On National Independence Day, through a shared run we want to connect historical memory with the lived experience of community. The Independence Run named after the “Nine from Wujek," which we organize every year on November 11, is not only a sporting event commemorating the anniversary of Poland regaining independence, but also a symbolic journey between two important points on the map of Katowice and Polish memory: the Cross-Monument to the Miners who fell on December 16, 1981, and the Monument to the Silesian Insurgents.
The ‘Nine from “Wujek”’ Independence Run
The idea of the run stems from one of the most tragic events in the recent history of Poland and Upper Silesia — the pacification of the “Wujek" coal mine. In December 1981, after martial law was declared in Poland, the “Wujek" mine in Katowice became the scene of dramatic events that left a deep mark on national memory. The miners’ strike, which began in response to martial law and the arrest of Jan Ludwiczak, the chairman of the Works Committee of the Trade Union “Solidarity" at the “Wujek" mine, was brutally suppressed by police and military forces, including a special ZOMO platoon, which opened fire on the protesters. Nine miners were killed: Józef Czekalski, Józef Krzysztof Giza, Joachim Józef Gnida, Ryszard Józef Gzik, Bogusław Kopczak, Andrzej Pełka, Jan Stawisiński, Zbigniew Wilk, and Zenon Zając, and twenty-three other strike participants were injured.
The Independence Run named after the Nine from “Wujek" combines the memory of those nine miners—symbols of resistance against violence and injustice—with reflection on the fates of all heroes who, in different eras, fought for Poland’s freedom and independence. The date of 11 November gives this event a special significance, allowing the tragedy of “Wujek" to be placed within the broader history of national struggles for sovereignty, dignity, and the right to resist. Each edition of the run serves as a reminder that although time distances us from the events of 1981, the memory of the victims and their courage must not be forgotten.
The Independence Run named after the “Nine from Wujek" takes place on the streets of Katowice, with both the start and finish located at the Cross-Monument to the Miners who fell on December 16, 1981. The certified 10-kilometer route is halfway marked by the Monument to the Silesian Insurgents on Korfantego Avenue in the city center, which gives the run a particularly symbolic dimension. Each year, hundreds of runners take part, combining a sporting challenge with a tribute paid to the Nine from “Wujek" and all the heroes of Poland’s struggle for independence.
