Platoon Leader Ignacy Mentlewicz, 7th Infantry Regiment, Polish Army In The East

[Al-muell]

A group of two documents to Ignacy Mentlewicz - during the War an NCO in the 7th infantry regiment, 3rd Infantry Division of the Polish Army in the East, who was wounded in Kołobrzeg on March 12th 1945.

This is another group partly researched thanks to Alojzy Sroga's "Na Drodze Stał Kołobrzeg".

First we have his 1946-dated VoG booklet issued by the Infantry Officer School nr 1 (in Russian apparently called "1st Officer School of the Infantry and Cavalery of the Polish Army". Document signed by the head of the officer school. Gives his rank as "Plutonowy" (morethan a corporal, less than a sgt.,theoreticaly fit to lead a platoon).

Than we have a 1970-dated Cross of the Brave booklet (almost certainly a catch-up award), giving his rank as Lt. colonel - so apparently he has finished the school.

Altough I was unable to locate anz photograph of the man, Sroga gives his short biografical data at the end of his book:
"Mentlewicz Ignacy, son of Wincenty (1922), corporal, 7inf. rgt. Soldier of the Feliks Zarożny's company, his participation in repelling a German counterattack was described in a special leaflet printed by the political-educational section of the regiment. Awarded bronze "Meritous on the field of Glory" medal [if I were to guess - for that counterattack repelling]. After the war sent to the officer school. His later fate unknown to the author."

[Al-muell]

There's also a short part of the book that describes the circumstances of his wound in Kołobrzeg (unfortunately not very Mentlewicz-focused):

"On MArch 12th Sokulski lurked up with anti-tank rifle in the carpenter workshops. Rifle's barrel aiming at the church and it's surroundings. He was surprised by the sight of Germans - in the newly-sewn uniforms. The german artillery fire has increased. They moved out of the wooden buildings.
Not far from the church, the German [soldier] hit the SU-76 with the Panzerfaust.Teodor Stryjewski was wounded nearby.
Sokulski got angry - since his Wilno (Vilnius) times befriended with Stryjewscy brothers. He shot. The Panzerfaust shooter was smashed. The rattling of the tanks can be heard.
Sokulski, Blubsztajn and Szyc shoot one by one. the track is damaged. The tank tries to move without the success. They shoot again and again, untill the tank catches on fire.
The commander of the 8th rifle company, Feliks Zarożny is cought by a dramatic moment. With corporal Ignacy Mentlewicz he moved toward the park, thinking that it's peaceful there, as the 18th regiment passed this way.
Mentlewicz got hit by the German rifleman. Zarożny dot down to the ground. He sees the silhouettes of the Germans. he covers them with heavy fire. He wants to give Mentlewicz a chance to crawl away.
He raises himself a little, throws agranade. First one, second one. Good old school! Pre-war NCO. And then Lenino. And then commanding a platoon of the penal company."

The park where Mentlewicz was wounded still exists in Kołobrzeg (at Wodna Street) - it's not far away from the Polish Armed Froces Museum (seen on the map - over "kemping skipper" title You may see an outline of the planes on the museum yard).