Zbigniew Załuski (31 July 1926 in

Kivertsi Kivertsi (, ; ) is a city in Volyn Oblast, in north-western Ukraine. It is the capital (political), administrative center of Kivertsi urban hromada. Total area is 848,200 ha. Population is It is located in the historic region of Volhynia, 12&nbs ...

Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 7 October 1918 and 6 October 1939. The state was established in the final stage of World War I ...

– 5 March 1978 in

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

People's Republic of Poland The Polish People's Republic (1952–1989), formerly the Republic of Poland (1947–1952), and also often simply known as Poland, was a country in Central Europe that existed as the predecessor of the modern-day democratic Republic of Poland. ...

) was a Polish army officer, writer and Member of Parliament.

Life and military career

A native of the Wołyń Voivodeship, he was

exiled Exile is either an entity who is, or the state of being, away from one's home while being explicitly refused permission to return. Exile, exiled, exiles, The Exile, or The Exiles may also refer to: Exiles * Babylonian captivity, or Babylonia ...

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...

in 1940, soon after the Soviet invasion. After joining the

Polish People's Army The Polish People's Army (, ; LWP) was the second formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the East during the latter stages of the Second World War (1943–1945), and subsequently the armed forces of the Polish communist state (1945–1989 ...

in 1944, he participated in the Battles for Kolberg and

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

. Załuski joined the

Polish Workers' Party The Polish Workers' Party (, PPR) was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. It was founded as a reconstitution of the Communist Party of Poland (KPP) and merged with the Polish Socialist Party (PPS) in 1948 to form the Polish United W ...

and attended the Academy for Political Education Officers, eventually reaching the rank of Colonel as a political officer. He had a long journalistic career, mainly as an editor in the magazine ''Wojsko Ludowe'' (''People's Army'') and has written several books dealing with military history and Polish history. Załuski was also a screenwriter and a film consultant. In 1969 he was elected member of the

Sejm The Sejm (), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (), is the lower house of the bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Poland. The Sejm has been the highest governing body of the Third Polish Republic since the Polish People' ...

for the

Polish United Workers Party The Polish United Workers' Party (, ), commonly abbreviated to PZPR, was the communist party which ruled the Polish People's Republic as a one-party state from 1948 to 1989. The PZPR had led two other legally permitted subordinate minor parti ...

(PZPR) and continued in the role until his death. In 1974 he joined the administrative board of the

Polish–Soviet Friendship Society The Polish–Soviet Friendship Society () was a Polish organisation founded in 1944. It was a vehicle for organized propaganda, like the celebration of anniversaries of the October Revolution, trips to the Soviet Union, exchange programs, promot ...

. Załuski also served as the chief of the PZPR cell in the

Polish Writers' Union The Polish Writers' Union or the Union of Polish Writers (, ZLP) was established at a meeting of Polish writers and activists in Lublin behind the Soviet front line, during the liberation of Poland by the Red Army in 1944. Its initial name (Prof ...

, until his death from a heart attack.

Books

*''The Polish Seven Deadly Sins'' (Siedem polskich grzechów głównych). *''Polish Army -Loyal Guards of the Homeland'' (Wojsko polskie – ojczyzny wierna straż). *''Poles on the fronts of the Second World War'' (Polacy na frontach II wojny światowej). *''The Year Forty Four'' (Czterdziesty czwarty). *''The End, 1945'' (Finał 1945). *''Pass into History'' (Przepustka do historii).

Filmography

*''Then There Was Silence'' (Potem nastąpi cisza) - 1965. *''Direction: Berlin'' (Kierunek Berlin) - 1968. *''Last Days'' (Ostatnie Dni) - 1969. *''

Liberation Liberation or liberate may refer to: Film and television * ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War * "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode * "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode Gaming * '' Liberati ...

'' - 1969-71. *''Legend'' (Legenda) - 1970. *''Victory'' (Zwycięstwo) - 1974. *''

Soldiers of Freedom ''Soldiers of Freedom'' () is a four-part 1977 film epic directed by Yuri Ozerov and starring Mikhail Ulyanov, Yevgeny Matveyev, Vasily Lanovoy. It is a World War II historical drama and the sequel to 1970-71's '' Liberation''. Plot The film ...

'' - 1977.

Awards and decorations

Order of the Banner of Labour The Order of the Banner of Labour () was a governmental award in Poland during the 20th-century era of the Polish People's Republic, a former Marxist-Leninist state. The order was established by the Sejm (a chamber of the Polish parliament) on 2 ...

, 1st Class (1976) * POL Order Sztandaru Pracy 2 klasy BAR

Order of the Banner of Labour, 2nd Class * POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski ZG BAR

Commander's Cross with Star of

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 ...

(posthumously) * POL Polonia Restituta Oficerski BAR

Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta * Gold Cross of Merit * Cross of Valour (three times) * POL Medal 30-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR

Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland The Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland (Polish: ''Medal 30-lecia Polski Ludowej'') is a former civil decoration of Poland established by the Council of State on 7 February 1974 to recognize contribution of working people in developmen ...

* Medal for Oder, Neisse and Baltic Zbigniew Załuski, ''Siedem polskich grzechów głównych'', page 2. *

Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945 Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945 ( Polish: ''Medal Zwycięstwa i Wolności 1945'') was a Polish military decoration awarded to persons who fought during World War II against Nazi Germany. Overview The medal was introduced by a decree of the Counc ...

* Gold Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland * Silver Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland * Bronze Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland * POL Medal 10-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR

Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland The Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland (Polish: ''Medal 10-lecia Polski Ludowej'') is a former Polish civil state award established by the Council of State on 23 May 1954 to recognize services to the state. It was created to mark ...

Medal for Participation in the Battle of Berlin The Medal for Participation in the Battle of Berlin () was a Polish commemorative medal awarded by the Polish People's Republic to commemorate Polish military personnel who took part in the Battle of Berlin. History The Medal for Participation in ...

* Gold

Medal of Merit for National Defence The Medal of Merit for National Defence () is a military decoration, decoration of the Ministry of National Defence (Poland), Ministry of National Defence of Poland. Established 21 April 1966 and revised in 1991, the medal recognizes meritorious s ...

* Silver Medal of Merit for National Defence * Bronze Medal of Merit for National Defence *

Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" The Medal "For the Victory Over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" () was a military decoration of the Soviet Union established on May 9, 1945, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to denote military partici ...

(USSR) *

Ribbon of the Medal for the Capture of Berlin

Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" The Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" () was a World War II campaign medal of the Soviet Union established on June 9, 1945 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to satisfy the petition of the People's Commissariat for Defe ...

(USSR)

References

External links

Zbigniew Załusky
on IMDb.
Zbigniew Załusky
in Filmpolsky. {{DEFAULTSORT:Zaluski, Zbigniew 1926 births 1978 deaths People from Volyn Oblast People from Wołyń Voivodeship (1921–1939) Polish United Workers' Party members Members of the Polish Sejm 1969–1972 Members of the Polish Sejm 1972–1976 Members of the Polish Sejm 1976–1980 Polish male writers Polish military historians 20th-century Polish historians Polish military personnel of World War II Polish deportees to Soviet Union Recipients of the State Award Badge (Poland)