The University

EVENTS
Pomerania Nostra
for Prof. Władysław Filipowiak
The 2009 laureate’s willingness to examine the mutual mayhem and lack of trust of the
post-war years succeeded in building a mental bridge between Poland and Germany.
The 2009 presentation of the Polish-German
Pomerania Nostra Prize, to Prof. Władysław Filipowiak,
took place on 27 November in the auditorium
at the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University
in Greifswald. The celebration was attended by
representatives of the Szczecin City Council, the
staff from the Institute of History and International
Relations at Szczecin University, the National
Museum in Szczecin, the honorary consul
of the Federal Republic of Germany in Szczecin,
the mayors of Wolin and Police, as well as Filipowiak’s
family and friends.
The ceremony was opened by a musical performance
– sounds of the harpsichord, clarinet
and cello in pieces composed by the Venetian
baroque artist, Alessandro Marcello, constituted
a fine background for this important event.
In his opening address, Greifswald University
Rector Rainer Westermann emphasized meritorious
nature of the Pomerania Nostra Prize, which
is awarded every two years to an individual that
has distinguished himself in the domains of art,
science, of politics, or social and economic life.
Dr. Westermann noted that the 2009 selection
was unanimous, calling Filipowiak a historian
Pomerania Nostra
The Pomerania Nostra – Polish-German
prize is awarded to individuals for meritorious
service to the regions of West Pomerania and
Vorpommern. Founder/sponsors include the
University of Greifswald (established in 1456),
the University of Szczecin (established in
1985); the municipal governments of Szczecin
and Greifswald; and the “Kurier Szczeciński”
(Szczecin) and “Nordkurier” (Neubrandenburg)
newspapers.
Previous winners:
2003 – Prof. mult. h.c. Berthold Beitz
2005 – Prof. Krzysztof Skubiszewski
2007 – Prof. Janina Jasnowska
and Prof. Michael Succow.
who has become the messenger between the
Polish and the German parts of the same region.
He cited as evidence the fact that the cities of
Szczecin and Greifswald participated in funding
the prize and that the ceremony was being held
during the Days of Polish Culture “polenmARkT”
in Greifswald.
Piotr Krzystek, Szczecin’s
mayor, echoed
the sentiment, noting
that he derived satisfaction
from the fact
that the founders of
the prize include cities
that possess the will to
work for deeper Polish-
German cooperation.
In his speech, Krzystek
spoke about ‘Pomeranianism’
and warned
against belief in the
historical fate that con-
Magdalena Gardas
Szczecin University
spokesperson
The laureate among
representatives of the jury
(from left to right): Dr. Artur
König, Greifswald mayor;
Piotr Krzystek, mayor of
Szczecin; Prof. Edward
Włodarczyk, SU vice-rector;
Prof. Władysław Filipowiak;
Prof. Rainer Westermann,
rector of Greifswald
University; Artur D.
Liskowacki, editor-in-chief
of the “Kurier Szczeciński”
newspaper
Photo: Jerzy Giedrys
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