New Toledo Stories: Freedom Means Never Surrender

This documentary tells the heroic story of Colonel Marian Wojciechowski and Wladyslawa Poniecka-Wojciechowski

Join WGTE Public Media along with The Anastasia Fund and the Northwest Ohio Polish Cultural Center as it presents Toledo Stories: Freedom Means Never Surrender, a documentary that traces the exceptionally heroic lives of Colonel Marian Wojciechowski and Wladyslawa Poniecka-Wojciechowski. A live in-person premiere event is being held Friday, September 8 at 6 p.m. at the Franciscan Center building at Lourdes University. It will premiere on WGTE HD on Thursday, September 14 at 8 p.m. Following the premiere on television, it will also be on our website www.wgte.org/freedom.

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, The Anastasia Fund board member, states, “This historical documentary traces a valiant, true story along ‘Liberty’s Road’ of a Polish-American, heroic couple who infuse the word Liberty with full meaning.  Against all odds, their precious, noble lives—separately and then together — bear witness to the ultimate triumph of good over evil and Truth over Tyranny.”

Emerging from Central Europe’s destruction caused by war and tyranny, Marian and Wladyslawa Wojciechowski dedicated their lives to a free Poland. Each mustered enormous courage as underground agents during World War 2 in their first homeland, enduring the darkest of times. Despite their physical and mental tribulations, they pieced together a challenging, productive new life in Toledo, USA, never abandoning their fellow asylum seekers nor their original homeland’s struggle. As community builders of Liberty, the Wojciechowski story is one of defiance, survival and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.

Producer Shane Potgieter states, “It has taken almost a decade to research and produce Freedom Means Never Surrender. We hope this is a fitting tribute to Marian and Wladyslawa Wojciechowski, whose story of survival and defiance during World War 2 is inspirational to all who watch it.” 

Toledo Stories: Freedom Means Never Surrender is the 98th documentary of the Toledo Stories series. WGTE's series of remarkable television programs that celebrate and document the people, places and moments that built Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan into the strong and vibrant region we live in. Recent productions include Lakeside Chautauqua: An American Treasure, The House That Love Built, In Pursuit of Justice and many more. 

About WGTE

WGTE Public Media, licensed and operated by The Public Broadcasting Foundation of Northwest Ohio, is a non-profit, noncommercial, educational TV and radio broadcaster and center of learning for northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. WGTE is proud to be a PBS and NPR member station. It was founded as a low-power educational television broadcaster in 1953. Education remains at the heart of what we do every day. From our entertaining, informative and educational programs that air on WGTE TV, FM 91 and www.knowledgestream.org to our professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers and preschool daycare providers and community engagement activities, WGTE makes northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan a better place to live. For more information, visit www.wgte.org.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Matt Reny at 419-380-4646, or email matt_reny@wgte.org.