On May 12, 1935, the coffin with Józef Piłsudski's body was laid to rest in the crypt of St. Leonard in Wawel. Up to a quarter of a million people took part in the funeral ceremonies that lasted several hours. However, it was not only in Krakow that the Marshal was bid farewell. What homage has the rest of the world paid him?
I wrote about the Berlin celebrations related to the death of Komendand a few days ago (click to read the article-. If the Nazi farewell to the Polish leader was so loud, it is difficult not to ask the question:did our allies and friends also rise to the occasion?
France says goodbye to the Marshal
Let's start with France. There, as in Germany, the death of Józef Piłsudski was treated as the death of the head of state. "Illustrated Daily Kuryer" reported that on May 13:
from the early hours of the morning, as a sign of mourning, banners were lowered on all public buildings to the middle of the mast . By the order of the government, the banners will be lowered both today and on the day of the Marshal's funeral at all French embassies and legations scattered around the world.
The funeral ceremony in honor of Józef Piłsudski was held on May 18, 1935 in the Paris garrison church of St. Ludwik (source:public domain).
On the day of the funeral, in the Paris garrison church of St. Ludwik, an impressive mourning ceremony was held. The front of the temple was decorated with a cuirass, decorated with white and red banners and coats of arms with the Polish eagle. In the interior, in the middle of the nave, there was a catafalque, covered with a huge white and red flag. Additionally - with sabers in hand - four Polish officers were on guard.
The mass was attended, among others, by General Braconier, who represented the incumbent president of the republic, was the former head of state Millerand, the minister of war, General Maurin, the chief of the General Staff, General Gamelin, and finally General Weygand.
The ceremony was also attended by members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Paris and many politicians and high-ranking officers of the French army. The Polish press also reported that: by order of the Minister of the Navy, the banners were lowered half-mast on all ships in the French fleet. However, the head of the French government and the president were absent.
Another shot from the ceremony in the church of St. Ludwik (photo:public domain).
The king sends a representative
The Marshal was also honored in London. In the local church of St. Jakub, a solemn funeral mass took place on May 20. It was attended by a large number of Polish diaspora and a number of British officials. King George was represented by Fr. Granard, and the government is Sir John Simon. Of course, there were also representatives of various types of armed forces and members of the diplomatic corps.
Newspapers on the Vistula River were happy to inform about the ceremonies in memory of Józef Piłsudski taking place in other European - and not only - cities. Therefore, in their pages you could read, for example, that in the Vatican funeral mass was attended, among others, by King Alfonso XIII dethroned the Spanish, and Cardinal Pacelli absolution (later Pope Pius XII).
Participants of the solemn funeral mass in London leave the Church of St. James (source:public domain).
Readers browsing the May issues of the newspapers also found out that in the Roman church of St. Ignatius, Mussolini himself appeared, and he was accompanied by many high-ranking members of the fascist party. In turn, in Copenhagen, the uncle of the Danish monarch, Fr. Waldemar. The celebrations in Cairo, Tel Aviv and even Tehran were mentioned among more exotic places.
Twelve American cannon salutes
Of course, honor was given to the Marshal in the largest Polish communities abroad. As reported by an Ikaca reporter, an official memorial service was held in Washington on May 18. It was attended, among others, by President Roosevelt's consort, Secretary of State Cordell Hull, and other cabinet members. The US Army also sent a delegation of twelve people, headed by the Deputy Chief of Staff.
The uncle of the Danish king, Fr. Waldemar. In the photo with his son (source:public domain).
With undisguised pride, the Polish correspondent also wrote that after playing the national anthem, 21 cannon shots were fired . On the same day, a similar ceremony took place in Chicago. There were also members of civil and military authorities. On the other hand, the city council passed a resolution in Newark expressing condolences to American Poles over the death of Marshal Piłsudski […] whose death is a loss to the whole world.
Brazilian mourning
In Brazil - where nearly 250,000 people lived Polonusów - the authorities made efforts to honor the memory of Józef Piłsudski. In the then capital of Rio de Janeiro, the following people were present at the funeral mass:
Representative of the President of the Brazilian States, President of the Senate, representatives of the House of Deputies, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, War, Agriculture and representatives of other ministries ...
The funeral mass for the soul of the Marshal could not be missing also in Bucharest (source:public domain).
However, the most lofty death of the Marshal was celebrated in the state of Parana, where the majority of Polish emigrants concentrated. The local governor even ordered a three-day official mourning in the administrative unit under his control! On May 18, in the capital of the state of Curitiba, a solemn memorial service was organized, attended by numerous representatives of the Brazilian military and civilian authorities, the Polish consulate in corpore and many Poles.
Similar ceremonies took place practically all over the world, where Poles were. This best shows how much respect and respect were given to Józef Piłsudski.