Włodzimierz Potasiński (31 July 1956 – 10 April 2010) was a Polish military figure, commander-in-chief of the

Polish Special Forces The Special Troops Command () is the special forces Command (military formation), command of the Polish Armed Forces (SZ RP). The command was formed in 2007 and is the fourth military branch of the SZ RP. Composition The Special Troops Command (' ...

. Potasiński was born at

Czeladź Czeladź () is a town in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie (part of historic Lesser Poland), in southern Poland, near Katowice and Sosnowiec. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river (tributary of the Vistula), it is the oldest urban center ...

. He was killed in the

2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash On 10 April 2010, a Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft operating Polish Air Force Flight 101 crashed near the Russian city of Smolensk, killing List of casualties of the Smolensk air disaster, all 96 people on board. Among the victims were the president ...

Smolensk Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It has been a regional capital for most of ...

Honours and awards

Potasiński was awarded numerous civil and military awards, including the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...

in 2006. * Commander's Cross of the

(2010,

posthumously Posthumous may refer to: * Posthumous award, an award, prize or medal granted after the recipient's death * Posthumous publication, publishing of creative work after the author's death * Posthumous (album), ''Posthumous'' (album), by Warne Marsh, 1 ...

) previously awarded the Knight's Cross (2006) * Gold Cross of Merit (2000) * Silver Cross of Merit (1993) * Gold Medal in the Service of the Armed Forces of the Homeland * Gold Medal for his contribution to national defence * Commemorative medal of the Multinational Division Central-South Iraq * Meritorious Service Medal (2006, United States) * United States Special Operations Command Medal (2010, United States,

) * Grand Officer of the

Order of Merit The Order of Merit () is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by Edward VII, admission into the order r ...

(2008, Portugal) * UN Medal UNDOF mission * entry in the "Book of Honour of the Minister of National Defence" (2007)

References

External links

Interview
from 2009 1956 births 2010 deaths Polish generals People from Czeladź Victims of the Smolensk air disaster Commanders of the Order of Polonia Restituta Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland) Grand Officers of the Order of Merit (Portugal) Special forces of Poland {{Poland-mil-bio-stub