Waclaw Drozdowski was born on 20 September 1919 in Szewa, Poland.

 

During WW2, he served in the 1st Squadron of Heavy Machine Guns of the 1st Polish Armoured Division.

 

He was one of the young men who were forced to leave Poland during the war and never returned.

 

As a soldier in the 1st Polish Armoured Division, under the leadership of General Maczek, he came to Breda at the end of October 1944. This is where he and his comrades were quarantined for 5 months. They visited the people of Breda, and many friendships were formed, and more than that. Jozef found his love, Maria Frijters.

 

When the war was over, he came back to Breda and married Maria. Going back to Poland was not an option, because in the country was under Soviet control. Every soldier  who had been fighting on the west allied side was no longer welcome.

 

Jozef lived in Breda and built a family and a good life there.

 

Waclaw passed away on 28 August 1983 in Breda

 

​

 

Source: 1st Polish Armoured Division Facebook post

​

​