Monument to Jan Kilinski, shoemaker of Warsaw

Leader of Warsaw burghers in the 1794 Kosciuszko Insurrection. During the WWII German occupation, as vengeance for the removal of the German inscription which had covered the Nicholas Copernicus Monument, Governor Fischer "arrested" the Kilinski Monument — he hid the monument, then located in Krasinski Square. The Polish Resistance discovered that it was hidden in the basement of the National Museum — then, on the walls of the Museum, the following inscription appeared: "People of Warsaw, I am here! — Kilinski Jan". The Warsaw inhabitants could see the reaction of Copernicus. "As revenge for the loss of the Kilinski Monument, I order that winter will last 6 weeks longer. Signed Nicholas Copernicus, astronomer" — the inscription appeared on the walls of Warsaw buildings. The winter 1942 really did last longer.

Photo 192, May 2007

Monument to Jan Kilinski, detail

Photo 192d, May 2007