07-18-2007, 02:03 PM (This post was last modified: 07-18-2007, 02:07 PM by jm01.)
I'm new here, but in the process of tracing my father's military history...quite the journey
Professor Wesolowski has reviewed this display, advises that the Virtuti may be a copy...but the original must be in a shoe box somewhere...apparently he was awarded a second VM in 1956 and we're trying to track it down in Poland
Any advice as to where I can obtain any information will be greatly appreciated
Wow! I particularly like the armband and Partisan's Cross. Although this is site deals primarily with Soviet awards site, someone may be able to help. We do have a few Poles here.
Thanks...that's his armband from the Warsaw Uprising...complete with bullet hole...the bits of the dum-dum are to the right of the band
A little more info...
According to Prof. Wesolkowski's research, my father is entitled to the following...the search continues
Virtuti Militari, 5th class
Virtuti Militari 5th class this should be or is the 4th class depending on interpretation.
Cross of Valour, awarded 3 times
Cross of Merit, 1st class gold with Swords
Cross of Merit 2nd class with Swords
Cross of Merit with Swords, 3rd class
Home Army Cross
Warsaw Uprising Cross
Partisans Cross
September 1939 Cross
Army Medal
1939 Medal
WWII Victory Medal
For Your Freedom and Our Cross, (France)
Polish Resistance in France Medal
WWII Freedom Cross and badge
Wound Bar of Honour, 2 stars
Officers School badge
57 Infantry Regiment badge
9 Legion Infantry Regiment Badge
70 Infantry Regiment badge
AK badge
2nd Polish Corps badge
CKM badge
Army crowned eagle hat badge, pre WWII
WWII Army crowned eagle hat badge
Apparently he's missing several British Campaign Stars which I'm tracing in Britain
You can be VERY PROUD of your Father!!! He truly was a hero. I am impressed by the medals he was awarded. I love the Cross of Valour, Cross of Merit 1st & 2nd class and the Partisan Cross. The Order of Virtuti Militari Is indeed a VERY HIGH Honor.
Doc Wes is the best around to help you with your research.
07-19-2007, 02:02 PM (This post was last modified: 07-19-2007, 02:15 PM by jm01.)
riley1965 Wrote:You can be VERY PROUD of your Father!!! He truly was a hero. I am impressed by the medals he was awarded. I love the Cross of Valour, Cross of Merit 1st & 2nd class and the Partisan Cross. The Order of Virtuti Militari Is indeed a VERY HIGH Honor.
Doc Wes is the best around to help you with your research.
:thumbsup:thumbsup Doc
thanks...
The professor and I are in constant contact and he has been a great help. The trail has led to Poland and I'm being put in contact with the appropriate officials who may be able to help with the search.
The British government is doing a search in the army archives in London and Glasgow and advise that they will have something for me by mid-August...for a small donation they will burn his file onto a CD...but he was transfered to British command near the end of the war when liberated from Stalag IVB, so the file may be a bit thin
here's a pic of him during the Warsaw Uprising (bottom left, with his armband, pre-wound) and his VM certificate...the second one may be in Poland:
WOW!
Even in Poland You won't see that sort of group...
I would advise to check with polish Central Military Archive for informaion.
I wonder - did he received his second VM in Poland? I don't know the story, but it seems to me that he either was not properly honoured after returning Poland after the war, or, more likely, did not return the country, so that the award was given to him by the government in exile (either Zaleski or "the three")
Just guessing...
You may already have checked here, but...
Centralne Archiwum Wojskowe im. mjr. Bolesława Waligóry
ul. Czerwonych Beretów bl. 124, 00-910 Warszawa
Kancelaria tel./fax (0-22) 681 46 37
Informacja Archiwalna tel. (0-22) 681 45 84 [email protected] Centralne Archiwm Wojskowe
Good luck!
Thank you...I've forwarded a request for information...lets see what happens
I may be in Poland next year and will make a point to visit some ministries/archives to see what is available...Apparently they have some of his documents at the Uprising Museum
yes, the second VM was awarded by the government in exile as he was unable to return to Poland until the 60's...something to do with fighting the communists during the war
however, he has now been recognized in Poland, most recently by having a school named after him
I have the certificate # for the second award, but am unable to find it (and the medal)
Well, having been an AK member alone could (but didn't neccessarily have to) send him to prison after returning in 40's/50's. He didn't have to be an active fighter against communists.
This changed after 1956 and since 1989 it has gone even better.
Currently it is even more strange - the current attitude is almost like that from before 1956 - so AK were heroes, Nationalist partizans as well, while all those communist an socialist related movements ar being considered either non-existant or even traitorous, and ome historians even claim that polish army in USSR wasn't even polish...
Funny to se how propaganda can invert... Less funny for the veterans...
Btw. Where is this school? I guess in Warsaw if he was one of the important characters during the uprising? I could make some pictures when I happen to be in Warsaw next time.
Al-muell Wrote:Btw. Where is this school? I guess in Warsaw if he was one of the important characters during the uprising? I could make some pictures when I happen to be in Warsaw next time.
I'm not sure...I think that its in Warsaw, but he's originally from Poznan...I'll be home on Saturday and can look it up. I have pictures of him at the dedication and with all the kids
It's named after his nom de guerre "Gryf"...they all had code names during the uprising
