Explore Poland’s January 31st, a day intertwining seismic events, wartime tragedies, and the birth of notable personalities.
On January 31st, several significant events unfolded in Poland’s history. In 1259, a seismic event shook Małopolska with a magnitude of approximately 5-6 on the Richter scale. In 1667, the death of Prince Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski, a prominent military and political figure, occurred in Wrocław.
Fast forward to the 20th century, the day witnessed grim moments during World War II, such as the Gestapo executing 20 detainees in Jędrzejów and the horrifying act by Latvian soldiers burning 32 Polish prisoners alive. In 1976, a notable protest, “Memoriał 101,” was submitted to the Sejm Commission, opposing constitutional changes limiting civil rights.
On a brighter note, the day also marks the birth of notable figures like musician Franciszek Schubert (1797), General Mariusz Zaruski (1867), and actor Jacek Chmielnik (1953). Conversely, it mourns the loss of individuals like Stefania Sempołowska (1944), Józef Mackiewicz (1985), and Nina Andrycz (2014).