Battle Group Poland Pays Remembrance to the Soviet Invasion of 1939

Photo By Sgt. Sarah Kirby | Polish Lt. Col. Jarosław Wyszecki, base commander of Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, places a commemorative lantern at the Soviet Invasion Remembrance Ceremony in Orzysz, Poland, Sept. 17, 2018. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Sarah Kirby)  

ORZYSZ, POLAND

09.17.2018

Story by Sgt. Sarah Kirby 

278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee Army National Guard

ORZYSZ, Poland — On Sept. 17, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland, merely two-weeks after German Nazi forces barreled through their western borders. Sandwiched between two large communist empires, the Polish military was forced to surrender. Poland was subsequently divided; the Nazis taking the western portion and the Soviets controlling the East. The surviving 13 million Polish citizens were either exported to Siberia, imprisoned in work camps, or forced to live under strict Soviet rule. As a result of the Soviet invasion, Poland as a nation ceased to exist.
In remembrance of the lives lost during the Soviet invasion on Poland, the city of Orzysz held a ceremony where among those attending was Bemowo Piskie Training Area’s base commander, Polish Lt. Col. Polish Lt. Col. Jarosław Wyszecki and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Donny Hebel, the commander of Battle Group Poland.
Battle Group Poland is a unique multinational coalition of U.S., U.K., Croatian and Romanian Soldiers who serve as NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).
The eFP forms part of the Alliance’s overarching defense posture to demonstrate the alliance’s solidarity, determination, and ability to act in an immediate response to any foreign aggression.
“Our presence here is to make sure something like this does not happen again,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Derek Yates, infantry platoon leader, who was also in attendance of the ceremony. “We have been working side by side with the Polish armed forces. Everyone brings a different asset to the table, and it has been a great experience to see both forces build and develop their skills. Witnessing this ceremony that commemorates such an integral part of Polish history is special solely because it reminds us why we are here and what we are working towards.”

• Date Taken: 09.17.2018
• Date Posted: 09.20.2018 15:31
• Story ID: 293763
• Location: ORZYSZ, PL