History camp opens at Grunwald

Founded by members of the Podolska Regiment, 4,500 students are expected to attend the educational camps.

"The Podolska members are always the first to flock to the fields of Grunwald, but the history camp will also see other lovers of the Middle Ages arrive," Director of the Museum of the Battle of Grunwald Dr. Szymon Drej said.

Campers live as they did in the Middle Ages, sleeping in canvas tents, wearing historical costumes, and eating food close to that eaten in medieval times (no contemporary spices), using clay pots, no phones. A big challenge is also hygiene (washing in basins and tubs, shaving.)

"Those who go to the historical camps are true enthusiasts, often waiting all year," Drej said.

The staging of this year's Battle of Grunwald will be held Saturday, 18 July.

On the battlefield 1,300 re-enactors will play the parts of Polish and Lithuanian troops.

Admission to all events and the staging itself is free of charge.

The Battle of Grunwald was fought on 15 July 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. An alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by King Władysław II Jagiełło (Jogaila) and Grand Duke Vytautas (Witold; Vitaŭt), decisively defeated the German–Prussian Teutonic Knights, led by Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen.

The battle was one of the largest in Medieval Europe and is regarded as the most important victory in the histories of Poland, Belarus and Lithuania. (jh)