Marian Tomaszewski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lieutenant Colonel
Marian Bronisław Tomaszewski |
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Marian Bronisław Tomaszewski Cassino, Italy 2011
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| Born | 13 August 1922 Przemyśl, Poland |
| Died | 5 June 2020 (aged 97) Bury, England |
| Allegiance | Second Polish Republic, Polish government-in-exile |
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Armour |
| Rank | Lt Colonel (Retd) |
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| Battles/wars |
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| Awards |  _2r_BAR.PNG){kind=small}    |
Marian Bronisław Tomaszewski (born August 13, 1922 – died June 5, 2020) was a brave Polish soldier and a scout leader. He fought in World War II as a tank commander. He was part of the 2nd Polish Corps and the 6th Armoured Regiment "Children of Lwów".
After the war, he lived outside of Poland for almost 45 years. He stayed first in Italy and then in the United Kingdom. He became an important leader in the Polish community in Manchester. His family later became the owners of the historic Palace of Pławowice.
Contents
Fighting in World War II
Marian grew up in Przemyśl, Poland. Before the war, he was a leader in the Scouting Movement. When World War II began in September 1939, Marian was only 17. He was too young to join the army.
But he convinced a recruiting officer to let him enlist. He served in an artillery unit until the fighting ended on October 6. Because he was a scout leader, the German secret police (called the Gestapo) wanted to arrest him.
Escape from Danger
Marian had to escape into the part of Przemyśl controlled by the Soviet Union. He crossed the San River at night to get away. What he didn't know was that the Soviet secret police (the NKVD) also wanted to arrest him.
They caught him and sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor in Siberia. This was for "counter-revolutionary activity," meaning they thought he was against their government. In just two years, Marian escaped seven times!
Joining the Anders Army
During his seventh escape, he was planning to cross into British-controlled India. But then, a peace agreement was signed between Poland and the Soviet Union. This agreement allowed many Polish prisoners to be freed.
Marian joined the new "Anders Army". He trained as a soldier in Iran, Iraq, Palestine, and Egypt. His first mission was to help disarm French troops in Syria.
Tank Commander in Italy
In 1941, Marian joined the 6th Armoured Regiment "Children of Lwów." He fought in the Siege of Tobruk. In 1944, he was part of the very tough Battle of Monte Cassino.
After the monastery fell, Polish forces faced the Hitler Line. This was a strong German defense line blocking the way to Rome. Marian was at the command center for his regiment.
He led an attack with Sherman tanks on a strong German position. This was the town of Piedimonte San Germano. German paratroopers with strong anti-tank weapons defended it.
Even with difficult land and strong German resistance, Marian's unit took the town. The people of Piedimonte San Germano still celebrate the day their town was freed. Marian continued to serve until the end of the Italian Campaign in 1945.
Life After the War
After World War II, Poland came under the control of the Soviet Union. A communist government was put in place. Marian was warned that if he returned to Poland, he would be arrested.
He was seen as an "enemy of the people" by the Polish Secret Service. So, after living in Italy for some years, Marian moved to Great Britain. He continued his studies there.
He helped start the Bury Polish Circle and stayed active in the Polish community. Marian passed away in Bury, England, in June 2020, at 97 years old.
The Palace of Pławowice
Lieutenant Colonel Marian Bronisław Tomaszewski became the owner of the Palace of Pławowice. In 2004, he and his daughter Maria helped organize a meeting for poets. They wanted to bring back the palace's history of literature and learning.
The palace was in bad shape after years of neglect. But the Tomaszewski family started working to fix it. Marian said that the palace was not just a family home. It was also an important place for Polish culture for everyone to enjoy.
Awards and Honors
- Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Cross of Valour – two times
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Silver Cross of Merit
- Monte Cassino Cross
- Africa Star
- Italy Star
- 1939–1945 Star
