Jozef Kiniorski

Józef Kiniorski was born on 20 November 1925 and lived Wyręba near Kielce, Poland. During World War II, he was taken for forced labour to Bauer in Germany in 1940.

The whole time he was working at Bauer, he was thinking about running away. He finally made it and reached France. There he went to the Polish camp at Coequidan, a military camp in Guer, Brittany. Józef Kiniorski took part in intensive exercises and training there. Coëtquidan was called Koczkodan by Polish soldiers. When France fell, he was evacuated from Coëtquidan to the UK.

On 25 February 1942, Władysław Sikorski issued an order creating the 1st Polish Armored Division, which Józef Kiniorski joined in Scotland.

Jozef fought in all the battles of the 1st Polish Armored Division commanded by General Maczek. On his Sherman tank, he fought in Normandy, Belgium, Holland and finally Germany. He was wounded during the landing in Normandy in 1944, but after recovering he fought in the ranks of the Division until the war ended. He was awarded the Cross of Valour, as well as other medals.

After the war, Józef had a job offer in Great Britain, but he didn't take advantage of it. He missed his homeland and his family and wanted to be in Poland as soon as possible. However, he didn't expect that he would be treated as an enemy in his homeland. In Poland, he stayed with his family in Zagnańsk, where he was arrested and taken to the jail in Kielce, where he went through hell.

He was repeatedly interrogated and, despite being tortured, he did not break down and did not cooperate with the state police. After being released, Kiniorski had to leave his native regions.

He went to Mielno on the Pomeranian Sea. He could not find a job for a long time, but finally got a job at a mechanic shop. He decided to move to Koszalin, where he found an apartment.

He was hired at the Koszalin Company of Engineering Works - KPRI in the mechanical department where he reached the level of a manager and soon met his future wife. He married Stefania in 1952. They had 3 children: 2 daughters and a son.

He died on 11 December 2015 in Koszalin.