Patriot missiles near the Russian border
Poland deployed a foreign military base on its territory - a battery of American Patriot missiles appeared in the small town of Morong, 80 kilometers from the Russian border. For the first time after the fall of the communist regime and the withdrawal of Soviet troops (Northern Group of Forces) from Poland 17 years ago, a foreign soldier once again stepped onto Polish soil. Now it is the foot of a US soldier."Military Zone. Entry not allowed"
The decision to locate the battery of American Patriot missiles not near Warsaw, as planned earlier, but in the vicinity of the city of Mor (g (Warmia-Masuria Voivodeship of Poland), in the immediate vicinity of the Russian border (Kaliningrad Oblast), the national defense of Poland Bogdan Klich.
The head of the Polish Defense Ministry assures that when making a decision, the fact that Mor ,g was not far from the Kaliningrad region did not matter. “It didn’t matter - neither political nor strategic. The only reason was good infrastructure, ”says Klich. In Morug, American soldiers will be able to take advantage of good barracks, and the necessary facilities required only a little adaptation, the Polish minister explains.
The American military base itself is located right within the city on the alley of the Polish Army. “This garrison was built by the Germans before the Second World War. So these are, in general, new barracks built in the 30s of the last century, if, of course, we remember that our city is more than 600 years old. All this is the territory of the former East Prussia ", explains RIA News Burmeister (Mayor) Morag Tadeusz Soberaysky.
Directly opposite the military base - the railway, which the military has always used, and, presumably, will continue to be used. The base is surrounded by a brick fence with a powerful barbed wire. At the main entrance there is an impressively sized table in four languages, including Russian: “Military Zone. No entry". Nearby is the Military Gendarmerie.
Behind the barrier inside the military base, against the background of barbed wire, a large poster in Polish is clearly visible: "NATO is a guarantee of peace." Over the past few days, at the main gate of the military base, there was a strong smell of fresh paint - the Poles were busy with the latest preparations for receiving American friends.
Status of US troops
About 120 US troops are stationed at the military base in Morag.
On December 11, 2009, in Warsaw, a Polish-American agreement was signed on the status of US troops in Poland (SOFA agreement). The document was signed by US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher and Deputy Minister of National Defense of Poland Stanislav Komorowski (Komorowski died tragically in a plane crash near Smolensk - he was on board the presidential plane on April 10).
In accordance with the Polish-American treaty regulating the status of US troops, a temporary base of American troops was created in Poland, which after the 2012 year will become permanent. The base contains American Patriot air defense missiles, and later SM-3 (Standard Missile) missiles will appear, which can be used to destroy a potential enemy ballistic missiles.
Read about stories and the purpose of creating a national missile defense system US NMD >>
The SOFA agreement provides for the extension of Polish legislation to American servicemen stationed on Polish territory, and also regulates the rules of entry for American vehicles and the principles of compensation for Polish citizens for the damage caused by the actions of US troops.
65 years ago Morong was liberated by Soviet soldiers.
Surprisingly steep are the turns of history, and even the latest history.
65 years ago, the former East Prussia was liberated from the Nazis by Soviet soldiers. One of the largest military cemeteries of the liberating army in Poland is located in Mor Мg.
During the liberation of the city and its environs from the Nazis in January 1945, 964 of Soviet servicemen, soldiers and officers from the 48 Army of the Second Belarusian Front, were killed in bloody battles.
The remains of the dead are buried in 60 mass graves in a military cemetery specially built in 1949. Mass graves are fenced with a concrete border, grass and flowers are planted in the center.
On the mass grave number 28 on the right side of the cemetery is a sign: “Fights Pavel Afanasyevich. 1915 - 24.01.1945. His tragic death was described in the story devoted to him, A.I. Solzhenitsyn. "
The central five-meter monument is made of concrete and installed on a stepped pedestal in the form of a stele, on which bas-reliefs of Soviet soldiers and equipment are placed.
Directly behind the monument to Soviet soldiers passes the railway. And behind the railroad - the very American military base.
Morоронg - a medieval and "patriotic" city
Foreign journalists have already jokingly called Morag a "patriotic" city. A resident of any city that truly loves him can consider himself a patriot. Here, however, is the “patriotism” of the word Patriot. Morоронg, of course, the city, though small, but old, or rather, medieval. And because its residents speak of patriotism in the truest sense of the word.“15 thousands of 400 residents live directly in Morag, but only 26 thousands of people live in our area,” says Morong’s warden Tadeus Soberaisky. The exact date of the founding of the city is unknown, but historians believe that Morоронg was founded in the 13 century, when the Crusaders built the first wooden fortifications here. Later, wooden structures were replaced with stone. In 1327, Morong received city status.
In the 16th century, the genus Dohnov had a great influence on the development of the city - in 1562-1571, they built a palace in the center of the city, where the museum is now located.
Traditionally, in the very center of the city is the Town Hall, built in 1444 year. Later the building was rebuilt many times, restored and restored. Near the Town Hall are two French guns of the French-Prussian war, cast in France in 1862-1864 and obtained by the Germans during the battle.
In the Town Hall has always met and still sits the City Council.
One of the most famous citizens born in Morag is Johann Gottfried Herder (German: Johann Gottfried Herder, 25 August 1744, Morungen, East Prussia - 18 December 1803, Weimar) - an outstanding German cultural historian who created the historical understanding of art “To consider everything from the point of view of the spirit of its time,” critic, poet of the second half of the eighteenth century.
Herder was born in the family of an artisan, graduated from the theological faculty of the University of Königsberg. In his native Prussia, he was threatened with recruitment, so in 1764, Herder went to Riga, where he took the place of a teacher in the cathedral school, and later - a pastoral associate. In Riga, he began his literary activity.
In 1776, thanks to the efforts of Goethe, Herder moved to Weimar, where he received the post of court preacher.
Herder - one of the most significant figures of the era of "Storm and onslaught". He struggles with the theory of literature and the philosophy of the Enlightenment. Together with other irrationalists, Herder was extremely enthusiastic about folk poetry, Homer, the Bible, and Shakespeare. According to them, he recommended to study authentic poetry, because there, like nowhere, a “natural” person is depicted and interpreted.
Johann Gottfried Herder in Morag erected a monument next to the church of Peter and Paul.
How will the Americans behave?
At the time of the Polish People’s Republic, there was always a Polish military base in Morоронg. “There were three military units on the territory of the garrison in Morag - a mechanized regiment, part of anti-missile artillery and a missile unit. As for the missiles, it has always been very secret, I simply don’t know any other details, ”says local governor Tadeusz Soberayski.
By the decision that the US military base will be located in Morong, residents of the city approach without special emotions. “There is no special admiration and great joy, but there is no harsh criticism or any fear of anything unknown. You know, every Wednesday I have the reception of citizens - usually I can take about 10 people. And I can say: there was not a single visitor who would come to me and talk in the office of the burgher on the topic of Patriot missiles to represent some group of citizens opposing the appearance of the American base. People are interested in other things, more important for them, ”says Soberaysky. By the way, even at the City Council meeting in recent months, none of the deputies spoke on this issue, even in the “Miscellaneous” section.
Local businessmen are very optimistic about the new situation. According to the minister of morag, "those who carry out economic activities contain restaurants, clubs, pubs — for them Americans will be welcome customers who bring in dollars." In addition, there will be new jobs.
More recently, journalists, including foreign ones, have been frequent in Morag. “Your arrival is also proof of that. Of course, for the city it is free advertising. We are already advertised throughout the country, and even in Russia they know that there is such a city in Morong in Poland ”, Sobreaysky smiles.
However, the main question for the mayor remains: what kind of neighborhood will the Americans have for the Poles? "Time will tell. For me it is important for the residents of the city that we live in peace, in harmony, without excesses and conflicts. Much will depend on the behavior of Americans. I think that the Americans themselves, with more fear than we, approach the service in Poland. This is because they came to us. Still, this is a different culture, other people, ”Morong’s military officer mused aloud.
26 May - "Open Day"
"May 24 we begin cooperation with the Americans on Polish soil," confirmed the Minister of National Defense of Poland Bogdan Klich. The advance team of US troops has been in Poland for a week now. According to the inhabitants of Morоронg, the Patriot missiles have also been at the military base for several days already.
“Everything is ready both from our side and from the Americans. As the saying goes, all buttons are buttoned, ”Klich says figuratively.
The Ministry of National Defense of Poland is organizing a meeting open to the press with the US military in connection with the arrival of the first Patriot missile battery in Morong, spokesman for the Polish Defense Minister Janusz Seymei told RIA Novosti. "Celebrations in connection with the arrival of the first Patriot rotary battery will be held in Morag on Wednesday, May 26," said Seimei.
The press, both Polish and foreign, in suspense: 26 may open door in Morag.
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