Poland to spend millions on help for WWII veterans
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
05.06.2018 14:43
A programme aiming to support underground fighters loyal to the Polish government-in-exile in WWII was announced by Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak on Tuesday.
A still from a Polish foreign ministry video promoting the programme featuring a girl guide and a WWII veteran. Photo: MON
The programme will give PLN 3 million (EUR 700,000) to non-government organisations which pledge to help those who fought against Poland's Nazi German oppressors more than 70 years ago.
The organisations could help veterans with everyday errands, such as shopping, basic repairs in the home and household chores, Poland's defence ministry said in a statement.
The ministry hopes that the programme will encourage young people, volunteers, scouts and girl guides to “build inter-generational ties, cultivate Polish military traditions, and personally get to know [Polish war] heroes”.
Veterans are set to benefit from the programme from August 1 – the 74th anniversary of the start of the Warsaw Uprising – until December 28.
The 63-day insurgency by Poles against the city's German occupiers saw some 18,000 fighters and 200,000 civilians killed before it was put down by better equipped and more numerous German forces. (vb/pk)