TheMillennium of the Polish State (Polish:Tysiąclecie Państwa Polskiego, literallyA Thousand Years of the Polish State) was a national celebration of theChristianization of Poland and the subsequent establishment of the first Polish nation. The celebrations took place over the years 1960–1966 by a resolution of theSejm in 1958. The inauguration of the jubilee celebrations took place at the plenary session of the National Committee of the Unity Front on 16 February 1960 inKalisz. The jubilee celebrations were accompanied by the educational programOne thousand schools for the 1000th anniversary during which in the years 1959–1972 nearly 1.5 thousand schools were built.[1] It was decided to use the anniversary by both the hierarchy of theCatholic Church and thePolish United Workers' Party for the propaganda inPoland. The church planned the celebration of the millennium of the baptism of Poland while the state authorities strictly commemorated the jubilee of the beginnings of the Polish nation.
The anniversary was interpreted in various ways depending on context. While most of the diaspora and the religious Catholic community celebrated the introduction of Christianity in Poland, the Communist-led government of thePolish United Workers' Party (PZPR), which pursued a state policy ofatheism, sought to undermine the international celebrations be re-conveying the anniversary as an anniversary of the birth of the Polish nation. In doing so, the PZPR framed the celebrations as a secular and political anniversary instead of a religious one. This caused friction between the PRL and theVatican, which resulted inPope Paul VI twice being refused permission to visit Poland in 1966. As British-Polish historianNorman Davies noted, the Church and the PZPR had "rival, and mutually exclusive, interpretations of [Poland's baptism] significance."[2]
Commemorative coins were issued in connection with the celebrations. Their designs were prepared for a competition announced by theNational Bank of Poland in 1957. As a result of the decision, it was decided the following year that the10-złoty note designed by Józef Gosławski with the image ofMieszko I andPrincess Doubravka would be minted as a 100-złoty silver commemorative coin.[3] It became one of the most expensive coins of the Polish People's Republic and was, in the 70s, named "The Most Beautiful Polish Coin" by theBiuletyn Numizmatyczny magazine. By decree of the President of thePolish Government in ExileAugust Zaleski of 1 July 1966, it was decided to mint a commemorative Medal of the Millennium of Christian Poland.[4] On 30 July 1966, theU.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing issued over 100,000,000 commemorative stamps in honor of the millennium anniversary.[5]
In 1966, Cardinal PrimateStefan Wyszyński traveled all over the country, visiting every region, during which he was welcomed by tens and hundreds of thousands of people. During the celebration, the authorities refused to allow Wyszyński from attending overseas celebrations. Each church in Poland posted slogans such asSacrum Poloniae Millenium (Poland's Sacred Millennium) as well asPoloniae semper fidelis (Always loyal to Poland) andPeople with the Church (Naród z Kościołem). On May 15, 1966, inSt. Peter's Basilica inRome, Bishop Vladislav Rubin, a delegate from Cardinal Primate, sent papal mass in honor of the Polish Church Province. While reading a sermon in Gniezno, Cardinal Vyshinsky made this appeal: "I sincerely want you to firmly look at the past and present and, learning to love the history of this Christian people, look with open eyes at its Catholic essence".[6]
An anniversary Millennium Parade (Defiladzie Tysiąclecia) was held on 22 July 1966 to coincide with the annualNational Day of the Rebirth of Poland celebrations (set on the anniversary of the signing of thePKWN Manifesto).[7][8] Like mostmilitary parades during that era, it was held in front of a grandstand near thePalace of Culture and Science onParade Square. It was attended byWładysław Gomułka,[9] the thenFirst Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party, as well as members of the PZPR and thePolish Council of State and theSejm.[10] The parade saw thousands of troops of thePolish People's Army's three service branches march down the square. The parade inspector wasMarshal of PolandMarian Spychalski, presiding as theMinister of National Defence. The parade commander who gave its commands and directions was Major General Czesław Waryszak (1919-1979), the commander of theWarsaw Military District. Both Marshal Spychalski and General Waryszak greeted the troops on parade with a singleCzołem, żołnierze! (meaningGreetings, Soldiers! inPolish), to which the troops answeredCzołem, panie marszałku! (Greetings, Marshal, sir!). It featured units such as theRepresentative Honor Guard of the LWP and theBand of the LWP (led by Colonel Lisztok), both of which provided ceremonial honors. It uniquely featured cadets of military academies and other ceremonial units dressed in Polish historical military uniforms dating back to thePiast dynasty.[11][12] Some of the eras and events represented were the Knights ofBolesław I the Brave, theBattle of Grunwald and thePolish Armed Forces in the East. The Polish Air Force also performed a flyover in the shape of aPiast Eagle. The parade is today regarded as the largest military parade in the history of Poland.[13] It was also the culmination of all events related to the anniversary.
Over 25,000 Polish youth took part in a youth rally in the capital.[14] The manifestations were sponsored by thePolish Socialist Youth Union.
The closing ceremony of the Millennium celebrations was held at the Congress of Polish Culture on 7-9 October 1966 in Warsaw, which was attended by writers, scientists and activists from all over the country.[15]
The Badge of the 1000th anniversary of the Polish State (Odznaka 1000-lecia Państwa Polskiego) was unveiled in 1960 by the National Committee of the Unity Front of the Nation to distinguish individuals or organizations for their participation in social activities in connection to the celebration of the Millennium of the Polish State.[16][17][18]
The following individuals have been awarded with the badge:
