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Welcome back! Remains of three government-in-exile presidents make historic return to Poland

The repatriation of Władysław Raczkiewicz, August Zaleski and Stanisław Ostrowski concludes on November 12th when they will be laid to rest in a newly established mausoleum in Warsaw.
Mateusz Marek/PAP

The remains of three former presidents of the Polish government-in-exile are to make a historic return to Poland on the 12th of November where they will be laid to rest in a newly established mausoleum.

The process of the repatriation of the remains of Władysław Raczkiewicz, August Zaleski and Stanisław Ostrowski, the first three Presidents-in-exile between 1939-1979, began on the 3rd of November with the exhumation of their remains and their ceremonial send-off at Newark’s St Mary Magdalene Church and Newark Town Hall last weekend.

The remains were earlier exhumed from the cemetery in Newark-on-Trent, a location closely connected with Poland and its fight for independence.

Mateusz Marek/PAP

Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London

Mateusz Marek/PAP

The process began on the 3rd of November with the exhumation of the remains and their ceremonial send-off at Newark’s St Mary Magdalene Church and Newark Town Hall last weekend.Mateusz Marek/PAP

The Cemetery of Polish Airmen is one of the largest Polish military necropolises in the UK and was also the burial place of General Władysław Sikorski, before his remains were repatriated in 1993.

The Polish government-in-exile, was a government formed after the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939 and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union. 

It was initially based in France and after the fall of France, moved its headquarters to London.

The Polish government-in-exile, was a government formed after the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in 1939 and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union. Public domain

The government-in-exile exercised significant influence during WWII through the Polish Underground State and the Home Army.

Its first president was Władysław Raczkiewicz (term in office 1939-1947), who had been a colonel in the Polish Army during WWI. 

Made the first Polish president-in-exile in 1939, he presided over the move of the government headquarters from Paris to London in 1940. 

The first president, and one of those returning, was Władysław Raczkiewicz (term in office 1939-1947), who had been a colonel in the Polish Army during WWI.Public domain

He later tried to call on the allies to provide support to the Poles in the Warsaw Uprising.

Raczkiewicz was also president when in 1945, France, the United States and the UK withdrew their support for the government-in-exile, effectively ending its real-world political influence, leaving it as largely symbolic.

After Raczkiewicz, the second two Polish presidents-in-exile in succession were August Zaleski, who was in the post from 1947-1972, and was the longest serving president-in-exile and Stanisław Ostrowski from 1972 -1979.

August Zaleski, who was in the post from 1947-1972 was the longest serving president-in-exile.Public domain

While its influence weakened during the years of Communist rule, the government continued to exist until 1990, providing Poland with constitutional continuity and a continued quest for Polish independence.

Its last president Ryszard Kaczorowski was able to officially bring its tenure to an end by handing over the presidential insignia to Lech Wałęsa, the first president elected by free elections after WWII and 40 years of communist rule. 

Poland’s current Ambassador to the UK, Piotr Wilczek, who was present in Newark Town Hall at the event marking the final journey of the there presidents from the UK to Poland said: “Presidents Raczkiewicz, Zaleski and Ostrowski fought incredibly hard for a free Poland, yet none lived to see it become free. 

Stanisław Ostrowski, who served from 1972 -1979, is credited for uniting Polish emigree circles. He also strongly refused to acknowledge annexation of the eastern areas of the Second Polish Republic by the USSR after WWII.GFDL 1.2

“Today’s ceremonies and those taking place in Warsaw next week are an apt last chapter in their magnificent lives.”

Cllr Laurence Goff, Mayor of Newark, said: “I am especially proud of Newark’s strong connections with Poland. 

“On behalf of Newark, I extend my very warmest regards to the people of Poland as they mark the return of the 3 Presidents to their homeland.”

Speaking at the ceremony in London ahead of the return journey, Poland’s Ambassador to the UK, Piotr Wilczek, said: “Presidents Raczkiewicz, Zaleski and Ostrowski fought incredibly hard for a free Poland, yet none lived to see it become free. Today’s ceremonies and those taking place in Warsaw next week are an apt last chapter in their magnificent lives.”Mateusz Marek/PAP

Also among those speaking about the Presidents at the event were Jan Ostrowski, son of President Ostrowski’s nephew, and the last member of the Polish Government-in-Exile, Tadeusz Musioł. 

A letter written by the Polish President Andrzej Duda was also read.

The presidents will now make their final journey to Poland to be laid to rest in the Temple of Divine Providence in Warsaw, which houses the remains of some of Poland’s greatest historical figures and heroes.

Their resting place will be in the Mausoleum of the Presidents of the Polish Republic in Exile which was specially-created for their return, with funeral services to take place on November 12 to honour their return.

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