The Józef Piłsudski Monument in Warsaw was erected to honor

Józef Piłsudski Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Chief of State (Poland), Chief of State (1918–1922) and first Marshal of Poland (from 1920). In the aftermath of World War I, he beca ...

, a military leader,

Marshal of Poland Marshal of Poland () is the highest rank in the Polish Army. It has been granted to only six officers. At present, Marshal is equivalent to a field marshal or general of the army (OF-10) in other NATO armies. History Today there are no living ...

and one of the main figures responsible for Poland's regaining its independence. This tall, bronze and granite statue is located near Piłsudski's Square and the

Hotel Europejski Raffles Europejski Warsaw, commonly known as Hotel Europejski (''The European Hotel''), is a historic 5-star hotels, five-star luxury hotel located in the city centre of Warsaw, Poland. At the time of its opening in 1857 it was one of the most mod ...

, at Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz Street. It bears the inscriptions "Józef Piłsudski" and "Marshal of Poland". Plans to raise the monument can be traced to 1990, when the

president of Warsaw The Mayor of Warsaw (officially in ) is the head of the executive of the capital of Poland elected directly during local elections for a term of five years. Overview The first city mayor of Warsaw was Jan Andrzej Menich (1695–1696). Th ...

Stanisław Wyganowski endorsed the request of a group campaigning for the creation of a monument to Piłsudski. The monument, cast in the Polish Navy Shipyards, was unveiled on 14 August 1995, on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw, which was commanded by Piłsudski. The unveiling was attended by the

President of Poland The president of Poland ( ), officially the president of the Republic of Poland (), is the head of state of Poland. His or her prerogatives and duties are determined in the Constitution of Poland. The president jointly exercises the executive ...

Lech Wałęsa Lech Wałęsa (; ; born 29 September 1943) is a Polish statesman, dissident, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as the president of Poland between 1990 and 1995. After winning the 1990 Polish presidential election, 1990 election, Wałę ...

, and Piłsudski's daughter,

Jadwiga Piłsudska Jadwiga Piłsudska-Jaraczewska (; 28 February 1920 – 16 November 2014) was a Polish aviator, pilot who served in the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War. She was one of two daughters of Józef Piłsudski. Life and career Jad ...

. The original plans called for the monument to be raised at Na Rozdrożu Square, but were later modified to site it near the Łazienki. This decision was protested by the supporters of the monument, who declared the new location too minor, and the monument was moved to the current location. The current location has been and still is seen as controversial; for example the statue's designer, , expressed his opposition to it in a letter shortly before the monument was unveiled, pointing out that it would cause the monument to be isolated from most ceremonies that take place on the square. Others have specifically criticized the fact that the location of the monument causes Polish soldiers to often face away from it during the guard change ceremony at the nearby

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier () is a monument in Warsaw, Poland, dedicated to the unknown soldiers who have given their lives for Poland. It is one of many such national tombs of unknowns that were erected after World War I, and the most imp ...

, and during the observances for

Polish Independence Day Independence Day () is a national day in Poland celebrated on to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of Poland's sovereignty as the Second Polish Republic in 1918 from the German Empire, German, Austria-Hungary, Austro-Hungarian and ...

, which they regard as disrespectful.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilsudski, Jozef, Monument, Pilsudski Square Monuments and memorials in Warsaw 1995 establishments in Poland Buildings and structures completed in 1995 1995 sculptures Outdoor sculptures in Warsaw Statues of men in Poland Statues of heads of government Statues of prime ministers Statues of military officers Bronze sculptures in Poland Granite sculptures in Poland Śródmieście Północne Józef Piłsudski

See also

References