Józef Piłsudski Monument in Warsaw
The Józef Piłsudski Monument in Warsaw is a tall bronze and granite statue dedicated to Józef Piłsudski, the Marshal of Poland and a key figure in Poland’s regained independence. It stands near Piłsudski’s Square and the Hotel Europejski, on Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz Street, and bears the inscriptions “Józef Piłsudski” and “Marshal of Poland.” Plans for the monument date back to 1990, and it was unveiled on 14 August 1995, the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw. Cast in the Polish Navy Shipyards, it was revealed in the presence of President Lech Wałęsa and Piłsudski’s daughter, Jadwiga Piłsudska. Its location has long been considered controversial.
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Identification | |
| Title | Józef Piłsudski Monument in Warsaw |
| Type | Monument |
| Subject | Józef Piłsudski |
| Honoree | Józef Piłsudski |
Historical context | |
| Subject's roles | Military commander; Marshal of Poland; one of the main figures responsible for restoring Poland's independence |
Creator | |
| Designer | Tadeusz Łodziana |
Discovery and provenance | |
| Planning started | 1990 |
| Initiator of plans | President of Warsaw Stanisław Wyganowski, supporting an initiative group advocating the monument |
| Casting location | Gdynia Naval Shipyard (Polish Navy Shipyards) |
Physical characteristics | |
| Form | Tall statue |
| Height | 3 meters |
| Inscription | "Józef Piłsudski" and "Marshal of Poland" |
Materials | |
| Materials | Bronze and granite |
Location and ownership | |
| Designer's view on location | Tadeusz Łodziana opposed the location shortly before unveiling, saying it would isolate the monument from most ceremonies and events at Plac Rozdroża |
| Criticism of location | Critics considered the location too insignificant; during state holidays and ceremonies, soldiers often stand with their backs to the monument, which is viewed as disrespectful |
| Current location status | Controversial / disputed |
| First installation site | Cytadela, opposite the casino building |
| Later planned location | Near Łazienki Park |
| Orientation | Facing Marshal Józef Piłsudski Square |
| Current location | Michała Tokarzewskiego-Karaszewicza Street, along the Saxon Axis, facing Marshal Józef Piłsudski Square, near Piłsudski Square and the Hotel Europejski |
| Location | Warsaw, Poland |
| Original planned location | Plac Na Rozdrożu (Plac Rozdroża / Crossroads Square) |
History and restoration | |
| Unveiling occasion | 75th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw |
| People present at unveiling | President Lech Wałęsa and Jadwiga Piłsudska |
| Unveiled by | Jadwiga Piłsudska-Jaraczewska and President Lech Wałęsa |
| Battle commemorated | Battle of Warsaw, during which Piłsudski commanded Polish forces |
| Final decision | The monument was eventually moved from Cytadela to the square named after Piłsudski |
| Unveiled on | 14 August 1995 |
| Completed / installed | 1994 |
| Location changed | After the plaque was installed, the original location decision was changed; the plaque from Plac Na Rozdrożu was moved to Cytadela with the monument |
| Plaque installed at initial location | 11 November 1990 |
Significance | |
| Number of Piłsudski monuments in Warsaw | One of three |
| Other Piłsudski monument near AWF | A bust monument at the Academy of Physical Education, erected in the 1930s |
| Other Piłsudski monument near Belweder | Marshal Piłsudski monument from 1998 |