On 13 March 2026, the IPN "Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom” exhibition was inaugurated at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. It showcases the story of the dramatic journey of Polish soldiers and civilians who, after escaping Soviet captivity alongside General Władysław Anders’s Army, travelled thousands of kilometers across Asia and the Middle East to ultimately fight for the freedom of Europe.

At the start of the event, Agnieszka Jędrzak, Undersecretary of State at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, read a letter from President Karol Nawrocki, in which he highlighted the centuries-old ties between Poland and Scotland and the special role Scotland played in the fate of Poles during World War II.

The Poles who found themselves in Scotland during World War II felt that, although fate had cast them far from their homeland, they had found a semblance of home here. The 1st Corps of the Polish Armed Forces was formed in Scotland, and its soldiers were stationed in Douglas, Crawford, and Biggar. [...] Polish soldiers were tasked with building fortifications along the Scottish coast, as well as patrolling and defending it against an expected German invasion. Training centers for armored train crews were based in Broughton, and later in Dunfermline; for several months, these crews consisted exclusively of Poles. Moreover, a Polish military school operated at Barony Castle.

In his letter, K. Nawrocki also emphasized the gratitude of the Polish people for the kindness and support shown to them by the people of Scotland during World War II, noting that for many Polish soldiers, Scotland became their new home after the war.

Prof. Karol Polejowski, Deputy President of the Institute of National Remembrance, recalled the circumstances surrounding the creation of the “trails of hope”—the paths taken by Polish soldiers and civilians after the defeat of September 1939 to continue the fight for freedom alongside the Allies. He also emphasized the special significance of the exhibition, which depicts the fates of Poles scattered across many continents by the war:

The current exhibition, “Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom,” which tells the story of Polish soldiers and civilians during World War II who were driven by the idea of restoring freedom to a world enslaved by the German Third Reich and its allies, holds special significance in the Scottish Parliament. During the war, Scotland became a second home to us and the place from which Polish military units set out to fight, said Prof. Karol Polejowski

The exhibition recounts one of the most significant chapters in the history of World War II—the fate of Poles deported deep into the Soviet Union and their journey to freedom, which led through Persia, the Middle East, and Italy, all the way to the victorious Battle of Monte Cassino. The exhibition highlights both the military efforts of the soldiers of the 2nd Polish Corps and the experiences of thousands of civilians—women, children, and the elderly—who, together with the army, travelled the “trail of hope.”

Since 2022, the exhibition has travelled to nearly every continent, from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, through the Caucasus, Palestine, North Africa, and Italy, as well as the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and has followed in the footsteps of the Polish civilian population from South Africa and Zimbabwe to the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina. Over a million people have already seen it around the world, noted K. Polejowski.

The organization of the event at the Scottish Parliament has a special symbolic significance. 12 March, the day before, marked the anniversary of Poland’s accession to NATO. However, the history of the joint struggle of Poles and Britons during World War II reminds us that the Polish-British brotherhood in arms has a much longer tradition. This is evidenced by the history of the ORP “Piorun,” the service of Polish sailors in Scottish ports, and the presence of units from General Stanisław Maczek’s 1st Armored Division, which cooperated with Allied forces in the British Isles during the war. The shared experience of fighting for Europe’s freedom constitutes an important foundation for today’s partnership within the North Atlantic Alliance.

The exhibition opening was attended by Annie Wells, Member of the Scottish Parliament; Lezley Marion Cameron, Deputy Lord Provost of Edinburgh; Dr. Mirosław Sycz, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh; as well as representatives of local authorities, the diplomatic community, historians, and members of the Polish and Scottish communities. The IPN exhibition at the Scottish Parliament is not only a reminder of the dramatic fate of Poles during World War II, but also a testament to the enduring ties between Poland and the United Kingdom.The exhibition was presented at the Scottish Parliament thanks to the Institute's cooperation with Annie Wells, a Member of the Scottish Parliament and Iwona Golińska from the Polish Sue Association.

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On 14 March 2026, the exhibition was also displayed at Clydebank Town Hall (Glasgow). The opening was the culmination of celebrations marking the 85th anniversary of the city’s defence against German bombing in March 1941. Polish soldiers from the destroyer ORP “Piorun” took part in the operation, protecting the city, the port, and the shipyard from attacks by the German Luftwaffe. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Deputy President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Prof. Karol Polejowski, and the city’s provost, Karen Murray.

On the 85th anniversary of those events, the Institute of National Remembrance is participating in the commemoration of the heroism of the residents of Clydebank and the Polish and British sailors (…) I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Lord Provost Karren Murray. Commemorating those events together is a testament to the free spirit and the beautiful legacy of the Allies’ joint struggle for the freedom of Poland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, said President Karol Polejowski.

The exhibition “Trails of Hope. The Odyssey of Freedom” will be on view from 14 March 2026, to 4 April 2026, at Clydebank Town Hall (5 Hall Street, Clydebank G81 1UB).