.jpg)
With deep regret, we have received the news of the death of Professor Kazimierz Czapliński. Professor Czapliński, born on April 16, 1926, in Puławy, was an outstanding civil engineer, full professor at the Wrocław University of Technology, long-time president of the Catholic Intelligence Club in Wrocław (1966-1984), an active member of both the Archbishop’s Social Council and the Archbishop’s Charitable Committee, and, not least, one of the founding fathers of the Kreisau Foundation for European Understanding and a member of the Honorary Council of our foundation.
The 1965 letter from the Polish bishops with the famous words "We forgive and ask for forgiveness" was a turning point in the activities of the Catholic lay movement in Wrocław and paved the way for cooperation with Germany. Kazimierz Czapliński was part of this movement and, together with his wife Wanda, actively participated from the outset in these contacts, such as in visits by delegations from the Bensberger Circle from West Germany or in the "Polish Seminars" in Magdeburg, later known as the Anna Morawska Seminars. This activity for Polish-German reconciliation led to the Catholic Intelligence Club in Wrocław playing a leading role in the founding of the Polish Kreisau Foundation for European Understanding in 1989. Kazimierz Czapliński made a significant contribution to the establishment of the International Meeting Center in Kreisau/Krzyżowa, on the grounds of the former estate of the von Moltke family, which in 1989 was a place with a dilapidated manor house and similarly neglected outbuildings under the control of a state-owned estate. The Czapliński home in Wrocław became, during this time, a welcoming place for many guests connected to the international Kreisau initiative, including Freya von Moltke.
Professor Czapliński’s international connections and expertise as a civil engineer were especially crucial in the early years of the investment to revitalize the entire castle complex. He volunteered in the building commission of the foundation’s board. Over many years, he built strong relationships with the German foundation “International Meeting Center St. Marienthal” in Ostritz (Saxony) and was active as a Polish representative on its Board of Trustees.
Professor Czapliński was a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and the "Gloria Artis" medal for Merits to Culture.
Professor Czapliński, an authority in the field of construction and steel structures, educated many generations of students at the Wrocław University of Technology, where he also served as dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
Together with his wife Wanda, he founded a large and loving family: four children, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Many of them still feel a strong connection to Kreisau, the place that their grandparents and parents built with such dedication. For this, we are endlessly grateful.
Professor Czapliński was a person who, throughout his life, combined his passion for science with a deep commitment to peace and reconciliation in Europe. He always thought of the foundation and regularly sent us reports about his work, which was a testament to his concern for our shared mission. His presence in Kreisau was a source of inspiration and wisdom for us. We will remember him as a person with extraordinary sensitivity to the needs of others, who, through his work and attitude, made a lasting contribution to building bridges between nations. He last visited the foundation in November 2024 and participated in the service commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Reconciliation Mass.
With Kazimierz Czapliński, we have lost a man with a great heart and mind, who remained loyal to science, faith, and service to society. His work and dedication will forever remain in our memory.
