Deputy mayor István Puskás and a delegation of Debrecen hussars and their friends from Zawadka marked the location of a small episode of the First World War, an important moment of the famously strong Polish-Hungarian friendship. As previously reported by Cívishír, during the First World War the inhabitants of Zawadka – under the leadership of the foremen at the time – hid 28 members of the Second Hussar Regiment in Debrecen in their houses for five days, thus saving them from the Russians and certain death. In memory of this, on March 23, the day of Polish-Hungarian friendship, a monument was inaugurated near the site of the events of more than a century ago, next to the village of Zawadka, on a hilltop, in the immediate vicinity of a small chapel. The memorial was erected jointly by the village and the Hungarian associations preserving the memory of the First World War.
Debrecen was the guest of honor at the event initiated by civilians.
– Zawadka, with a few hundred inhabitants, highly appreciated the presence of Hungary’s second largest city and the contact. I would like to add that the importance of the local event was perfectly demonstrated by the fact that the bishop of Krakow celebrated a festive mass and blessed the monument. The leaders of the neighborhood were also present. So this fact also showed that it is a very important story not only for us, but also for our Polish friends, whose importance goes beyond the boundaries of the tiny community – István Puskás spoke about his experiences in Zawadka.
Preparatory negotiations are still ongoing, sometime this year, probably in the summer, the city of Debrecen would donate a framed certificate of thanks, a quasi-tablet format, to the Zawadka prefectural office as a gesture, which will be placed in the village hall according to the plans. With this gesture, the city of Debrecen thanks the fact that its citizens were saved
said the deputy mayor.
The monument is a carved stone block, on the side of which there is a commemorative plaque commemorating the history of more than a century ago. The town hall wants to introduce the memorial site and the story related to it in Debrecen as well. This may also have a touristic impact, since the nearby big city, Krakow, is still a popular tourist destination for the people of Debrecen. By the way, the monument was erected in a beautiful natural environment, on the hills rising above the Dunajec River.
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