Bazyli Szczerba was born in 30 December 1914, in Kowel, Poland.

 

During WW2, Bazyli served in the 10th Dragon Regiment of the 1st Polish Armoured Division. He was in the European Campaign from Normandy to Wilhelmshaven, fighting the German army.

 

He got his first combat experience at the Totalize and Tractable battles.

Those were operations of the joint Allies, around the 7th German Army.

The 1st Polish Armoured Division played a crucial role, but at a high cost - many were killed and injured.

 

He also took part in the operations around the Belgian city of Ghent, as well as the Battle of the Scheldt - the area above Ghent to be purified of Germans.

 

The Poles appeared for the first time in Dutch territory at the liberation of Axel, Hulst, and Terneuzen. 25 soldiers of the 10th regiment took part in the action on 17 September 1944, where the goal was to cross the channel Axel-Hulst.

 

Freedom comes with a price, but Bazily survived and continued the campaign, pushing on to Germany. That's how he became one of the liberators of Breda.

 

Bazyli died on 11 May 1958 in Breda

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Source: 1st Polish Armoured Division Facebook post

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