In the interwar years, the city of Bielsko erected a monument to honour Gabriel Narutowicz, Poland’s first president, who was assassinated just days after taking office in 1922. Situated on Blichowy Square (later Mickiewicz Square), the monument stood as a tribute to a leader whose tragic death symbolized the young nation’s turbulent path toward democracy. However, the monument was not just about honouring Narutowicz; it also reflected the cultural and political tensions in a city where Polish identity had to assert itself amid a significant German-speaking population.
Building a Monument Amidst Resistance: Honoring Narutowicz in Bielsko
Efforts to build the monument began in 1923, spearheaded by a national committee seeking to commemorate Narutowicz’s memory. Despite initial resistance from the city’s German-dominated council, momentum grew after Józef Piłsudski’s 1926 coup, with support from high-ranking officials. The chosen location, Blichowy Square, became a deliberate statement of Polish presence in a multicultural area. The project, led by sculptor Jan Raszka, faced delays, and although the monument was officially unveiled on October 28th, 1928, the bronze bust was not installed until 1930.
A Lost Legacy: The Destruction and Transformation of Narutowicz’s Monument
The monument’s existence was short-lived. In 1939, following the Nazi occupation of Bielsko, the statue was destroyed, leaving only its pedestal as a silent reminder of the city’s lost history. For more than two decades, the spot remained vacant until a new monument, this time dedicated to the poet Adam Mickiewicz, was erected in 1961.
Although the statue of Narutowicz no longer stands, its story endures as a poignant reflection of Poland’s struggle to maintain its identity amidst external and internal challenges. The monument’s creation, destruction, and replacement illustrate the shifting narratives of a city and a nation grappling with its past.