Monument to Roman Dmowski
Year of unveiling
2006
Person/persons/event to whom the monument is dedicated
The monument commemorates the Polish politician and publicist Roman Dmowski (1864-1939), founder and leader of National Democracy. 1917-1919 he headed the National Committee of Poland, which was regarded by the Entente states as a substitute for the Polish government in exile. Poland's delegate to the Paris Conference in 1919 and signatory of the Versailles Peace Treaty, in 1923 Minister of Foreign Affairs
Localization
Warsaw, at the intersection of Szucha and Ujazdowskie Avenues
Location in relation to the surroundings
Square at the junction of Szucha Avenue and Ujazdowskie Avenue in Warsaw, not far from the square at the crossroads, near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.
Text of the inscription
Roman Dmowski 1864 - 1939. I am a Pole so I have Polish duties...
General description
The bronze figure, cast in bronze, is about 5 metres high, placed on a small pedestal, depicts Roman Dmowski holding the act of the Treaty of Versailles in his left hand and a hat in his right.
Condition
Good
The circumstances of unveiling
The construction of the monument was initiated by: Maciej Giertych, Bogusław Kowalski and Jędrzej Dmowski, In 2004, the Warsaw Council decided to allocate funds for the construction of the monument. The cost of its erection was 535 thousand PLN. It was unveiled on 10 November 2006 in the presence of about 200 people, among them politicians. The monument was consecrated by Rev. Henryk Jankowski. The authors of the sculpture are Dr Wojciech Mendzelewski, Maria Marek Prus and Piotr Prus. Marek Edelman, a participant of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and Prof. Maria Janion, a literary historian, who accused him of chauvinism, racism and anti-Semitism, protested against the commemoration of Roman Dmowski.
Later history
Due to the controversies connected with Dmowski's historical evaluation, his figure from time to time becomes a target of vandalism attacks. Shortly after the unveiling on 11 November 2006 he was painted with pink paint. The plaque and inscription were painted, a swastika was drawn on the back of the monument with a spray, and anti-Semitic quotations from Dmowski's writings were reflected with stencils on the pavement slabs around the pedestal. There was also an attempt to set the monument on fire.
Contemporary importance
Occasionally state ceremonies are held at the monument (on the occasion of Independence Day 11 XI). On the occasion of important anniversaries and state holidays, representatives of national communities often gather at the monument. It is also a place of pickets and happenings organized by circles demanding the removal of the monument.
Localization
Gallery
Warszawa, mazowieckie.
Polska ,00-584
