240px, Zygmunt Aleksander Wnęk Zygmunt Aleksander Wnęk (1918–1944) was a Polish soldier and

military officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent c ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he served in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant (''podporucznik'') on the Western Front with the 1st Armoured Regiment of the 1st Armoured Division.

Killed in action Killed in action (KIA) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their personnel at the hands of enemy or hostile forces at the moment of action. The United States Department of Defense, for example, ...

during the Battle of Falaise, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Cross of

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', ) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland Stanislaus II of Poland, ...

, Poland's highest military decoration.

Biography

Zygmunt Aleksander Wnęk was born 17 July 1918 in Kołomyja, then a city in

Austro-Hungarian Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

Galicia. His father, Piotr Wnęk, held the position of Commisar in the State Police and as an active participant in the

Polish Legions in World War I The Polish Legions () was a name of the Polish military force (the first active Polish army in generations) established in August 1914 in Galicia (Central Europe), Galicia soon after World War I erupted between the opposing alliances of the Trip ...

was awarded Cross of Defence of Lwów and Honorary Award "Eaglets of Lwów". Zygmunt Wnęk graduated from the State Secondary School in Kołomyja, named "Król Kazimierz Jagiellończyk". Early on in his education he pursued an active role in developing sports culture in Poland. He was awarded the State Certificate in Sport, becoming team leader of the Polish Gymnastics Society "Sokół" in Kołomyja. Following the advance of the Russian Army into Poland in August 1939, he departed from Poland ending up in France. In 1940 he took part in the French Campaign during which he distinguished himself with his bravery and courage. His commanding officer, Major Roman Proszek, considered him an officer of high military expertise and great courage. On 27 August 1943 Zygmunt Wnęk was awarded the Cross of Valour. Following the occupation of France, Zygmunt Wnęk found himself in the Polish 1st Armored Division formed in February 1942, under General Stanislaw Maczek in Duns, Scotland. Zygmunt Wnęk was patrol leader in the Reconnaissance Platoon of the 1st Armoured Regiment (Poland). During the Battle for Falaise on 15-August 1944, Zygmunt Wnęk died whilst undertaking action across the river Dives between Jort and Vandeuvre, on the left flank of the Polish First Armoured Division. He is buried in the Polish War Cemeter
Langannerie
in Normandy and was posthumously awarded the

V class (Silver Cross).List of decorated soldiers. Compiled by Colonel Antoni Grudziński according to personal diaries of Commanding Officer and Minister for National Defence and Daily Orders of the First Armoured Division. Published by The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, London.

References

Bibliography

* Evan McGilvray: "Man of Steel and Honour: General Stanislaw Maczek: Soldier of Poland, Commander of the 1st Polish Armoured Division in North-West Europe 1944-45" Published by Helion & Company 2012 Helion Studies in Military History No.18 * Evan McGilvray: "The Black Devils March - A Doomed Odyssey. The 1st Polish Armoured Division 1939-1945" Published by Helion & Company; 1st edition 2004 * John Keegan: „Six Armies in Normandy, from D-Day to the liberation of Paris”. Published by Penguin Books 1983 * Krzysztof Barbarski and Terry Hadler: "Polish Armour 1939-45 (Vanguard 30)". Published by Ospray Publishing 1982 * http://www.polishwargraves.nl/langri/2615.htm * http://www.landmarkscout.com/the-only-polish-cemetery-in-france-near-grainville-langgannerie-urville/ * Database of War graves http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/fr/arkotheque/client/mdh/sepultures_guerre/detail_fiche.php?ref=1955224&debut=0

Honours and awards

Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari (Poland) * Cross of Valour (Poland) {{DEFAULTSORT:Wnek, Zygmunt Aleksander 1918 births 1944 deaths Recipients of the Silver Cross of Merit (Poland) Polish military personnel killed in World War II People from Kolomyia Military personnel from Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast