This photo story captures my walk to the polling station in my home village Idzbark on the day of the local elections in October 2019, thus, on the 100th anniversary of Poland’s independence.
Interestingly enough, I was accompanied by my dear friend, an 86-year-old citizen of Germany.
Idzbark was not part of the Polish Republic when it was regaining its independence. It was called Hirschberg back then, and it only became Idzbark after the Second World War because after the First World War the people voted in a referendum for these lands to remain in Eastern Prussia.
I very much like the fact that two historical symbols referring to this period can be seen in the central point in my family village of Idzbark but from the perspective of two nations and two states. These are the new monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Poland’s independence, and an almost century-old referendum oak growing nearby.
Another beautiful aspect was that I was being accompanied on my way to the elections by my German friend who remembers the Second World War. These circumstances show just how much we get from the European Union and what a beautiful path we, as nations, have covered – from hostility to friendship and freedom.
