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Władysław Ważny

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Władysław Ważny
Born
Władysław Ważny

(1908-02-03)3 February 1908
Ruda Różaniecka, Poland
Died19 August 1944(1944-08-19) (aged 36)
Montigny-en-Ostrevent, France
NationalityPolish
Other namesWładysław Rozmus
OccupationSpecial Operations Executive (SOE) agent
A plaque honoring Władysław Ważny the pseudonym Tiger, teacher and patron of the school in Ruda Różaniecka in Poland
Montigny-en-Ostrevent, France, tomb of Władysław Ważny
Telegram from the mayor of Montigny-en-Ostrevent. Naming Władysław Ważny "Tiger" school in Ruda Różaniecka, Poland
The patron of the school in Ruda Różaniecka, captain Władysław Ważny, "Tiger"
Ace of British Intelligence Władysław Ważny "Tiger", Ruda Różaniecka school in Poland

Władysław Ważny, aka Wladyslaw Rozmus[1], using the codename Tiger, Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre, Resistance Medal, Virtuti Militari ([vladɨslav vaʐnɨ]; 3 February 1908 in Ruda Różaniecka, Lubaczów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland – 19 August 1944 in Montigny-en-Ostrevent, France) was a Polish Army officer and SOE agent during World War II, was looking for German V-1 flying bomb and V-2 launchers in occupied France, attacking Great Britain, London, organizer of the resistance movement in occupied France[2].

Life

Władysław Ważny was born on February 3, 1908 in the village of Ruda Różaniecka, in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in the Lubaczów County, in the Narol Commune, in a peasant family. He was the son of Błażej and Maria née Sigłowa; the oldest of their nine children. He had five sisters and three brothers[3]. He attended the teacher's seminary in Cieszanów[4]. After graduating from a teacher's seminary in 1930[5], he worked as a village teacher in Bobrówka, then in Surochów and in Sośnica near Jarosław, where he became the headmaster of the school. In January 1934 he was awarded the rank of second lieutenant in the Polish Army reserve[6].

World War II

After the outbreak of World War II, he participated in the September campaign as a platoon commander in the 39th Lwów Rifles Infantry Regiment (stationed in Jarosław). After the conquest of Poland by Nazi Germany and Soviet invasion of Poland, in October 1939, through Hungary, he managed to get to France, where he joined the ranks of the emerging Polish Army in France (1939–40). After the Fall of France, along with the 2nd Rifle Division (Poland), he got to an internment camp in Switzerland. He escaped from it and through France managed to get to Spain. He was arrested in the Pyrenees. From January 21 to July 25, 1943 he was imprisoned in a heavy prison in Barcelona. Then transported to the concentration camp in Miranda de Ebro. He escaped from this camp on August 20, 1943[7] and reached Gibraltar and England[8]. He was sent to the Commando Training Center in Camusdarach in Scotland[9]. He underwent a parachuting course in Ringway, Manchester and training for the Cichociemni (Silent Unseen). He was to fly to the Poland, but eventually he was sent to the POWN in France (Polish Organization for the Struggle for Independence) military chief Antoni Zdrojewski. He became deputy commander of the "North" District (Nord) major Maciej Grabowski pseudonym "Eugenie" and at the same time head of the intelligence network "Monika W."[10].

The task of lieutenant Władysław Ważny was to create an intelligence network in occupied France, gathering information about the location of Germans troops, their forces, movements and locations. After landing in March 1944 in France, it turned out that the most important for the Allied intelligence was information about the V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket launchers deployed in the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. Lieutenant Władysław Ważny issued the first report about them on June 11, 1944[11]. He made contact with Capt. Michał Golon, pseudonym "Michel", a Frenchman of Polish origin, a liaison between the Nord District and the French Resistance[12]. Thanks to numerous collaborators, mostly from the local Polish population but also from the French[13] - Lieutenant Ważny managed to broadcast 182 radio reports to London by radio[14] about the location of 173 V-1 launchers, 5 V-2 launchers and 17 transport information missiles. The effect of "Tiger's" underground work was the bombing of 162 German V1 launchers by Allied aircraft[15]. Of all his reports, as many as 83 were commanded by the Allied High Command as of the highest value. Lieutenant Władysław Ważny himself discovered 59 launchers and obtained a detailed plan of one of them, which he urgently forwarded to Great Britain[16]. The intelligence grid of Władysław Ważny "Tiger" also destroyed two landing ramps for flying bombs, levers in Douai, located the aircraft engine factory in Albert, which was bombed and destroyed a freight train with 200 aircraft engines[17]. Lieutenant Ważny found that in the Mimoyecques area (English Channel area) the Germans began building a V-3 missile launcher[18]. Over 40 German radiogoniometric cars were constantly looking for the "Tiger". Władysław Ważny's collaborator, Mieczysław Golon, believed that the RAF bunkers and V1 launchers were destroyed four hours after the report was sent by the "Tiger".[19]

Death and burial

Władysław Ważny died shortly before the liberation of northern France while attempted arrest by the Nazi Germans[20]. He was hit by several shells while trying to escape. "Tiger" defending himself - opened fire on the Gestapo men, firing with both hands. He liquidated several of them. He himself received a series from a submachine gun[21]. There was a lot of ambiguity around the death of Władysław Ważny. The very fact that the death occurred very quickly seems to confirm that the "Tiger" could have taken the poison that he always carried with him[22]. The activity and struggle of Władysław Ważny in France saved thousands of inhabitants of the Great Britain and London from death[23]. He is buried in the cemetery of Montigny-en-Ostrevent in France.

Honours and awards

He was posthumously promoted to captain. Władysław Ważny received posthumously in 1946:

in France:

in Poland:

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill speaking to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in February 1946 paid tribute to Władysław Ważny and his intelligence network.[24].

Captain Władysław Ważny, Polish agent of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), the forgotten hero, has never been decorated by the British Ministry of Defense and British authorities.[25]

Virtuti Militari Silver Cross - V Class Legion of Honour Croix de Guerre (France) Resistance Medal
Cross of Valour (Poland) Cross of Merit with Swords (Poland) Krzyż Czynu Bojowego Polskich Sił Zbrojnych na Zachodzie Medal „Za udział w wojnie obronnej 1939”

Commemoration

In 1955, in Montigny-en-Ostrevent, where he died, the street was named after him "Rue du Capitaine Wazny". A monument was also erected at the local cemetery. In 1966 he became the patron of the primary school in his hometown Ruda Różaniecka[26].

For the 50th anniversary of the tragic death of Władysław Ważny, ceremonial celebrations and an exhibition were organized in Montigny-en-Ostrevent. The TVP crew came and prepared a 35-minute film, broadcast by TVP Polonia and TVP Historia.

Private life

His only love was Danuta Klepatówna from Ruda Różaniecka, a postal worker with whom he corresponded until the end of his life[27].

See also




References

  1. ^ "Wladyslaw WAZNY, aka Wladyslaw ROZMUS - born 03.02.1908". nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ William B. Breuer, Poland's Patriots Who Helped Save Europe From Hitler. Intrigue, Conspiracies, and Secret Missions, (Polish edition: Polscy patrioci, którzy pomogli uratować Europę przed Hitlerem), Warsaw, Wydawnictwo Amber, 2006, wyd. II, ISBN 83-241-2645-7, pp. 200–203.
  3. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  4. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  5. ^ Kozłowska, Krystyna (1985). Milcząca wyrzutnia. "Tygrys" niszczy wyrzutnie [Silent launcher. "Tiger" destroys launchers] (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej. ISBN 83-11-07198-5., p.123.
  6. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  7. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  8. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  9. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  10. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  11. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  12. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  13. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  14. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  15. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  16. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  17. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  18. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  19. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  20. ^ William B. Breuer, Poland's Patriots Who Helped Save Europe From Hitler. Intrigue, Conspiracies, and Secret Missions, (Polish edition: Polscy patrioci, którzy pomogli uratować Europę przed Hitlerem), Warsaw, Wydawnictwo Amber, 2006, wyd. II, ISBN 83-241-2645-7, pp. 200–203.
  21. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  22. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  23. ^ "Władysław Ważny – cichociemny na tropach wyrzutni bomb latających" [Wladyslaw Wazny - cichociemny (the "Silent Unseen") on the trail of flying bomb launchers] (PDF). Zeszyty historyczne (in Polish). Warsaw: klubvm.org.pl. pp. 19–23. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  24. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  25. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  26. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  27. ^ "Kpt. Władysław Ważny (Tygrys)" [Capt. Wladyslaw Wazny (Tiger)] (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-17.


Category:1908 births Category:1944 deaths Category:Burials in France Category:Cichociemni Category:People from Jarosław County Category:Polish Army officers Category:Polish military personnel of World War II Category:Polish schoolteachers Category:Polish spies Category:Special Operations Executive personnel Category:World War II spies for Poland Category:World War II spies for the United Kingdom

Władysław Ważny

Władysław Ważny

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