In September 1944, the Polish First Armoured Division (Pierwsza Dywizja Pancerna), commanded by General Stanisław Maczek, liberated Flanders from German occupation.

After fighting in Normandy with the First Canadian Army, the Division moved to the Belgian border, crossed Flanders (Ypres was liberated on 6 September) and joined the Dutch border (liberation of Breda on 29 October 1944).

To commemorate this 75th anniversary of the liberation of Flanders by General Maczek’s troops, the Polish Institute, together with the cultural centre of Roeselare: De Spil is organising a Polish Week in Roeselare.

We invite you to a piano recital by pianist Anna Ciborowska celebrating the compositions of Frederick Chopin and Maria Szymanowska, among others. This week will also honour Polish 7th art through screenings of Cold War by Paweł Pawlikowski, Another Day of Life by Raúl de la Fuente and Damian Nenow, Kamerdyner by Filip Bajon, Kurier by Wladyslaw Pasikowski, and movies for children.

Moreover, this week of celebration is also an opportunity to recall Poland’s experience during the Second World War through the exhibition “Poland: First to Fight”, which bears witness to the tragedy of the war and the effort of the Polish military to regain the country’s independence. The exhibition aims to raise awareness of the Polish citizen’s war experience and their struggle against the overwhelming forces of the aggressors and then occupiers. This exhibition is a project of the Museum of the Second World War in partnership with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
> Where? De Spil – Hippoliet Spilleboutdreef 1, 8800 Roeselare – map
> When? from 07 September to 15 September 2019
> All films are screened in their original version with Dutch or English subtitles

The full program available here.