Monument to the Memory of the Homeland's Fate

The Monument to the Memory of the Homeland's Fate stands on Skwer Solidarności in Dzierżoniów, on Piastowska Street, next to the market square. It is the main site of the town's patriotic commemorations, visited throughout the year, not only on anniversaries.

Unveiling and original name

The monument was unveiled on 8 May 1975, to a design by Józefa Kurdziel and Jan Sarapata. It originally bore the name Monument of Gratitude to Those Who Fell for the National and Social Liberation of Lower Silesia, which explains its meaning: it commemorates those who died in the struggle for the post-war incorporation of Lower Silesia into Poland in 1945.

Urns, a gate and plaques

The monument holds three urns containing soil from Katyń, from Monte Cassino and from the site of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp. The composition is completed by a symbolic gate, depicting Poles entering the historic Piast lands, as well as plaques documenting important events in Polish history, from the creation of the national anthem to the Smolensk air disaster.

Changes after 1989

The monument also features an eagle. It was originally depicted without a crown, in keeping with the symbolism used before 1989. After the political changes, the crownless eagle was relocated, and an eagle wearing a crown was added next to it, symbolising the regained sovereignty and the triumph of democracy.

Practical information

• Address: Skwer Solidarności on Piastowska Street, Dzierżoniów, right next to the market square
• Access: on foot from the centre of Dzierżoniów, the monument lies in the heart of the town
• What to expect: a monument in an open space, accessible without time restrictions; nearby the Dzierżoniów City Museum and the Jewish cemetery in Dzierżoniów