On May 14, 2026, the Muzeum Pamięci Sybiru in Białystok will host a meeting devoted to one of the most important battles involving Polish forces during World War II. For the soldiers of the Polish II Corps, the decisive fighting lasted from May 11 to May 18, 1944, while further operations in the area ended on May 25 with the capture of Piedimonte and the occupation of Monte Cairo.
Jarosław Rubin will talk about the battlefields and memorial sites connected with General Anders’ soldiers, presenting both the best-known landmarks and lesser-known places that help better understand the path of Polish troops to victory. Monte Cassino is not only the monastery and the Polish War Cemetery, but also many lesser-known memorial sites that offer a fuller understanding of the Polish soldiers’ struggle.
One of the topics of the meeting will be patriotic trekking in the Monte Cassino area. The route leads to three memorials: the monument to the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, the 5th Kresowa Infantry Division, and the 4th Armoured Regiment “Scorpion.” The trail follows actual battle locations, some known from the writings of Melchior Wańkowicz, and helps preserve the memory of the soldiers of the Polish II Corps.
The event will also include a slideshow of photographs from the Monte Cassino area, stories about routes, monuments, and war cemeteries, as well as the story of Wojtek the bear during the fourth battle. The meeting will provide an opportunity for discussion, questions, and shared reflection on how to preserve the memory of the soldiers of the Polish II Corps today.
Date: May 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Venue: The Sybir Memorial Museum, 1 Węglowa Street, Białystok
Tickets: PLN 15 regular / PLN 10 concession. Available at the museum ticket office and online.
Jarosław Rubin (ItalJarek), PhD, is a traveler, blogger, and photographer, as well as the author of the guidebook Monte Cassino i okolice. Szlakiem 2 Korpusu Polskiego. For many years he has traveled throughout Italy tracing Polish historical sites and documenting them through articles and photography. His main interest is the history of the Polish II Corps and the role of Polish soldiers in the Battle of Monte Cassino. More materials can be found at montecassino.info.pl.
