NAC Breda, a Dutch football club, has found a remarkable way to honor the heroic soldiers of General Maczek. In the upcoming season of the Dutch Eredivisie, the local club will don jerseys that pay tribute to the bravery of Polish soldiers. This commendable gesture is certainly worth appreciating.
From October 28-30, 1944, the Polish 1st Armored Division, led by General Stanisław Maczek, liberated the Dutch city of Breda. The day before the operation commenced, General Maczek received orders to capture Breda. The Polish soldiers surrounded the city, trapping the German forces. By October 30, the last German resistance was neutralized, and the 1st Armored Division was triumphantly welcomed by the city’s residents as they paraded through Breda.
Since then, the people of Breda have held a deep respect for the Polish soldiers. The city is home to a Polish war cemetery, where 162 Polish soldiers are laid to rest.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Breda’s liberation by the Polish forces. To commemorate this milestone, NAC Breda, a newly promoted team in the Eredivisie, will play this season in jerseys adorned with various Polish elements linked to General Maczek’s division.
The jerseys feature the names and images of Polish soldiers, the emblem of the 1st Armored Division, and graphics reminiscent of the Polish coat of arms. Additionally, the shirts bear inscriptions in Polish: “Polska x Breda” and “NAC Breda Dziękuje” (NAC Breda Thanks).
Poles have expressed their gratitude in numerous comments on the Dutch club’s website, thanking them for such a beautiful acknowledgment of the Polish soldiers. The jerseys will be available for purchase from Friday at 2 PM on the official NAC Breda website. Undoubtedly, many Poles will want to own such a jersey, and NAC Breda is set to gain a significant number of fans from Poland this season.