The Red Poppies on Monte Cassino facts for kids
Czerwone maki na Monte Cassino (which means The Red Poppies on Monte Cassino) is a very famous Polish army song from World War II. It was created in May 1944 in Italy. This happened just before the Polish Army captured a strong German base during the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Contents
The Story Behind the Song
The Battle of Monte Cassino
In early 1944, German soldiers had a very strong base. It was built inside an old Benedictine monastery on top of a mountain called Monte Cassino. This base stopped the Allied forces from moving forward towards Rome. Many Allied countries had tried to capture this German fortress since January. For the fourth big attack, which started on May 11, 1944, Polish troops joined the fight.
How the Song Was Created
The song's music was made during the night of May 17–18, 1944. It was composed by Alfred Schütz. He was a composer and actor in the Polish Soldiers' Theater. They were stationed near Monte Cassino.
Two parts of the song's words were written at the same time. They were written by Feliks Konarski, a poet and soldier. He was part of the Polish II Corps, led by Major General Władysław Anders. The third part of the song was written a few days later.
The Meaning of the Poppies
Konarski wrote the third part of the song hours later. In his memories, he said: "When we first sang 'Red Poppies on Monte Cassino,' we all cried. The soldiers cried with us. The red poppies, which bloomed overnight, became a symbol. They showed bravery and sacrifice. They were a tribute from those alive to those who died for freedom."
The fourth and last part of the song was written much later, in 1969. This was to remember the 25th anniversary of the battle. This last part is not as well known and is sometimes left out.
The Song's First Performance
On May 18, 1944, the day after the song was made, the Polish soldiers attacked. They captured the area around the Monte Cassino monastery. Later that day, the song was first performed. It was sung at General Anders' headquarters to celebrate the Polish victory. The Red Poppies on Monte Cassino quickly became popular with the soldiers. It was soon printed by a Polish-American newspaper in New York. Later, it was also published in Poland.
However, the song was banned during the Stalinist time in the People's Republic of Poland. The government at that time wanted people to forget about the Polish Armed Forces in the West who fought in the war. But the song was later featured in Andrzej Wajda's film Ashes and Diamonds. This movie was made in 1958, after Stalin had died.
Who Owns the Song?
Returning the Copyright
Alfred Schütz moved to Munich in 1961 and passed away there in 1999. He and his wife had no children. So, under German law, the state of Bavaria gained the rights to the song. Payments for using the "Red Poppies" music went to Bavaria through GEMA. This is a German group that manages copyright for music.
In 2014, the Polish Song Library and a Polish lawyer worked to get the rights back. Bavarian officials agreed to give the rights to the Polish state. In 2015, the Polish Consulate General in Munich made another attempt. On September 15, 2015, Bavaria gave up all its rights to the song and its music. These rights were then given to Poland.
See also
- Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross
- Polish Military Cemetery at Monte Cassino
- Polish Military Cemetery at Casamassima
- "In Flanders Fields"
- Papaver rhoeas
- Remembrance poppy
