“Wrocław Freedom” for dr Małgorzata Longchamps de Bérier
On 27 January 2023, Prof Patrycja Matusz, Vice-Rector of UWr, handed over to the family members of dr Małgorzata Longchamps de Bérier the badge of honour “Wrocław Freedom”, awarded posthumously in 2021, on the 40th anniversary of the introduction of martial law.
The badge of honour “Wrocław Freedom” is awarded to persons who, in the period of communist dictatorship before 1989, while being members of the Wrocław University community (employees or students) stood up for fundamental values such as freedom, truth, justice and human dignity. The badge of honour “Wrocław Freedom” may also be awarded posthumously, in which case it is handed over to the next of kin. In the first edition, members of our community who were involved in opposition activities during martial law were particularly honoured.
The badge of honour is awarded by the Rector of the University of Wrocław at the proposal of the Chapter.
At the request of prof. Ryszard Balicki, the Wrocław Freedom badge of honour was awarded posthumously to dr Małgorzata Longchamps de Bérier (1950-1989), a lawyer associated with Wrocław University, who died prematurely in 1989. She did not live to see the free Poland, for which she had sacrificed so much, acting, despite her progressing illness, both in the structures of the legal and, after martial law was imposed, the outlawed “Solidarity”.
As a scientist, she continued the tradition of a family of eminent personalities of Polish science associated with the Lvov academic community, which was so close to post-war Wrocław. Her untimely death interrupted work on her habilitation thesis.
She remained in the memory of relatives, friends and colleagues as a person of great kindness and wisdom.
By order of the President of the Republic of Poland of 12 December 2006, Małgorzata Maria Longchamps de Bérier was posthumously awarded the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for her outstanding contribution to democratic change in Poland, for her achievements in professional and social work.
The “Wrocław Freedom” badge of honour was presented to members of the Honoured Person’s family: her sister Katarzyna Walewska and her nephew priest prof. Franciszek Longchamps de Bérier. The ceremony was attended by the proposer of the candidature, prof. Ryszard Balicki, as well as friends of the Honoured, including the authors of her biography, Ms Małgorzata Wanke-Jakubowska, Ms Maria Wanke-Jerie, and members of the Chapter, with its chairperson, prof. Roman Duda.
Translated by Damian Pawlik (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.