium and an information and documentation center for those who wish to learn more about the operations of the Polish military. But the story is not complete without the Polish Military Cemetery next to the Memorial, the largest Polish cemetery in the Netherlands. More than 160 Polish soldiers who fell in battle are buried here, including General Maczek himself. He died in 1994 at the age of 102 and wished above all to be buried alongside his men in Breda.
This is how to reach Maczek Memorial Breda
Openingtimes
- Every monday closed
- Every tuesday closed
- Every wednesday from 13:00 to 17:00
- Every thursday closed
- Every friday closed
- Every saturday from 11:00 to 17:00
- Every sunday from 11:00 to 17:00