For our freedom and yours

For your freedom and ours (Polish: Za wolność waszą i naszą) is one of the unofficial mottos of Poland. It is commonly associated with the times when Polish soldiers, exiled from the partitioned Poland, fought in various independence movements all over the world.[1][2][3][4] First seen during a patriotic demonstration to commemorate the Decembrists, held in Warsaw on January 25, 1831, it was most probably authored by Joachim Lelewel. It full version that got shorter with time had the form of 'In the name of God, for your freedom and ours.' The initial banner had the inscription in both Polish and Russian, and was meant to underline that the victory of Decembrists would also have meant liberty for Poland.

The slogan soon became very popular and became among the most commonly seen on military standards during theNovember Uprising (1830-1831)[5]. During the war against Russia, the slogan was to signify that the Polish victory would also mean liberty for the peoples of Russia and that the uprising was aimed not at the Russian nation but at the despotic tsarist regime.[6] Following the failure of the uprising the slogan was used by a variety of Polish military units formed abroad out of refugees. Among them was the unit of Józef Bem, which featured the text in both Polish and Hungarian during the Hungarian revolution of 1848.

The motto was also used by the Polish Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising[7].

The historical banner of the Red Square demonstrators. The banner was held by Vadim Delaunay and Pavel Litvinov

The slogan (Russian: За вашу и нашу свободу) was very popular among the Soviet dissident movement since the historic demonstation on the Red Square in support for the Prague Spring August 25 1968.[8][9][10]

It is still often invoked in official speeches, including those of US President George W. Bush regarding Poland's help in the war against Saddam Hussain regime.[11][12]

See also

• Unofficial mottos of Poland
• Pro Fide, Lege et Rege