Stefan Bałuk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stefan Bałuk
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Bałuk in Warsaw (27 August 2008)
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| Born | 15 January 1914 |
| Died | 29 January 2014 (aged 100) |
| Resting place | Powązki Military Cemetery |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Polish Underground State |
| Service | Home Army |
| Rank | Generał brygady |
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| Conflicts | |
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Stefan Bałuk (born January 15, 1914 – died January 29, 2014) was a brave Polish general and a talented photographer. He is remembered for his important role during World War II and his work as a Cichociemni commando.
Contents
Bałuk's War Service
Stefan Bałuk was born on January 15, 1914. When World War II began, he was studying law at the University of Warsaw. He quickly joined the Home Army, which was a secret Polish resistance group.
Fighting for Poland
Bałuk first fought in the Invasion of Poland. After this, he joined the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade. He then went to Glasgow to train as a special commando. This training taught him how to parachute behind enemy lines.
In April 1944, Bałuk was dropped back into Poland. He became one of the Cichociemni, a group of highly trained special forces soldiers. Their name means "Silent and Unseen."
Secret Missions
As a Cichociemni commando, Bałuk had many dangerous tasks:
- He created fake documents for Polish spies.
- He took photos of German military bases in Warsaw.
- He fought in the Warsaw Uprising, a major battle where the Polish resistance tried to free Warsaw from German control.
After the war, Bałuk was held in a German prisoner-of-war camp called Oflag II-D. When he was released, he went to find his mother and sister. Their house was destroyed, but he found a note saying they were safe.
Military Honors
During his time in World War II, Bałuk was promoted to the rank of Generał brygady. This is a high rank, similar to a brigadier general today. He also received two important awards for his bravery:
- The Virtuti Militari
- The Armia Krajowa Cross
Life After the War
After World War II, Stefan Bałuk faced more challenges.
Imprisonment and New Career
From November 1945 to March 1947, Bałuk was held prisoner by the Soviet Union. After his release, he started a new life. He worked as a taxicab driver and developed a passion for photography. He even published several photo albums of his work.
In 2008, Bałuk wrote his memoirs, a book about his life. It was called Byłem Cichociemnym in Polish, which means "I Was a Cichociemni." The English version was titled Silent and Unseen: I Was a WWII Special Ops Commando.
Later Life and Legacy
Stefan Bałuk passed away on January 29, 2014. After his death, he was given another high honor: the Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. This award was given to him by the Polish President Bronisław Komorowski. He was buried in Powązki Military Cemetery.
In May 2023, Warsaw and the Warsaw Rising Museum honored Bałuk and 18 other brave fighters. They planted a tree for each of them in Insurgents Park in Wola, remembering their courage.
