Pilecki Institute awarded Golden BohaterON prize! - Instytut Pileckiego

We received the award in the “Institute” category for the “overall work in 2018 in disseminating the 20th century history of Poland and particularly the individual testimonies of witnesses to the atrocities committed in occupied Poland during World War II.

This year, the nationwide BohaterON – włącz historię campaign handed out the BohaterON 2019 Warsaw Insurgents awards. The awards and distinctions were given in seven different categories to honor those people and institutions whose work in 2018 had a particular effect in promoting the knowledge of 20th century Polish history (1918–1989), and historical and patriotic education.

Our BohaterON award was collected by the director of the Pilecki Institute Wojciech Kozłowski during a ceremonial gala at the National Theater in Warsaw on Wednesday 16 October.

“This is a very beautiful and moving moment for the Pilecki Institute which only began its work three years ago,” said Director Wojciech Kozłowski. “We are grateful that the work of the team, which from the outset has been guided by the belief that there is still so much to say about the fate of Poland during the Second World War, has been given such a great distinction.”

In his speech, the director thanked the jury, the Pilecki Institute’s team, the deputy prime minister and minister of culture and national heritage prof. Piotr Gliński, and the deputy minister prof. Magdalena Gawin for the support they have given the Institute.

The winners were selected by a jury awarding Golden, Silver and Bronze BohaterON awards in each category. An audience award was also presented, the winner having been selected by internet users.

The organizing committee also presented Witold Pilecki’s children Zofia Pilecka-Optułowicz and Andrzej Pilecki with a special award “for perseverance in the struggle for the truth and preserving the memory of Witold Pilecki who has become a symbol of steadfastness and courage for us.”