The Roman Dmowski Monument in Warsaw () is a

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals (such as phosphorus) or metalloid ...

statue, 5 meters (16 feet) tall, of Polish politician

Roman Dmowski Roman Stanisław Dmowski Polish: (9 August 1864 – 2 January 1939) was a Polish right-wing politician, statesman, and co-founder and chief ideologue of the National Democracy (abbreviated "ND": in Polish, "''Endecja''") political movement ...

in Warsaw, on Na Rozdrożu Square at the intersection of Szuch and

Ujazdów Avenue Ujazdów may refer to the following places in Poland: *Ujazdów, Warsaw, a neighbourhood in Śródmieście, Warsaw **Ujazdów Avenue in Warsaw **Ujazdów Castle in Warsaw **Ujazdów Park in Warsaw *Ujazdów, Włodawa County in Lublin Voivodeship (e ...

s. It was unveiled on 10 November 2006. The statue holds a copy of the

Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed on 28 June 1919. As the most important treaty of World War I, it ended the state of war between Germany and most of the Allies of World War I, Allied Powers. It was signed in the Palace ...

and carries a quotation from Dmowski's book: ''I am a Pole, so I have Polish duties...'' (''"Jestem Polakiem więc mam obowiązki polskie..."''). The monument has been controversial. Its construction was the result of an initiative supported by politicians

Maciej Giertych Maciej Marian Giertych (, born 24 March 1936 in Warsaw) is a Polish dendrologist and former far-right politician of the League of Polish Families (LPR). He favours state intervention in the economy. He was a member of the Sejm (between 2001 an ...

, Bogusław Kowalski, and Jędrzej Dmowski. The monument, sponsored by the

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

municipal council, cost the Polish government about 500,000 zlotys. The unveiling ceremony was attended by some 200 people, including politicians

, Artur Zawisza, and Wojciech Wierzejski, and by

Father A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. A biological fat ...

Henryk Jankowski, who

consecrated Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

the monument. The monument's location, near the offices of the

Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken * Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...

on Szuch Avenue, relates to Dmowski's 1923 three-month tenure as Poland's minister of foreign affairs. Dmowski was the chief ideologue of Polish

national democracy National Democracy may refer to: * National democratic state, a state formation conceived by the Soviet concept of national democracy * National Democracy (Czech Republic) * National Democracy (Italy) * National Democracy (Philippines) * National De ...

and has been called "the father of modern Polish nationalism." He is seen as a principal figure in the restoration of Polish independence after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and was a signatory of the

. The monument has been called "one of the most controversial monuments in Warsaw" and has led to protests from organisations which see Dmowski as a

fascist Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural soci ...

opponent of tolerance; conversely, it has been a rallying icon for Polish national democrats (''Endecy''). Due to the controversies and protests, plans to raise statues or memorials to Dmowski elsewhere have generally been deferred. Prominent critics of the monument have included

Marek Edelman Marek Edelman (; 1919/1922 – October 2, 2009) was a Polish Jewish political and social activist and cardiologist. Edelman was the last surviving leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Long before his death, he was the last one to stay in the ...

, a leader of the 1943

Warsaw Ghetto uprising The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was the 1943 act of Jewish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto in German-occupied Poland during World War II to oppose Nazi Germany's final effort to transport the remaining ghetto population to the gas chambers of the ...

; literary critic and theoretician Professor

Maria Janion Maria Janion (24 December 1926 – 23 August 2020) was a Polish scholar, literary theorist and critic, as well as a feminist. She was a professor at the Institute of Literary Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, specialising in literary Ro ...

; and historian and sociologist

Alina Cała Alina Cała (born 19 May 1953 in Warsaw) is a Polish writer, historian and sociologist. A former board member of the Jewish Historical Institute, she specialises in 19th and 20th century Polish-Jewish history, antisemitism and Jewish assimilatio ...

. Its notable defenders have included historian Jan Żaryn and historian and politician Tomasz Nałęcz, who have emphasized Dmowski's important role in restoring Poland's independence.

References

{{Public art in Warsaw 2006 establishments in Poland 2006 sculptures Controversies in Poland Outdoor sculptures in Warsaw Monuments and memorials in Warsaw Polish nationalism Sculpture controversies