The 9th edition of “Frontline Stories” in Porąbka is behind us. Another edition with our participation

Only four days, from August 27 to 30, yet packed with events. The programme included spectacular historical reenactments, exhibitions, meetings, film screenings and performances, as well as—thanks to our participation—presentations of educational games telling the stories of Polish heroes. This year’s edition of “Frontline Stories” was the most diverse in the event’s history.

“Frontline Stories” in Porąbka have a special character

This is due to the combination of a family-friendly event with serious military and historical themes. “Frontline Stories” combine education and entertainment. The entire programme was carefully planned to ensure that over the four days there was room both for spectacular, dynamic and large-scale battle reenactments and for outdoor cinema, model exhibitions and even tours of the dam.

The attractions were aimed both at passionate history enthusiasts and at people who are not interested in history on a daily basis. The organisers succeeded in creating a space that combines education with entertainment and serious reflection on history with an accessible and engaging way of learning about the past. It was precisely this diversity that made “Frontline Stories” an accessible and engaging opportunity to learn, regardless of age or prior knowledge of Poland’s recent history.

“Before Freedom Came” – the event’s motto

The motto “Before Freedom Came” fits the character of “Frontline Stories” well, as most of the event’s attractions focused on events that took place during the final months of the Second World War. It was a pivotal period—marked on the one hand by hope for the end of the conflict, and on the other by continued fighting and uncertainty.

The common thread running through all the attractions was the opportunity to experience the past directly. Visitors could touch military uniforms and vehicles, talk to reenactors, watch films, reenactments and exhibitions, and use modern educational tools.

Great history. Local remembrance

One of the greatest strengths of “Frontline Stories” is the way it combines events of international significance with the history of Poland and the local region. Alongside Normandy, Falaise and the Eastern Front, there were Porąbka, Dziedzice and Czerniaków. Reenactment groups from all over Poland, and even from abroad, presented combat methods, equipment, as well as the realities of soldiers’ everyday lives behind the front lines. This allowed participants to experience the fact that the history of the Second World War does not have to be solely a story of distant times and distant battlefronts.

The New Technology Zone in Porąbka

This year, too, we had the pleasure of presenting our portfolio and enriching the event programme with educational games and applications telling the stories of Polish heroes.

The projects we presented offer two perspectives on history—both through the lens of major, widely known events and the lives of heroes whose deeds have become permanently inscribed in our collective memory, and through quiet, often anonymous acts of courage and sacrifice. On the one hand, these included stories of aid provided to the Warsaw insurgents and the destruction of German anti-aircraft defensive positions depicted in the game “Aviators,” and on the other—a story about the inhabitants of a village in the Podkarpackie region who, risking their own lives, decided to save persecuted Jews, presented in the short film “Testimony of HELP.”

We would like to thank everyone who visited us, took part in immersive historical education and visited the New Technology Zone. This year’s attendance exceeded even our boldest expectations. We were deeply impressed by the engagement and remarkable openness of everyone who visited our stand. We are delighted that the stories and projects we presented attracted so much interest, and conversations with participants showed just how many emotions and reflections can be evoked by modern ways of telling stories about the past. We particularly appreciate the curiosity and engagement of our youngest visitors, who explored the materials with great attention and were eager to share their questions and observations.