70th anniversary of start of Second World War marked by exhibition

By Laura Davis on Aug 30, 09 02:20 PM

A TWO day exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of the start of World War Two opens at Liverpool Town Hall for two days only this week.

It was the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, which led Britain to go to war two days later, and the unique display focuses on the experience of Liverpool and the Polish city of Gdansk.

The exhibition, which is open on Tuesday September 1 and Wednesday September 2, includes photographs of wartime damage of both cities, as well as period books, games and other household items.

On Tuesday only, there will also be a rare display of the uniforms and equipment of the Luftwaffe crewmen who bombed Liverpool during the blitz.

The exhibition will be accompanied by an audio-visual presentation showing Liverpool's experiences during the war, and music from the period.

The exhibition is collaboration between the city council, Northern Forties - a World War Two re-enactment group, and Merseyside Polonia, which works to develop relationships between the Polish community and local residents.

Gosia McKane from Merseyside Polonia - who was born in Gdansk - has written a moving poem about the impact of the war on Liverpool, which she will read at the launch.

She says: "I was brought up with images and stories of destruction of my hometown, and looking through the photographs of the air raids damage in Liverpool made me realise how much this city was devastated as well.

"Among the landscape of ruins was the Liver Building standing defiantly - a symbol that the people here never give up.

"I hope that visitors who come to see the exhibition will recognise how similar the experiences of the people in Liverpool and in Gdansk were after the war.

"I very much appreciate that Liverpool is embracing its new communities and we can commemorate together the 70th Anniversary of World War Two, and pay our respects."

The photographs included in the exhibition have been supplied by Gdansk History Museum and Liverpool Record Office.

There will also be recent photographs of modern day Gdansk and Liverpool which were taken by young people from the Yellow House project who visited Poland in July.

The launch will also include a poignant personal story from Councillor Laurence Sidorczuk, whose father was Polish and joined the British Army during World War Two.

The exhibition will be open to the public on Tuesday September 1 from 2pm-5pm and Wednesday September 2 from 10am-4pm. Admission is free of charge.