Ceremony of awarding Wrocław Freedom badges
In the Oratorium Marianum, those honoured with the ‘’Wrocław Freedom’’ badge gathered on Wednesday, 5 June, but above all friends and acquaintances from the years when a free Poland was fought for.
The meeting was accompanied by a lot of reminiscence, but also emotion. Times and people who are no longer with us were recalled.
Speakers included the Rector of the University of Wrocław, prof. Robert Olkiewicz, and the Chairperson of the “Wrocław Freedom” Chapter, prof. Jan Sobczyk.
Both congratulated the award winners. The Rector of the University of Warsaw, prof. Olkiewicz, speaking to the assembled guests, stressed the importance of freedom. He said that it is one of the most important concepts in our everyday lives, in our work, in philosophy, in politics and in science. And he wished all those present that the term ‘’Wroclaw freedom‘’ would continue to be obvious, clear, transparent and positive.
Prof. Piotr Krzysztof Marszałek, meanwhile, in a short lecture recalled „Jak to z usunięciem patrona Uniwersytetu było”. An article on the history surrounding the removal of Bolesław Bierut as patron of our university can be read here: https://uwr.edu.pl/jak-usuwano-bieruta-z-uniwersytetu/
Prof. Marcin Cieński spoke on behalf of those honoured with the badge.
The ceremony was honoured by a performance by the GAUDIUM choir under the direction of prof. Alan Urbanek.
And here are the 35 people honoured in 2024 with the “Wrocław Freedom” badge
- Marek Adamkiewicz
Spokesperson of the Student Committee of Solidarity, activist of the Independent Students’ Association. Became the first to be punished for refusing to take the military oath, which contributed to the formation of the ‘Freedom and Peace’ Movement”.
- Alicja Badowska
Activist with the Student Committee of Solidarity. Organised Flight School classes. Distributed independent publications. Supported underground activists during martial law.
- Prof. dr hab. Stanisław Bereś
Academic employee of the University of Wrocław. He lectured at the Society of Academic Courses and the so-called Flying University. He published without censorship in underground journals and published in the independent circuit. He is the author of ‘Lem über Lem. Gespräche’ and ’Half a Century of Purgatory. Conversations with Tadeusz Konwicki”, which were read on Radio Free Europe.
- Jarosław Broda
Co-operator with the Workers’ Defence Committee, then with the Committee for Social Self-Defense of the Workers’ Defence Committee, distributor of independent publications. Co-organiser and activist with the Student Committee of Solidarity, co-editor and publisher of the independent literary Agora Library and the Literary Workshop of Philologists. Editor and publisher of ‘Komunikaty’.
- Barbara Bubnicka
Employee of the Institute of Experimental Physics of the University of Wrocław. She was deputy chairwoman of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity” at the Institute of Experimental Physics. She printed and distributed leaflets and underground publications. She was one of the liaison officers of the RKS.
- dr Wiesław Cupała
Associated with the hippie movement, collaborator and co-founder of the Committee for Social Self-Defense of the Workers’ Defence Committee, distributor of independent periodicals. Editor of the counterculture independent magazine ‘Curve’, collaborator of the National Military Organisation. Interned, associated with the ‘Orange Alternative’. Co-organiser of the Underground Radio Group. Distributor of underground periodicals.
- Prof. dr hab. Marcin Cieński
An activist of the Student Self-Government at the Institute of Polish Studies, the Independent Students’ Association and the SKS. He was involved in preparing and distributing independent publications. He was interned in the Detention Centre for the Interned in Nysa. He took part in actions against restricted collections and in the creation of a collection of independent publications.
- Prof. dr hab. Dariusz Doliński
His flat was a photographic point for the Independent Photographic Agency ‘Dementi’ and a printing house for ‘Z dnia na dzień’ and ‘Pytania’ also served as a repository for reams of paper, ink and leaflets. He also wrote articles for ‘Pytania’ and distributed magazines.
- Waldemar “Major” Fydrych
He collaborated with the SKS, co-founded the magazine ‘Podaj dalej’, and was a member of the founding committee of the UWr Independent Students’ Association. He co-founded, chaired and animated the happening movement ‘Orange Alternative’.
- Aleksander Gleichgewicht
Collaborator with the Workers’ Defence Committee and activist with the SKS in Wrocław. Member of the Solidarity Trade Union and the editorial board of the weekly magazine ‘Solidarność Dolnośląska’. He was interned, involved in the underground activities of ‘Solidarność’, and was a member of the Polish-Czech-Slovak and Polish-Norwegian ‘Solidarność’.
- Alicja Grzymalska
Activist of the Independent Students’ Association, the ‘Orange Alternative’ and ‘Solidarity Fighting Party’. She took part in manifestations and distributed independent publications and leaflets. Her flat was a meeting place for oppositionists. She was involved in photographing and filming Independent Students’ Association, Prison Service and Freedom and Peace Movement manifestations.
- Prof. dr hab. Czesław Hernas (posthumously)
Director of the Institute of Polish Studies at the University of Wrocław, defended students against repression. Interned during Martial Law. Author of texts for the underground.
- Mirosław Jasiński
Co-founder of the UWr Independent Students’ Association and founder and leader of the Academic Resistance Movement in Wrocław. He was active in the Academic Political Thought Club ‘Progres’. After martial law was imposed, he went into hiding. He was one of the initiators of the underground Polish-Czechoslovak Solidarity movement. He was co-editor of the ‘Biuletyn SPCz’.
- Wiesław Kęcik
Activist in the Workers’ Defence Committee, initiator of the Student Solidarity Committee in Wrocław. One of the main founders of the civic resistance movement.
- Andrzej Kiełczewski
Active in the student Solidarity Committee, participant in the strike at the Grabiszyńska Street depot in August 1980.
- Wincenty Korsan
Librarian-Custodian. Distributor of independent publications, organiser of a distribution point in the library of the Institute of Polish Studies. Co-worker with the ‘Obecność’ editorial office. Participant in student strikes.
- Roman Kucharski
He was a member of UWr Independent Students’ Association, co-organised street protests in defence of the arrested.
- Anna Kulczycka-Charusta
Co-organised all the major actions of the Freedom and Peace Movement in 1987-89. Translated English texts for the underground press.
- Barbara Labuda
Employee at the Institute of Roman Studies. Co-operator with the Workers’ Defence Committee, activist in the authorities of the underground RKS, later Power Control Movement (RKW). Author of articles for the underground press.
- Katarzyna Lubiniecka-Różyło
Independent Students’ Association activist, participant in student demonstrations, took part in events organised by Wolność i Pokój (Freedom and Peace) and wrote for the underground magazine ‘Region’; before the 1989 elections, she acted as the so-called ‘Free Tube’ and was a correspondent for the Solidarity News Service.
- Aneta Mielecarska-Cisło
She took part in editing and distributing the underground press and was one of the main organisers of the Easter March. She participated in illegal cultural activities.
- Wiesław Mielcarski
Participant in street actions, co-organiser of the first Easter March, editor of underground journals.
- Marta Morawiecka
An activist of Solidarność Walcząca and Independent Students’ Association. Repeatedly detained and repressed for her activities. Distributor of underground publications. She took part in the Military College boycott action.
- Jerzy Ochman
Student Solidarity Committee spokesman, Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity activist, participation in solidarity actions, head of the underground independent Student Solidarity Committee library.
- Prof. dr hab. Zbigniew Oziewicz (pośmiertnie)
Research fellow at the Institute of Theoretical Physics, University of Wrocław. A colporteur of independent publications and co-editor of the ‘Biuletyn Dolnośląski’, co-organiser of structures of the RKS Dolny Śląsk. Interned, arrested. Co-organiser of underground structures of Solidarity Walcza (Solidarność Walcząca) in many Polish cities, member of the Political Council of the SW and editorial board of the magazine.
- Jolanta Piątek
She ran the Student Solidarity Committee library. Distributed independent publications, co-organised an independent festival of Czech and Slovak culture.
- Dr hab. Jakub Pigoń, prof. UWr
Activist in the underground publishing movement, editor of the student magazine CDN, co-founder of the ‘Constans’ publishing house.
- Dorota Przerwa
Activist with the Independent Students’ Association, Freedom and Peace Movement (WiP) and the Orange Alternative. Editor and distributor of underground press. Participated in pickets for the freedom of the repressed in Czechoslovakia.
- Józef Puciłowski, OP
Worked in the library of the Historical Institute of the University of Wrocław. One of the leaders of the Catholic Intelligentsia Club. Co-organiser of the weeks of Christian culture.
Liaison officer for opposition circles, students and employees of the Historical Institute. He was involved in the smuggling of illegal publications.
- Marek Rospond
Student Solidarity Committee spokesman, responsible for contact with Poznań. One of the most important activists of the Peasant Self-Defence Committee, which gave rise to the Solidarity.
- Radosław Rozpendowski
He collaborated with the Student Solidarity Committee and Workers’ Defence Committe, distributed the ‘Biuletyn Dolnośląski’, and was a co-founder of the Students’ Self-education Circle. He participated together in the mass for the intention of the murdered Stanisław Pyjas. He collaborated with the RKS and co-organised an information and distribution network. Interned at the Grodków Detention Centre.
- Mirosław Spychalski
Student Solidarity Committee activist, participant in leafleting campaigns, co-organiser of the Student Solidarity Committee library, creator of a cassette publication. Arrested several times. Co-organiser of the Academic Resistance Movement and co-founder of the Independent Students‘ Association magazine ”Komunikat’’. Polish-Czechoslovak ‘Solidarity’ activist. Interned at the detention centre in Grodków.
- Zbigniew Świtkiewicz
Employee of the technical department of the Institute of Experimental Physics at the University of Wrocław. Member of the Solidarity Trade Union, reproduced mock-up copies of the ‘Z dnia na dzień’ magazine, acted as a courier and distributor, organised meetings of underground Solidarity activists in his flat.
- dr Magdalena Żurko
Co-editor of the ‘Biuletyn Dolnośląski’, co-founder of the Independent Students’ Association at psychology, participant in Independent Students’ Association strikes, liaison officer and courier for the NSZZ ‘Solidarność’ and ‘Solidarność Walcząca’. She organised underground meetings of Wrocław artists. Participant in the ‘Freedom and Peace’ movement. Organiser of a hunger strike in defence of imprisoned members of the WiP movement and activists of the Polish-Czechoslovak Solidarity movement.
- Maciej Zięba OP (posthumously)
Dominican. Activist, vice-president and organiser of Club of Catholic Intelligentsia meetings, distributor of independent publications, organiser of fund-raisers for the workers of Ursus and Radom, organiser of Christian Culture Weeks, expert and adviser to the MKŻ in Wrocław. Editor-in-chief of ‘Solidarność Dolnośląska’ and editor of the weekly ‘Solidarność’.
The ceremony was hosted by Andrzej Baworowski, head of UWr Communications Department, and UWr spokesperson Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz.
Thank you!
A photo-report from the ceremony through the lens of Paweł Piotrowski
