Augustin Urbanski was born on 27 August 1920 in Szopienice, Poland. During WW2 he served as Corporal in the 1st Armoured Regiment of the 1st Polish Armoured Division and was a member of a tank crew.

 

At the liberation of Breda the tanks had an important supporting role during the march of the infantry through the city. In addition to that they were tasked with the north flank of the closing the city for retreating Germans. That was an up route from Ijpelaar on the east edge of the city, and Tilburgseweg and so on towards the station.

 

Breda was relatively spared during the fighting. The word relatively indicates that there was a lot of fighting. Lives and equipment were lost. Shots were fired on the tower of the Grote Church, but that is quickly forbidden. Church towers were ideal lookout posts and therefore strategic interest.

 

Forty-one citizens died during the liberation of Breda and seventy-one were wounded. Among the Polish liberators, forty were killed and an unknown number ere injured. The losses on the German side are not known.

 

After the war Augustijn chose a life in Breda, where he married Hendrika and raised a family.

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Augustin passed away on 7 October 2009 in Breda.

 

 

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Source: 1st Polish Armoured Division Facebook post

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