Type Statue Height 5 metres (16 ft) Created 10 November 2006 Dedicated to Roman Dmowski | Material Bronze Address 00-001 Warsaw, Poland Completion date 10 November 2006 | |
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Location Na Rozdrożu Square, at the intersection of Szuch Avenue and Ujazdów Avenue, Warsaw, Poland Designer Wojciech Mendzelewski, Maria Marek-Prus, Piotr Prus Similar Bródno Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown, Ujazdów Castle, Presidential Palace - Warsaw, Łazienki Palace | ||
The Roman Dmowski Monument in Warsaw (Polish: Pomnik Romana Dmowskiego w Warszawie) is a 5-metre (16 ft) tall bronze statue of Polish politician Roman Dmowski in Warsaw, at the Na Rozdrożu Square on the intersection of Szuch Avenue and Ujazdów Avenue. It was unveiled on 10 November 2006. The statue holds the Treaty of Versailles and is engraved with a quote from Dmowski's book: "I am a Pole so I have Polish duties" (Jestem Polakiem więc mam obowiązki polskie...). The monument has proven to be rather controversial.
The construction of the monument was a result of the initiative supported by politicians Maciej Giertych, Bogusław Kowalski, and Jędrzej Dmowski. The monument, sponsored by the municipal council of Warsaw, cost the Polish government about 500,000 zlotys. The unveiling ceremony was attended by about 200 people, including politicians Maciej Giertych, Artur Zawisza and Wojciech Wierzejski, as well as priest Henryk Jankowski, who consecrated the monument.
The location of the monument, near the office of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (located on Szuch Avenue), is symbolic of Dmowski's historical position as a Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland (which he held for about three months in 1923).
Dmowski is the chief ideologue of Polish right-wing nationalism and has been called "the father of Polish nationalism." He is also seen as one of the main figures involved in restoring Polish independence after World War I, and was a signatory of the Treaty of Versailles.
The monument has been called "one of the most controversial monument in Warsaw" and it had led to a series of protests from organisations which see Dmowski as fascist and opponent of tolerance; in turn it is a rally icon for Polish right-wing nationalists (narodowcy). Due to controversies and protests, plans to raise statues or memorials to Dmowski elsewhere have commonly been delayed. Notable critics of the monument included Marek Edelman, veteran of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising; professor of history Maria Janion; historian and sociologist Alina Cała; and others. It has been defended by other notable figures, such as historian Jan Żaryn and politician Tomasz Nalecz who underlined that Dmowski was essential to restoration of Polish independence.