Exhibition Polish liberators officially opened in Brussels

  • January 28, 2019
Armoured Wings exhibition

On 28 January, the Minister-president Bourgeois officially opened the exhibition ‘Armoured Wings’ at the Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History. After Warsaw and Gdansk, the exhibition on the 1944 liberation of a number of Flemish cities by General Maczek's 1st Armoured Division, now runs in Brussels.

During his opening speech, Minister-president Geert Bourgeois praised the soldiers for their courage: “The Polish soldiers gave us an important message. They were prepared to give up their lives for values such as freedom and democracy. We must continue to honour their legacy.”

The exhibition covers the story of the liberation of Flemish cities by the 1st Armoured Division under command of Polish General Maczek. A part of the Polish army fled after the occupation of their country and joint the Allies to help bring the WWII to an end.

Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz has been guest of honour during the opening. Before the opening, Minister-president Bourgeois had a meeting with the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Polish Minister thanked the Government of Flanders for its support. Both discussed the potential impacts of Brexit.

In the spring of 2019 the exhibition will tour the Flemish cites liberated by General Mackez’s troops: Poperinge, Tielt, Roeselare, Aalter, Sint-Niklaas, Lommel and Merksplas.

The exhibition runs from 29 January to 20 March 2019 in the Royal Military Museum, Brussels. More info