Maciej Aleksy Dawidowski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maciej Aleksy Dawidowski
"Alek", "Glizda", "Kopernicki", "Koziorożec" |
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| Born | 3 November 1920 Drohobycz, Poland |
| Died | 30 March 1943 (aged 22) Warsaw, Poland |
| Allegiance |  Poland |
| Service/ |
 Armia Krajowa (Home Army) |
| Rank | Sergeant (posthumous) |
| Battles/wars | Polish resistance movement in World War II |
| Awards |  Virtuti Militari Polonia Restituta |
Maciej Aleksy Dawidowski was a courageous Polish scout and a key member of the underground resistance during World War II. He was known by several secret names, including Alek, Glizda, Kopernicki, and Koziorożec. Born on November 3, 1920, in Drohobycz, Poland, he sadly died in Warsaw on March 30, 1943, at just 22 years old. Alek was a scoutmaster (a leader in the scouting movement) and a Second Lieutenant in the Armia Krajowa, which was Poland's main underground army. His story of bravery is told in famous books like Kamienie na Szaniec by Aleksander Kamiński and Rudy, Alek, Zośka by Barbara Wachowicz.
Early Life and Scouting
Maciej Aleksy Dawidowski grew up in Warsaw. His father, Aleksy Dawidowski, worked in engineering, and his mother, Janina Dawidowska, was a chemical engineer. Alek went to the Stefan Batory Warsaw Gymnasium, which is a type of high school. He was very active in the Polish Boy Scout movement, where he learned important skills and values like teamwork and courage.
In the fall of 1939, when World War II began and Germany occupied Warsaw, Alek's father was arrested. He was later killed by the Germans in December 1939. This tragic event deeply affected Alek and strengthened his resolve to fight against the occupation.
Fighting for Freedom
After the German invasion, Alek joined several secret Polish underground groups. In 1939, he was part of PLAN. By 1940, he became a member of Szare Szeregi, which was the secret organization of Polish Boy Scouts fighting against the occupation. He also joined Wawer, another resistance group.
Alek took part in many secret missions to disrupt the German forces. These missions were called sabotage actions. One of his most famous acts was the "Copernicus action." On February 11, 1942, he bravely removed the German language plaques from beneath the statue of Nicolaus Copernicus in Warsaw. This was a symbolic act of defiance against the German occupation.
A Daring Rescue Mission
Alek played a crucial role in a daring mission called "Operation Arsenal." This operation was planned to rescue Jan Bytnar, another important resistance leader, who had been arrested by the Germans on March 23, 1943.
Alek helped plan and carry out this dangerous rescue. During the attack, he was severely wounded in his stomach by German gunfire. Despite his serious injury, he bravely threw two grenades. This action helped his friends escape safely from the fight. Alek was taken to a hospital, but he sadly died from his wounds. He was only 22 years old.
Remembering a Hero
During the Warsaw uprising later in the war, Alek's code name "Alek" was used to honor him. It became the code name for a special platoon (a small group of soldiers) in the "Rudy" company of the Batalion Zośka, a famous Polish resistance battalion.
After his death, Alek was honored for his bravery. He was given the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari, which is one of Poland's highest military awards. He was also promoted to sergeant. In 2011, he was posthumously (after his death) awarded the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, another very important Polish honor.
Two elementary schools in Warsaw are named in his honor: Szkoła Podstawowa nr 391 im. Macieja Aleksego Dawidowskiego and Szkoła Podstawowa nr 52 im. Macieja "Alka" Aleksego Dawidowskiego. These schools help keep his memory alive and teach new generations about his courage and sacrifice.
