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  • Friday, 3 January 2025

106th Anniversary of the Conquest of Ławica

We have the great honour to invite you to the 106th Celebration of the Conquest of Ławica, once again organised by Poznań-Ławica Airport with the support and participation of the Aviation Seniors Club of the Poznań Aeroclub together with the Association of Military Aviation Seniors of the Republic of Poland as part of the series of celebrations commemorating the Wielkopolska Uprising.

The Event of the Conquest of Ławica is, in our opinion, the one that completes and constitutes a kind of a clasp crowning the regional celebrations of this patriotic uprising of the people of Wielkopolska. The celebrations will take place on January 6, 2025, traditional start at 12:00 (local time), at and around the monument of the Conquerors of Ławica, located at the old terminal of the Poznań-Ławica airport, currently the General Aviation terminal, at Bukowska Street.

The equipment captured in Poznań was later used to fight for Lviv and repel Bolshevik troops in 1920. Ławica was the most important air base captured by the Poles.

A few words about historical events that are so important for our airport

On January 6, 1919, during the Greater Poland Uprising, Poznań patriots took military action for the village of Ławica near Poznań (currently within the borders of Poznań), where a German military airport was located. On January 6, 1919, at 6:30 a.m., military operations began. The attack on the German airport consisted of Greater Poland insurgents firing four cannon shots from Berlin Hill. The Polish artillery tried not to cause fires or destroy the planes. At the same time, an infantry attack took place. After 20 minutes of assault, the insurgents achieved complete success. The airport commander, Lt. Fischer, surrendered the unit. One insurgent was killed and several were wounded. On the German side, there were two dead and a dozen wounded. The Poles took 110 soldiers prisoner, captured 26 operational planes and 20 machine guns. In addition, the Poles captured a larger amount of aviation equipment at the airports in Ławica and Winiary on January 6, in the form of disassembled and preserved combat aircraft. 70 aircraft were captured, 50 of which were ready for take-off, including multi-role aircraft ready for assembly. Equipment worth 200 million German marks fell into the hands of the Poles, which was the largest spoil of war in the history of Polish arms.

The celebrations commemorating the deeds of the Greater Poland Insurgents, and specifically the Conquest of Ławica, have been carried out for many years. For us, as an airport located in this historic location, this is a unique legacy and we feel honored to be the heir and continuator of paying tribute to the brave people thanks to whom the Polish military airport was established, and currently the civilian airport in Poznań. Already 6 years ago, the official celebrations were enriched with a historical picnic, during which we bring the history of events from over 100 years ago closer to the residents of Poznań. Reenactment groups take part in the picnic, recreating historical events in a short program, we host representatives of the Greater Poland Uhlans with a presentation of their horse-riding skills, we present historical vehicles, and we enable the purchase of souvenirs. In addition, the commemoration of the pilots murdered in Katyn, whose commemorative plaques as part of the “Oaks of Memory” campaign are also located at the place of the celebrations, complemented the essence of the entire event.

Celebration Program

106th Commemoration of the Conquest of Ławica
January 6, 2025

Official part at the Monument to the Conquerors of Ławica

Time: 12:00
Place: Monument to the Conquerors of Ławica at the old terminal of the Airport (ul. Bukowska).

Host: Poznań-Ławica Airport and co-organizer: the Poznań Aeroclub Senior Aviation Club and the Polish Military Aviation Senior Association.

  • Welcome,
  • Speeches by representatives of invited guests – City Authorities, Airport Co-organizers, representatives of other invited guests,
  • Paying tribute and flowers at the monument,
  • Paying tribute to the Greater Poland Pilots murdered in Katyn – lighting symbolic candles at the commemorative plaques at the “Oaks of Memory”,

Historical Picnic – Conquest of Ławica (reenactment)
– 6th edition.

Time: 1:00 PM
Location: clearing near the monument to the Conquerors of Ławica.

Open event.

Organizer: Poznań-Ławica Airport.
Realization: Ławica Air Station (reenactors).

  • Welcome, presentation of the program and historical reconstruction groups,
  • Horse riding skill competition as part of the Uhlan history enthusiasts for the Ławica Conquerors Award,
  • Patriotic songs concert – Musical Theater,
  • Mini brass band concert with patriotic songs,
  • Award presentation and decoration in the horse riding competition,
  • Reconstruction/staging of the Ławica Conquest events with the participation of reconstruction groups,
  • Exhibition of military equipment, old vehicles (reconstruction groups),
  • Parade and cavalry show of the 15th Poznań Uhlan Regiment,
  • Stands with military souvenirs for purchase by visitors to the picnic,
  • Military catering: pea soup, stands with traditional offer,
  • Ends around 4:00 PM

We cordially invite you! Let us pay tribute to the Greater Poland Uprising Insurgents together!

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