Polish Military Field of Honour - Oosterhout

The Polish Field of Honour is the final resting place for 30 Polish soldiers who died fighting for our freedom at the end of World War II.

These soldiers were part of the 1st Polish Armoured Division under the command of General Stanislaw Maczek. The names on the crosses are mostly fictitious, something that remained undiscovered for a long time.
It is the tragic story of the so-called Beute comrades. The 'captured' men who were forced to serve in the Wehrmacht against their will after the Germans invaded Poland. Those who managed to escape and joined General Maczek's 1st Polish Armoured Division took a pseudonym.

The Germans regarded them as defectors. If they were caught, the bullet inexorably awaited. A pseudonym offered protection for themselves and their families.

The crosses show how incredibly young the soldiers were, often children.

The monument was created by Paul Elshout and has the theme: Bridging. The statue symbolises the great effort that must be made for peace, freedom and security, also in the future.

Also visit the Maczek Memorial in Breda and discover the stories of the Polish fighters for our freedom.