Stanisław Żurakowski
Polish war veteran and historian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stanisław Żurakowski (24 July 1920 in Wołomin[1] – 27 July 2023[2][3]) was a Polish war veteran and historian.
Stanisław Żurakowski | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 24 July 1920 |
| Died | 27 July 2023 (aged 103) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Poland |
Branch | Polish Armed Forces (Second Polish Republic) |
Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | 16 Lwowski Batalion Strzelców |
Wars and Battles | World War II (Italian Campaign: Battle of Monte Cassino) |
Biography
He was the son of Stanisław Ludwik Żurakowski (1886–1940) and Maria Jastrzębska.[4][5] His siblings were Edmund, Anna (died in childhood), Ludwik, Józef, Maria, Julia, Jadwiga (married Czok), Antoni.[4][5][6] His father was a reserve officer of the Polish Armed Forces and a local government official of the Second Polish Republic. From 1928 he was the mayor of the cities Włodzimierz Wołyński, Zdołbunów, and from 1934 to 1939 of Ostróg. After the outbreak of World War II, he was arrested by the Soviets and in 1940 was murdered during the Katyn massacre.[4][5] In 1940, family members were deported deep into the USSR, from where they left with General Anders' army.[7][8][9]
He later became a soldier of the 2nd Polish Corps within the structure of the Polish Armed Forces in the West. He participated in the Italian campaign during World War II in 1944. As a cadet of the 16 Lwowski Batalion Strzelców, he took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino[10].[11][12] During the battles of the 2nd Corps, two of his brothers died.[13]
After World War II, he lived in exile in Great Britain. He was a long-time honorary employee of the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London.[14] He authored several historical publications, including "Letters from Kozielsk from the mayor of the city of Ostróg", published in 1989 by the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum and "Calls from Wołyń", which contains correspondence from Stanisław Ludwik Żurakowski during his imprisonment at the turn of 1939/1940 and a description of the fate of his family members deported deep into the USSR in 1940.[8][15]