In the days 22nd -25th August 2024, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh is organising events commemorating General Stanisław Sosabowski and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade (1IPB) in Scotland. The ceremonies are organised together with many Polish and Scottish partners, but in particular with two twin military units, i.e. the Polish Gen Sosabowski 6th Airborne Brigade from Krakow and the British 16th Air Assault Brigade Combat Team. These units carry on the tradition of the 1st IPB and the 1st Airborne Division, respectively, i.e. units whose soldiers fought together in Operation Market Garden in 1944.
The Polish 1IPB was one of the world’s first assault-landing units, the predecessor of special forces. In recognition of its merits, the Queen of the Netherlands awarded the Brigade with the Military Order of Wilhelm, the highest Dutch military decoration.
There are many places in Fife associated with the Polish paratroopers, who stationed and trained in this region. Also after WWII many of them returned to Scotland as veterans and made Fife their new home settling and starting their families in this region.
Consul General Łukasz Lutostański said: „Unfortunately, the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade never made it to the Polish frontlines. Instead they fought tirelessly in the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden, together with other parachute divisions from the UK and the USA.”
Previously Cllr. Jim Leishman, Provost of Fife, said: „In Fife we are very proud of our historical links with General Sosabowski and Polish Armed Forces that assisted allied troops in defence of our country in the Second World War. This has resulted in a lasting legacy of links between Fife and Poland. Many Polish nationals settled in the area after the War and there is still a strong Polish community here.”
The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh is planning a rich programme of events, including:
- An opening ceremony of the Weekend with Sosabowski at the cliffs on Kincraig Point, where the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade was formed in 1941
- A series of historical lectures on Gen. S. Sosabowski, 1 IPB and Operation Market Garden, which will be conducted by experts in the history of this Brigade, including General Sosabowski’s great-grandson – Professor Hal Sosabowski and Ret. Maj. Gen. Adrian Freer OBE
- A cross-country run named after Gen. Sosabowski in the footsteps of soldiers from the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, who trained in Fife before Operation Market Garden and other battles of World War II
- A Scottish-Polish Ceilidh evening reflecting the meetings of Polish soldiers with the local Scottish community in Fife during World War II
- Unveiling a plaque at Largo War Memorial dedicated to Gen Sosabowski, the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade and the Polish soldiers assigned to defend Fife during the Second World War.
- A service at Falkland Palace commemorating Polish, British, American and Allied soldiers who fought on the continent in Operation Market Garden during World War II where in the chapel of Mary Queen of Scots Castle one can find an icon of Our Lady of Ostra Brama, made by Polish paratroopers and donated to the local community as an expression of gratitude for their hospitality during World War II and after the war.
