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Poland is observing a dark and traumatic anniversary this week. The country marked 80 years on Sunday since Nazi forces started their attack on the nation in 1939. The event was marked with solemn ceremonies in multiple locations in Poland. These included the Baltic port of Westerplatte near Gdansk. It was bombarded by German battleships in the war’s opening salvos. Various crowds gathered in the city of Wielun. It was razed by Nazi aircraft in what is considered among the first of a long list of Nazi war crimes in Poland. A number of state heads attended an event in Warsaw to mark the anniversary. The President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier was also among them. He vowed that his nation would never forget the horrors of World War II and asking forgiveness for Germany’s historical guilt.

The U.S President Donald Trump was also due to attend the commemorations. But, he canceled his trip at the last minute to stay in the U.S and coordinate the preparations for and response to Hurricane Dorian. It is noteworthy that Hurricane Dorian threatens to bring punishing winds and huge storm surges to the East Coast. The U.S Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Warsaw, instead of Trump. However, the president was soon facing criticism after being spotted at a Trump-branded golf course on Saturday, and again on Monday.

On Sunday, the president was asked if he had a message for the people of Poland having missed the weekend commemorations. Rather than lament the horrors of the war or express solidarity with other world leaders against a repeat of such a conflict. Trump said, “I just want to congratulate Poland. It’s a great country with great people. We have many Polish people in our country and it could be 8 million”. There are believed to be some 10.5 million Americans of Polish descent. They are forming one of the largest immigrant populations in the country. Polish populations are centered in the northeast of the country with particularly large communities in Wisconsin and Michigan.