The Long March

PEOPLE’S WAR. BBC — LONDON.

Stefan Antoniogo Radziszewski was born 26th August 1906 in Warsaw, Poland.
Before W.W.2 he lived, near the Warsaw airport. He attended grammar school and became a locksmith / mechanic. He was a Roman Catholic, married Irena, nee Michniewicz , with a son Zenon born 1934 and a daughter Danuta, born 1935.
He joined the Polish Army in 1927. Aged 21.

This is much of his story: translated from Polish, with English names—where known in ( )

THE LONG MARCH and OTHER ACTIONS.

Stefan Antoniogo Radzeszewski.
794964. Sergeant, 1st Polish Air Force Regiment 211 S9.

1. I joined the army 17th OCTOBER 1927, by means of Patkush

2. I was on active service in 1st regiment of the Air Force in Warsaw. Attending NCO school and six months extra training; became professional NCO in 1930. In 1934/35 attended Central School of Mechanics in Lwow, then returned to 1st Air Force Regiment and assigned to X11 squadron.
After the declaration of war 1939 I was in X11 squadron, which on 25th AUGUST ’39 withdrew to Biszez and I was assigned to the 211 squadron. On 26th AUGUST ’39 we went to the airstrip near Deblin, then, around 11th SEPTEMBER, to the airstrip near Wtodzimiesz.
From Utasz there were daily sorties directed on East Prussia, Berlin and Czestokowa up until 10th SEPTEMBER 1939. At Wtodzimiesz the squadron had 10 / TO’s (aircraft or bombs?). On the 14th SEPTEMBER ’39 the aircraft were directed to the airfield at Stanislowo, (Stanislav- Ivano Francovst) where the commanding officer of the 12th squadron was Capt. Lusiak and the commanding officer to the 211 S9 was Capt. Malak. Lt Gumkowski and Lt Unger were the two cadet officers — they left on foot. In all 300 armed men in the direction of the road Tuck — Dzbiec — the aim was to reach Stanislawo. We marched for several days —

On 18th SEPTEMBER’39 some 10Km near Dubno we fought with Russian tanks: We fired on the tanks. The right wing of the line was swept by fire from the tanks. The troops were in the main from the reserve. After the unsuccessful encounter, in around half an hour from the beginning of the firing Lt Gumkowski gave the order that we should disperse so everyone could escape on his own. Lt Gumkowski took with him a largish finp/ limp?

2. I was taken prisoner in Dubno at the crossroads on 18th SEPTEMBER 1939

3. From 18th SEPTEMBER 1939 until 22nd JUNE 1941 we marched from
Dubno to Szepetowka — Nowograd in Wolyaia —Cholyczowka (the old post of the
KOP troops guarding frontiers;) Gozdow — Wojfowce — Teofipol to the camp.

From Teofipol forced marched day and night to Zolotow ( Zolotonosha ) beyond the river Daiopr,(Dnepr?) around 750 km. In the course of this march, with the prisoners from Brod ? (Brest?) were bombed — 40 killed and 200 wounded.

From Zolotow, across the Poltawa river, to Starobielska (Starobelsk,) where we stayed about one month. From here we were incorporated into the Polish army, divided into groups and sent by train to Tock, arriving on 3rd OCTOBER 1941. Here I was assigned to a platoon of the Air Force. On the wishes of General Tokanewski we were to remain there. Later Col. Fuszkiewicz ordered we depart for Koltubiauka, and from there to Archangel and Mumansk. On 20th JANUARY 1942 embarkation and arrived on
1st FEBRUARY ‘42 in GLASGOW.

4. Was interrogated several times as suspected as being a deserter, during this he was hanged by the feet for half hourly periods. After he was released — it was in connection with a planned escape by digging a tunnel - Believed to be in Russia. One prisoner at least escaped. (Escape assessed, between mid NOV — 15th DEC 1939.from the Cholyczowka camp. Interrogation probably at special camp at Gwozdowisko between 18th Dec 39 — 18th Dec ‘40.

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