The Polish Post and the National Bank of Poland pay tribute to the Postmen with a stamp and a collector coin under the common name of the issue
On September 1st of this year, at conferences between the Polish Post Office and the National Bank of Poland, a postage stamp and a collector coin were presented under the joint issue name "Defense of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk. German Aggression on Poland." This is the first-ever joint commemoration organized by the Polish Post Office and the National Bank of Poland to honor the heroic postal workers.
The ceremonial unveiling of both coins took place simultaneously in Warsaw, at the NBP Money Centre and at the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk. As every year, the company also commemorated the fallen postal workers who resisted the Nazi invaders in the Free City by laying wreaths at the Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk. After dark, the facade of the post office building, where Poles defended themselves for 14 hours, will be decorated with red and white neon signs and the inscription: "We remember 1 September 1939."
The commemorative stamp "Defense of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk. German Aggression on Poland" was designed based on the reverse of the 20 złoty collector coin issued by the National Bank of Poland on September 1.
The coin was designed by Robert Kotowicz. The coins, set against the background of the building's entrance, depict the Defenders of the Gdańsk Post Office: Jan Michoń, acting director of the Polish Post Office in the Free City of Gdańsk, and Alfons Flisykowski, a soldier and postman who led the resistance following the death of the building's defense commander, Second Lieutenant Konrad Guderski, also commemorated on the stamp. All these Heroes paid the ultimate price for their bravery and sacrifice. Second Lieutenant of the Polish Army Infantry Reserve, Konrad Guderski, fell in the initial phase of the fighting. Jan Michoń died from a bullet to the stomach. Alfons Flisykowski, who led the resistance at the Gdańsk 1 Post and Telegraph Office for the last hours, was shot by the Germans after a show trial. All the defenders of the Gdańsk Polish Post office rest at the Cemetery of Victims of Nazism in Zaspa.
Thanks to the cooperation established with the National Bank of Poland, a commemorative postage stamp and a silver collector's coin with a face value of 20 złoty were issued simultaneously for the first time. The official presentations of the coins took place in two locations at the same time – on September 1st at 10:00 AM. In Warsaw, at the NBP Money Centre, the ceremony was attended by Professor Adam Glapiński, President of the National Bank of Poland, and Tomasz Zdzikot, Chairman of the Management Board of Poczta Polska SA. At the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, the company is represented by Vice Presidents Wiesław Włodek, Krzysztof Falkowski, Mateusz Wodejko, and Andrzej Bodziony. After attending a solemn mass dedicated to the deceased postal workers, representatives of the management board laid wreaths at the Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post.
" We are proud of the Defenders of the stronghold of Polishness in the Free City of Gdańsk. When faced with a difficult situation, they heroically resisted the German aggressor for 14 hours. They fought to the last of their strength. They abandoned their positions only after the aggressor barbarously set fire to the building. The Polish postal workers set an example not only of their courage, but also of their devotion to their homeland and the most important values, such as honor and freedom. They paid the ultimate price for their sacrifice. By paying tribute to the heroic Defenders of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk, we commemorate their courage and sacrifice with a postage stamp and a collector's coin, " said Tomasz Zdzikot, President of Poczta Polska.
The Polish Post's philatelic publications, commemorating the heroic struggle of our compatriots, are a cohesive narrative of individuals who exemplified true heroism. These postal issues present Polish history in an engaging way. They cover a wide variety of contemporary topics, making them relevant to every reader. They describe important events and the figures associated with them, providing a comprehensive picture helpful in better understanding these difficult times. The attack on the Polish Post Office in the Free City of Danzig, the defense of Westerplatte, the September Campaign, and the undying hope for a quick end to the war. The insidious Soviet attack on September 17, 1939, led the totalitarian aggressors to implement a policy of terror on Polish soil, encompassing all levels of society. This led to the establishment of the Polish Underground State, the formation of the Home Army, and then the Warsaw Uprising. The Company's postage stamps tell the story of all these events, calling for the memory of the Heroes and teaching that freedom and principles must be fought for above all else.
" September 1, 1939, is one of those dramatic dates that changed the course of our history. However, we must remember that September 1st is also the date that marks the beginning of the heroic struggle of Poles to regain independence and sovereignty. The coin "Defense of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk. German Aggression on Poland" is our tribute to its heroic defenders. Their fight became part of the struggle for a free Poland, and it is our duty to preserve and cherish the memory of these heroes, " said Professor Adam Glapiński, President of the National Bank of Poland.
The silver collector coin "Defense of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk. German Aggression on Poland" has a unique postage stamp shape with a serrated edge and was produced using UV printing. The reverse depicts Dr. Jan Michoń, Alfons Flisykowski, and Second Lieutenant Konrad Guderski against the backdrop of the main entrance to the historic Post Office building. The main entrance, depicted against the backdrop of the destroyed façade of the Post Office building, also forms the obverse motif of the coin. The design is complemented by the symbol of the Polish Post Office.
It's worth noting that, in addition to the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office in Gdańsk, the Company, in cooperation with the National Bank of Poland, has prepared a commemorative exhibition. It will be on display in front of and inside the historic post office building. This year's commemorations, like last year, will also feature a special illumination. Red and white neon signs and the inscription "We Remember 1 September 1939" will illuminate the façade of the historic Polish Post Office building in Gdańsk from 8:00 PM on September 1st until 6:00 AM on September 2nd.