Maczek Memorial Breda - Breda

General Stanisław Maczek and his Polish troops played a crucial role during World War II, especially in the liberation of Breda and the southern Netherlands. Maczek led the 1st Polish Armoured Division and devised a clever plan to liberate Breda from German occupation without damaging the city. In October 1944, he managed to fulfil his plan.

Although, thanks to his insights, large parts of Breda were preserved and there were no civilian casualties, many Polish soldiers lost their lives in the battle.

The Maczek Memorial is a museum honouring the Polish Armoured Division and their general. You can see an exhibition there and the film room tells the story of the Polish army. Personal stories of some Polish liberators are projected on a multimedia wall.

Next to the Memorial you will find the Polish Military Field of Honour, the largest Polish cemetery in the Netherlands. Some 160 Polish servicemen are buried here, including General Maczek. He died in 1994 at the age of 102 and preferred to be buried with his men in Breda.

Photos: ©Maczek Memorial Breda, via VisitBrabant Routebureau