Kazimierz Klimczak
Kazimierz Klimczak | |
|---|---|
 Kazimierz Klimczak with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in 2018 | |
| Nickname(s) | Szron |
| Born | 12 February 1914 Ciepłowo |
| Died | 14 July 2023 (aged 109) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Second Polish Republic Polish People's Republic Poland |
| Branch | Polish Armed Forces Home Army Polish People's Army |
| Years of service | 1936-1946 |
| Rank |  Pułkownik (Colonel) |
| Unit | 67th Infantry Regiment Ochota Subdistrict of the Home Army |
| Commands | Platoon commander |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | |
Kazimierz Klimczak (15 February 1914 – 14 July 2023) was a Polish soldier. He turned 100 on 15 February 2014, and died on 14 July 2023, at the age of 109.[1] At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Warsaw Uprising veteran and the oldest living man in Poland.
Biography
Klimczak was born into a large family, he had six brothers and five sisters. He graduated from the School for Minors No. 1 in Konin.[2] From 1936 he served in the Polish Army. He graduated from the school of non-commissioned officer instructors and began his service in the 67th Infantry Regiment in Brodnica. In its ranks he took part in the fights of the Pomeranian Army during the Invasion of Poland. He took part in the fights near Mełno near Grudziądz and the Battle of the Bzura, where he was seriously wounded. He was taken to the Ujazdów Hospital for treatment.[3]
As a war invalid, he established contact with the Union of Armed Struggle, then became a soldier of the Home Army. During the occupation, he worked in the Tobacco Monopoly in Warsaw. During the Warsaw Uprising, he fought in the rank of sergeant in Wola in the Ochota Subsistrict. He left Warsaw with the civilian population. He was taken prisoner, but managed to escape from the transport. In February 1945 he returned to the capital. Until 1946 he served in the car regiment of the Polish People's Army, as commander of the transport platoon.
In the Third Polish Republic he was involved in veterans' activities as a member of the Association of War Disabled Persons of the Republic of Poland.
He died on July 14, 2023 at the age of 109, the oldest man in Poland.[4] On July 28, 2023 he was buried in a family grave at the Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw.[5] The ceremonies were of a state nature with military ceremonial.
Awards and decorations
Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Silver Medal of Merit for National Defence
Bronze Medal of Merit for National Defence
Warsaw Uprising Cross
Medal for Long Marital Life
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Bono Poloniae Medal
Commemorative medal of the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising
Medal of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko
References
- ^ "Zmarł płk Kazimierz Klimczak, najstarszy żołnierz i powstaniec warszawski [POSŁUCHAJ JEGO WSPOMNIEŃ]" (in Polish). Polskie Radio. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Gratuluję, Panie Pułkowniku!". dzielnica.pragapld.waw.pl. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018.
- ^ Kazimierz Klimczak „Szron” na www.1944.pl
- ^ "Pożegnanie płk. Kazimierza Klimczaka, najstarszego żołnierza WP, Powstańca Warszawskiego". Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (in Polish). 2023.
- ^ "Płk Kazimierz Klimczak ps. Szron spoczął na cmentarzu na Starych Powązkach" (in Polish). Polska Agencja Prasowa SA. 28 July 2023.