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| Memorial - Pomnik Generał bryg. Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski |
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| Generał Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski
Dzieciństwo i młodość przeżył w Stanisławowie, gdzie urodził się 8 maja 1892 r. Kolejarskiej rodzinie, obarczonej czwórką dzieci, nie było lekko, ale młody Stanisław ukończył szkoły i zdał maturę - z wyróżnieniem. Śmierć ojca sprawiła, że na
niego spadł obowiązek utrzymania rodziny. Zarabiał korepetycjami. Podjął potem studia ekonomiczne w Krakowie, ale już w 1910r. Musiał wrócić do matki i rodzeństwa w Stanisławowie. W środę 31 maja 2006 r. wręczając odznaczenia, królowa Beatrix w bardzo osobistym przemówieniu powiedziała, że jest to „wyraz uznania dla polskich bojowników, którzy walczyli o wyzwolenie Holandii oraz dla ich wyjątkowej dzielności, którą się odznaczyli. Oddajemy hołd w szczególności równieź tym, którzy walkę przypłacili życiem”. Królowa Holandii podkreśliła, że bohaterskie czyny generała Sosabowskiego i jego żołnierzy z Pierwszej Samodzielnej Brygady Spadochronowej nigdy niestety nie doczekały się formalnego uznania................ Zdjęcie Hołd Do Góry |
| General Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski By Bartlomiej Marcinkowski, Jan Krzeminski en Stanisław Sosabowski III General Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski, one of the most well-knowing soldiers in the recent Polish military history, was born on 8 May 1892 in Stanisławow, a city which then lies in Austria -Hungary and present in the Ukraine. In this city he grew up and followed education on the primary school and later on the high school. The Early dead of his father, in 1904 brought responsibilities which were unknown to his contemporaries. Stanisław took part of the care for the family in itself. He gave extra lessons to contemporaries to assist Francisca his mother financially. Her lowly wages were not sufficiently to maintain the family with four children. In 1910, he graduated cum laude to the high school. In the same time he got involved in Polish patriotic activities. He was a member of the scouts sharpshooters legion and moved himself into the Association of Polish Young People, an organization with as aim bringing young academicians and middle schoolboys together. In 1910, in Stanisławow the germ was laid for the birth of the Armia Polska [ the Polish army ]. Commander became warrant officer scout Stanisław Sosabowski, pseudonym: ' Weglarz ' [ coal trader ]. In that same year Sosabowski left for Kraków to take part in a meeting of Polish independent young people, called ' Zarzewie '. There were celebrations concerning the revealing of a monument which reminded The batlle at Grunwald. He was witness of how Polish representatives from the three by Russians, Prussian and Austria -Hungary annexed Polish parts since end of the 18th Century, the battle at Grunwald commemorated and the Polish victory on the Teutonian knights from 1410 where celebrating. He saw how freedoms loving and strongly the Polish national spirit was. Sosabowski believed that the future belonged to young Poland. They were it that the destiny of their fatherland had in there hands. Afterwards Sosabowski briefly started with the study to the higher trade school at Kraków. He took part in activities which headed on Polish independence. You must realize that Poland at that moment not prevented on the map of European countries. In the Austrian part of Poland there was, in proportion to the Prussian and Russian part of Poland, more freedom. In October 1911 Sosabowski organized in Stanisławow a group scouts under the guise of a training camp.In 1912, he returned from Kraków to Stanisłlawow where he became the commander of the scouts XXIVth sharpshooters legion. At this denomination he received a sable from his friends as a remembrance. He carried it at itself to the end of his military career. Up to 1913 he was commander of the scouts. But after a conflict with the district governing board of the organisation of young Poland ' Sokol ', together with he set up the group scouts, he decided to resign. The decision of Stanis ław led to dissatisfaction at the scouts in his group and resulted in a wish for many to go away also. Sosabowski asked them remain. The reason was that differently the scouting group would fall apart.Sosabowski considered the existence of the group more important than the personal aims! Later in his career in the United Kingdom the same situation would occur. They comply with his request. The result being that the scouts sharpshooters legion as a group continued exist and in some years considerably grew. Sosabowski would later frequently refer to this time as a period of strong development of the Polish patriotically conceptions. In 1913, Stanisław Sosabowski were called for conscription in the 58ste imperial & royal infantry regiment of Austrian -Hungary. In 1914, he was sent to the Russian front. His baptism of fire was at the city Przemysl. To the front he got to make with the daily soldiers life: hunger, heat and depravations. This time formed his vision on military leadership, a vision which would remain in his complete years of guiding pension able service. He was convinced of, that a commanding officer never must demand more of its inferiors then of itself and that a commander firstly must require itself before presenting an order to. On 15 June 1915, at the river Lesna, Sosabowski was hit by grenade shards and wounded his right knee very badly. He came in the hospital at Lublin. Because this wound he could not use his knee for several years. In 1917, Stanisław Sosabowski married Maria Tokarska. In that same year their son Stanisław Janusz was born. Sosabowski then had the rank of Sergeant I in the Austrian army. He got several decorations for courage and bravery. He had not passed through the required training to be an Austrian reserve officer. Nevertheless he became on the basis of his condition records and a rather gained diploma of scouting officer the rank of under lieutenant in the Austrian army. In 1918, he was promoted to lieutenant. He came in contact with a lot of Poles who served in the Austrian army. As well as, with members of the Polish military organization under command of (then still) the Major Seweryn Burhardt-Bukacki. After the First World War, Poland became independent. On 1 November 1918 Sosabowski went in service at the Polish army. He got the position as head of the reorganization Commission of the former general government in the province of Lublin. On 15 November he was promoted to captain. Then captain Sosabowski was briefly transferred to the ministry of defense. He was there operative on the head office of reorganization and responsible for the planning of the strategic reserves. On 9 November 1920 he was promoted to major. During the Polish - Russian war of 1919-1920, he did not fight at the front, in spite of that he submitted for front service at the Polish Council of country maintaining. Minister of defense Kazimierz Sosnkowski did write in a letter of 28 April 1921 that Sosabowski not could serve to the Russian front. There was a shortage of competent officers at the Polish general staff. The merits of Sosabowski at the staff, Sosnkowski said, were equivalent to the merits of an officer on the front. On 28 October 1922 Sosabowski were allowed to the higher military academy. In an judgment of the governor of these academy, general Aurelius von Serda-Teodorski indicated that the major Sosabowski under the correct accompaniment would be a very good higher officer. Also interesting is the observation of the French colonel Louis Faury, docent of the higher military academy. These described Sosabowski as good an officer with a sober way of thinking, spirited, diligently, and with excellent military qualities. As a point of improvement for Sosabowski colonel Faury said, is his inclination of asking questions and go into discussion.But this would be according to Faury under good accompaniment only got to positive. It seems that both opinions indicate on the effort which Sosabowski had at the acceptance of the style of some military commanders. This finds its cause in the high requirements that he put itself to. Demands which he made to his inferiors and other commanders, even also to his superiors. After ending his training on the Higher Military Academy majoor Sosabowski returned to the staff of the Polish army. In March 1928 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel. In that same year he started his service at the prepared unity. In the beginning he had the command over the 75ste infantry regiment in Chorzów. Too rapidly to take over the command of the regiment in Rybnik. Here the picture arises of the strict commander. At the beginning of his service as a deputy commander of 3e the regiment mount hunters of Podhale in Bielsko-Bialła he already stood known as an strict officer. His superior was that time general Tadeusz Kutrzeba which wrote in a judgment concerning Sosabowski:" An officer who has a broad military knowledge. Especially in the field of efficiency and economy concerning of national defence. A Spirited and resolutely man. A man of high intelligence; he works rapidly and efficiently. Not easy in making contact. Subordination causes difficulties at him sometimes. He loves independence and responsibility. Is very conscientiously in economic, material and financial matter. Healthily and sport-loving, an excellent officer. " The head of the general staff, general Wacław Stachiewicz, trusted in 1936, the leadership over 9th the regiment infantry quartered in Zamość, to Sosabowski. In Zamość lieutenant-colonel Sosabowski has led his unit successfully. Unfortunately this was also the place of personal dramas. In 1938, his oldest son Stanisł aw Janusz, a promising sportsman and medical student, had a accident during the summer camp of the warrant officer school by an unfortunate dive in shallow water and got seriously wounded. In the autumn of that year his younger zoon Jacek, student of the high school died at Zamość, on the impact of a tragic accident. These events caused a mental collapse at Sosabowski and he asked for a transfer. Minister of defence general Tadeusz Kasprzycki decided to transfer Sosabowski to Warsaw. In the beginning of 1939 he got the commando over the 21ste infantry regiment Dzieci Warszawy [ children of Warsaw ]. When on 1 September 1939 the Second World War broke out, Sosabowski and his infantry regiment were outside of Warsaw. Immediately they withdrew to the capital where they defended the city from 7 September up to surrendering of the city, against the German Wehrmacht. For his merits in the fight for Warsaw Sosabowski received the Cross of Honour Virtuti Militari 5e class. After in October 1939 the Polish army entirely was defeated by the Nazi- Germany and Soviet-Russian troops, he registered himself with his son as a prisoner of war. However some days later they decided together to escape from the camp.His son joined himself to the Polish resistance and took in 1944 as a major-doctor part in the Uprising of Warsaw and got blind during the fights. In November 1939 Sosabowski have gotten in contact with general Stefan Rowecki-Grot, the commanding officer of the service for the Polish fight [ Sluzba Zwyciestwu Polski ]. Rowecki-Grot would be executed by the Germans in 1944 in the city of Sachsenhausen. On command of Rowecki-Grot, Sosabowski drew to Lwów to resume there the resistance.On 21 November Sosabowski have to leave Warsaw. He had to leave behind his family. Stanisław Sosabowski would never and too never more see Warsaw again. In Lwów he observed that resume the fight was impossible. Then he goes to Hungary. In Budapest he got orders to leave and go to Paris. On the 22nd of December 1939 he reported himself in Paris at general Władysław Sikorski, Polish first minister and chief of the general staff. Sosabowski was one of the first higher officers which arrived in Paris from by Germany and Russia occupied Poland. During some hours he reported to Sikorski the situation in Poland and concerning the organisation of the Polish military underground. He was appointed as deputy commander of the in France new build 4e Polish Infantry division under the guidance of general Rudolf Dreszer. By the multiple absence of Dreszer, Sosabowski was actual commanding officer of the division. After the batlle in May 1940 and the capitulation of France he organised the evacuation to the United Kingdom of large parts of the Polish army. On 21 June 1940 Sosabowski arrived in the United Kingdom. There he formed the 2e Polish fusilier brigade. Some time later this brigade was however raised. The result being that hundreds Polish soldiers without assignment to an unit lagged behind. Sosabowski formed with these soldiers the 4e Polish fusilier staff brigade, with the duty station Ellioc in the county of Dumfries. The aim of the 4e brigade was recruitment and military education of volunteers of Polish origin from Canada and the US. In October 1940 the brigade was moved to the Scottish Five to defend the "Four or Fourth" bay against a possible German invasion from Norway. In this time Polish general staff took the initiative to parachutists training. Sosabowski had been very interested. He sent his best men to the British parachutists training centre in Ringway. The brigade started training to specialized military ski training, shooting practices and survival. Colonel Sosabowski was himself aware of the fact that the exercises of his men had as head target the liberation of Poland. The colonel considered from several angles how the Polish potential the bests could be exploit at the liberation of Poland. Fastest, but also the most difficult, manner of bringing Polish military units in the fatherland was by air droppings. Sosabowski reported himself at general Sikorski, the Polish first minister and Chief in command of the armed Polish forces, with the request to setting up an air landing unit, the first in the Polish military history. Sikorski saw the usefulness of a Para training and gave to order for the transformation of the 4e fusilier staff brigade an air landing unit. The determination and the perseverance of Sosabowski were rapidly well know, as well as at the Polish and at the British army. The result was that it started there on 23rd September 1941 with exercises at Kincraig in Scotland. After these exercises general Sikorski in a speech made the announcement that from that moment the 4e fusilier staff brigade became the 1st independent Polish parachutist brigade, with as destination: the fight for Poland in Poland. All other Polish units could be used everywhere under allied command, the parachutists would fight on Polish territory. The decision of Sikorski establishing the parachutist brigade had a positive development. A recruitment of volunteers was permitted and recruitment was started. At the brigade many soldiers with a firm military sentence register present themselves to. Commanders of other units saw themselves this way release of " difficult soldiers. ": Sosabowski gave these soldiers his faith. He offered a new chance to them and a very hard military training. Also he deleted their military conduitefiles. If the summary offences did not repeat themselves he gave them a normal chance on promotion. It is a fact that nobody disappointed him. Everyone took its chance. On 27 April 300 men were added to the brigade. Further supplements followed in 1942, and 1943. The British believed that the way of leadership by Sosabowski was of overriding importance for the high military quality which the brigade reached within limited time. Particularly general Frederick Browning, commander of the British parachutists particularly became interested in the Polish para's. That British interest has later conducted to a drama, especially for Sosabowski personally. In September 1942 the British War Office approved the budget of the brigade. Those counted then 180 officers and 2,700 noncommissioned officers and men. General Browning had a particular appreciation for the Polish parachutists. Because of a serious lack of men at the British Para’s the plan was taken to place the Polish under British command. Browning tied up his relations with Sosabowski. Exchange of military knowledge and especially also appreciation for Sosabowski as an officer resulted in September 1942 in the British proposal to form a Polish - British parachutists division under the guidance of Sosabowski. Accepting this proposal would mean a better position and a promotion for Sosabowski. For the British the high motivated Polish Para soldiers and their excellent commander would be a large acquisition. However it would mean a change of destination for the Polish Para’s. However it would mean a change of destination for the Polish Para’s. They no longer primarily would be available to liberate their own fatherland. Something that was unacceptable for Sosabowski. His Loyalty lay at Poland and at Warsaw. Because Sosabowski did not discuss the offer and British conditions of the English general, the proportion between Browning and Sosabowski deteriorated. The reader must consider that Browning belonged to English upper-class and a profession officer of the Guards, with the vision and the attitude of a high soldier of The British Empire. In his eyes Sosabowski an European of the second rank which had to be glad with what they offered him. On the advice of Sosabowski, General Kazimierz Sosnkowski, then chief staff of the Polish armed forces, refused in the autumn of 1943 to place the 1st the independent parachutist’s brigade under British command. Browning understood that Sosabowski would not modify its point of view. He would get never the approval of the Polish for a change of destination of the brigade. Browning gave up his good understanding with the Poles and moved the dispute to London. The agreement which had been closed between Sikorski and Sir Alan Broke concerning the commitment of the brigade on Polish territory was cancelled firstly. Afterwards the military facilities were strongly reduced. Suddenly there were no more planes and other high-quality material available for the Poles. Then the British threatened to dissolve the brigade and to assign the men into the Polish armour division. Under the increasing pressure the Polish chief of staff general Sosnkowski could not differently than admit. The brigade came under British command. This happened on 6th of June 1944, the day of the invasion in Normandy. General Browning had reached its aim. This had been a wish that Browning had since the establishment of the Polish parachutist brigade. But the conducted policy of the British put Sosabowski for a large dilemma. With dissolution of the brigade the enormous commitment and all operational training of the Polish parachutists brigade threatened to go lost.With integration under British command, came the primary aim of Sosabowski and the Polish government in London of commitment the brigade for the liberation of Poland in danger. The British had the Poles provide with resources to establish the brigade. The Polish brigade trained Norwegian, French and other allied commandos and secret agents in Para technologies. But their ultimate aim was the liberation of Poland. However for the British was each soldier necessary and in particular the parachutists. Was the attitude of Sosabowski not naive? To answer this question one must take into account the fact that Sosabowski was a soldier and not a politician. His actions were always coordinated with his superior general Sosnkowski. The latter was full understanding for Sosabowski's ideas and vision. Sosabowski acted always from the military viewpoint and in a manner which was equitably for the soldiers entrusted to him and honest. The developments in 1944, and 1945, show that the operations of other Polish commanders and members of the Polish government in London had no result with the eventually liberation of Poland. The control concerning the Polish - British parachutists division would give the career of Sosabowski a large stimulant, but it would put the commitment of the Polish armed forces [ Polskie Sily Zbrojne ] at the liberation of Poland on the game. In spite of the relentless German occupation the life in occupied Poland continued. The Polish people counted still on aid of the brigade during the uprising of Warsaw. Inhabitants of Warsaw gave to the brigade a standard, made from the 19th century’s chasuble of the Cardinal of Warsaw. The standard was brought by means of underground canals to United Kingdom.It came to them the 15th of June 1944; nine days after it became clear that the parachutists under the guidance of Sosabowski would not liberated Warsaw. The day of transferring the standard Sosabowski was promoted to General-Major.His distinguishing marks were offered by his men. They made these of melt down English shillings which they had received as a payment. That was something special, certainly if one considers that he stood known as a demanding officer. Sosabowski had been stirred by this gesture. His promotion and the attitude of his soldiers did not make the integration under the British command any sweeter. June 1944 was an unfortunate period for Sosabowski. In spite of his promotion the most important enterprise from his military career was blowing of. The complete set-up which led to the establishment of the Brigade was to use her for the liberation of the Polish Republic. The expression ' along the shortest road ' [ Najkrotsza Droga ] was the soul in the morals of the brigade. For this expression only already registered themselves Poles of forty years and older. They carried a hard discipline with dispossession which was even for younger soldiers difficult. To be able realise his ideas Sosabowski ignored his personal well-being and sacrificed he his military and personal future. Unfortunately the British did not like his patriotism for Poland. After at become clear the allies would offer no aid during the uprising of Warsaw the Polish parachutists on 13 Augusts 1944 have gone in hunger strike. Sosabowski reported this to the Polish commander-in-chief. He tried this way only to give publicity to the whole matter. He has punished nobody for the action disciplinary. He was even jointly with its inferiors. It could not avail all. The brigade remained in the United Kingdom whereas in Warsaw Poland was massacred by the Germans. In particular the Waffen-SS acted in a barbaric manner. Warsaw was laid in ash. The Russians looked on. Beginning September 1944 reached the 2e British army and the to this end belonging 1st Polish armoured division under general Maczek the Albert canal and the Schelde in North Belgium. The British army fell under General Bernard Montgomery. The long provisioning route as from Normandy ensured a stagnation in the advance of the allied troops. Montgomery grasped the plan on to force an opening by means of a large air landing operation. It would accelerate the end of the war. One’s in the assumption that the Germans in the Netherlands did not have the correct resources and that would offer little to no capacitance. For this reason it was decided there using the Para troopers because of to bridge the area that separated the allies and Arnhem. On the air landing among others the 1st British Parachutist division and the now operational 1st Polish parachutist brigade added to this division would take part. It will become the largest air landing in the military history. And to we now know the largest fiasco of the western allies. The beginning September 1944 planned operation became, as a result of correct criticism of Sosabowski, postponed to two times. On the 17th of September, the commemoration day the Russian attacked Poland, the operation Market garden started. The Polish Para’s would leave on the 21st of September at 14.00 to Arnhem, a part would land with the heavy weapons in gliders and the rest would jump. General Sosabowski abandoned the offered crossing in a glider; he would jump with its soldiers. With its Para’s he has stood in the line-up for the Dakota's, himself keeping to the commands of lieutenant Dyrda who had be in charge of the jump. Sosabowski was then 52 years old, what is for a parachutist an advanced age. In spite of the fact that Montgomery considered the operation for 90% successful, operation Market Garden finished in a large loss for the allies. The head causes of the fiasco were: lack of exploration, ignoring reports of the Dutch, not working radios and consequently bad coordination of military operations, and a simply bad leadership of the British military top. In spite of good leadership of Sosabowski and the necessary luck did not remain the losses limited on the side of Poles. The excellent training of the Polish parachutists and their incredible pugnacity saved much lives of the British Para’s. More than 23% of the Poles were killed or wounded. Approximately 80 men of whom a majority was wounded were caught by the Germans. General Sosabowski received no recognition for his merits in the battle of Arnhem. Under British pressure the Polish government in London granted him instead of the Virtuti Militari 4e class the Bravery cross. The British government rewarded General Robert Urquhart and General Frederic Browning with the highest British distinction, the Bath-Order. These have been distributed by King George VI. It was the first sign that they were searching for a scapegoat outside their own ranks. By the strong criticism of the American side and also in the British parliament Montgomery needed a culprit for the failure of the operation. That Sosabowski will become. On 4th of November 1944 Sosabowski got order to put his Para‘s under the guidance of the commanding officer of the British 1st Airborne division. The aim was strengthening of the thinned out British Paratroops. This decision took away its last rest of independence to the brigade. This was conflict with all earlier done promises. As a response Sosabowski addressed to general Stanisław Kopanski, chef of the Polish general staff, with the request to interference. It resulted on the 22nd of November in a withdrawing of the order of the 4th of November. Against better know in Sosabowski continued hope on commitment of his brigade in Poland. The independence of the Polish parachutists continued preserve on paper. The 1st British air landing army contended after enormous losses at the battle for Arnhem with a large shortage of volunteers. This resulted then also in actual dissolution of the 1st Airborne division. For General Browning it became to much. Again there was Sosabowski to thwart his plans. It was the proverbial drop which did overflow the bucket. General Browning decided to act and to get rid of the in his eyes stubborn Polish general. On 20 November 1944 presented Browning a report to General Ronald Weeks, Deputy Chief Imperial General Staff of the British war Office. It was a report full of blame to the address of the Polish commander. He reported that Sosabowski already at the training stage of the parachutists not to appeared as a good commander. Also he blamed Sosabowski lack of flexibility and term for haste in the implementation of the operation Market Garden. During this operation Sosabowski did not like to interfere himself, according to Browning, with the pace of matter and withdraw themselves of the fighting’s. That last was considering the high motivation of Poland against the Germans a straight scandal mongering. Also Browning ignored with that the fact that Sosabowski on the day that the decision to withdrawal fell, had pleaded still with good military arguments for persevering the battle. Nevertheless Browning asked for another commander of the Polish Para Brigade. He suggested a younger and more flexible officer. The reproaches of Browning must be labelled as completely absurd. First browning noted that Sosabowski were already unable as a commander during the training of the parachutists. This stood in a straight line toward his offer in 1942 to make Sosabowski commander of the Polish-British Para division and to put him in charge. Browning's blame toward the competence of Sosabowski was totally unfounded. Secondly General Browning blames Sosabowski lack of commitment in the implementation of the operation. One must indeed note that Sosabowski were no proponent of a hasty preparation. Thanks to his criticism the first became, to what would prove to be, entirely wrong prepared plan postponed. Montgomery later admitted that correctly just the British had very big mistakes in the preparation. They did not well observe all threats and dangers. But the report of Browning came for Montgomery not inconvenient. It offered him the chance to sweep clean his own street. That an excellent officer and patriotic soldier such as Sosabowski was sacrificed did not hurt Montgomery. The British made capital errors at Market garden. The necessary element of surprise and speed has been insufficiently exploited. The reproach of Browning concerning a negative consequence of the interventions of Sosabowski and avoiding of the fighting by the Polish Para’s can be simply refuted. The British battle reports indicate that from all by the British dedicated orders has been carried out by the Polish soldiers carefully and frequently for more than required. Problems at the implementation of the tasks during Market garden arose by lack of resources that the British would guarantee. Sosabowski and his Polish parachutists have saved a lot of allied lives. Polish Para’s covered the retreat of the British over the river. In this context the pointer of General Browning was nothing else than searching for a scapegoat. It was a personal revenge action to the address of the Polish general. A man who nevertheless not belonged to the select club of English high soldiers trained at Eton and Sandhurst. Browning tried with its action to pu pressure on the Polish commander-in-chief to force a solution in this matter. General Sosnkowski, the chief of the general staff which Sosabowski could defend, was there no longer. For his criticism on allied high command because these were in default support in the uprising of Warsaw and let Poland more and more to the Soviet Russians was Sosnkowski throw out his function under British pressure. On the 2nd of December 1944 general Sosabowski were requested to report himself at the chief of staff general Stanisław Kopanski who presented the letter of Browning to him. Kopanski explained that Sosabowski, in spite of the personal injustices, would have abandon his position. On the 7th of December the Polish President Raczkiewicz, indicates during a conversation with Sosabowski, that a refusal of the demand from Browning would lead to a crisis in the liaisons with the British. He promised a change to the General to a suitable position. Also he promised, to guarantee the moral satisfaction and to address to a handwritten testimonial to the General. Its military professional skill and professionalism would be described. On the 9th of December 1944 the President of the Republic of Poland removed on the advice of the chief of general staff, General Sosabowski from his function as a commander from the 1st Polish independent parachutist brigade. He appointed the general as an inspector of the Guard and Staging Units. This was everything except the promised satisfaction. There was in absolutely no way a question of recognition for his commitment and brave actions in the battle of Arnhem. General Sosabowski started a struggle for conservation of his good name. He requested a study into the question and a research concerning the British reproaches. Unfortunately, nor the Polish chief of staff, nor members of the Polish government in exile have wanted interfere themselves with the matter. In spite of their promises they have not shown the time or the will to interfere in this matter. Other matters required their attention. In January 1945 the Lublin committee were installed by the Soviet Union as a provisional Polish government in Warsaw. And the British had that time no need to dedicate a research. Sosabowski have never got the deserved recognition for his dedication in Arnhem. On 25th of December 1944 the men of Sosabowski have gone in hunger strike. As a protest against his dismissal as the commander of the 1e Polish independent parachutist brigade. Sosabowski asked them to strike the action. It would not change his situation nevertheless. On the 27th of December 1944 Sosabowski took farewell of his Para brigade. He has pressed his officers the hand, but he took no leave of the standard such as that the tradition is in the Polish army by separating commanders. With that he indicated that he remained in the spirit close to his soldiers. After the war Sosabowski did decide not to return to Poland. To Soviet example the new government in Warsaw took much High Polish soldiers their nationality away. In London waited him his zoon Stanislaw, the Doctor -Major who had come blind from the uprising of Warsaw. An uprising where his father the General him not could have helped. In 1948, Sosabowski succeeded to let happen that his wife and two children went to the United Kingdom. At the beginning of his citizen life Sosabowski has tried to set up its own firm. He has renovated houses and had a upholsterers firm. Strong competition and the lack of sufficient capital ensured that he his modest entrepreneurship not could continue. On 5 December 1949 he starts to work as a warehouseman at CAN, a factory of electronic equipment. Its salary was six pounds Sterling a week. For seventeen years he was a simple worker. He continued work up to he was 75. He was not entitled to pension. He had fought for freedom and he lagged behind with empty hands. At its farewell of the factory he received alowly sum and of his colleagues he got a golden pen. Beside its work he was active in the Polish community in Great Britannia. He was a honorary member of the Sikorski association. In 1969, his private archives were given to the army museum in Warsaw. In 1959, he went to the US on invitation of Para society. There he made the suggestion to set up a monument for the honour of the Polish Parachutists fall in battle. In Chicago a committee was founded for the establishment of the monument. The funds were acquired by donations of parachutists spread over the whole world. On 19 September 1965 the monument for the honour of the falling in battle Polish parachutists and Cichociemni ** has been revealed in Warsaw. ** These deserve any explanation. The Cichociemni [ quietly & dark ] were the secret agents and commandos which were dropped off in Poland during the Second World War. Just like the training of the Par’s for Norwegian and French agents and commandos the brigade toke care for also the trainings of the Polish secret agents. For the trainings of the French commandos general Charles the Gaulle in a personal letter has pronounced its recognition and thanks to Sosabowski. The tradition of the Cichociemni is continued these days in Poland by the commandos of GROM [Grupa Reagowania Operacyjno Mobilnego]. Except its work in the factory the General had a lot of social obligations. He get up at 5.30 and came at home from his work at 18.00. When he was asked in 1955, by Parachutists Association to write the history of the Brigade he knows that would cost him much time. Nevertheless he adopted the task and he wrote with extreme regularity. At least 2 hours a day and of course also in the weekends. The result was that in 1957, his first book was published "Along the shortest way" [ Najkrotsza Droga ]. The book was well received and the first edition had been rapidly sold off. Many copies were smuggled to Poland. Sosabowski wrote his next book "Freely I Served" in English. The book was produced in 1960, in an edition of 30,000 copies. Short time later the book was translated in Dutch and published under the title "Ik vocht voor de vrijheid’". Sosabowski remained be write practical his complete life. He had his writing chamber on the attic of his simple house in a worker district of London. Here he wrote also his autobiography: " The way through the fallow country" [ Droga Wiodla Ugorem ]. When he stopped on with work on the age of 75 years, he was just ready with his last book. He was sad hat he, at the end of his life, had no aim or perspective to realise anymore. After the dead of his wife Maria he spent some time alone continued later remarry with Krystyna who died in 1972. Both spouses rest beside him in the family sepulcher. On the 25th of September 1967 Generaal-Majoor Stanisław Franciszek Sosabowski died in London on a heart illness. On the 14th of October 1967 his remains were interred in the military cemetery Powazki in Warsaw. He was added in the family sepulcher. He was Freeman of the Dutch municipality Heteren and academic laureaat of the Polish academy of sciences. In Poland 30 boy scout groups carry the name of the famous General Also since Poland again is a free country the 6th Polish Para Storm Battalion adopted the name Sosabowski. In 1988, Sosabowski became posthumous distinguish with the commander cross of the order Polonia Restituta. For his outstanding bravery and unrivaled leadership awarded the following more important top decorations: posthumously Order of Polonia Restituta. Comment Source: Sosabowski family site Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, 31 May 2006 at the presentation of the insignia of the Militaire Willemsorde to the First Independent Polish Parachute Brigade and the insignia of the Bronze Lion, posthumously, to its commanding officer, Generał Sosabowski..................... Pictures of the ceremony To the top |
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