Mieczyslaw KRZEZEWSKI

Mieczyslaw Krzezewski was born on July 19, 1914, to Antoni and Michalina (nee Lecka), in Zgierz, Poland. He became a Sergeant in the 1st Motorized Artillery Regiment of the 1st Polish Armoured Division.

Mietek Krzeszewski grew up in Lódz, Poland. He attended the technical school there and graduated as a tool and instrument maker. After his compulsory military service he worked at an installation company until he  was mobilized in 1939 to the 1st Motorized Artillery Regiment in Lódz.

When Poland was overrun by the Germans and the Russians, Mieczyslaw crossed the Carpathian Mountains to Slovakia and then to Romania. He reached Greece and then sailed to France where he reached the Polish army in 1940.

When France fell, he evacuated to England and made his way to Scotland where, on 14 August 1942, he joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division commanded by General Maczek. He trained with the Division until the Division crossed to France. Mieczyslaw landed at Andromache in France in July 1944.

As a Sergeant, he fought in all the battles of the European Campaign, including Falaise. On 29 October 1944, he was part of the liberation forces that freed Breda from the Germans. The division stayed in Breda for a few months before moving on, and that is when Mieczyslaw met his future wife Johanna Cornelia Robijns

Mieczyslaw spent 2 years in Germany as part of the occupying forces before being demobilized and returning to Breda in September 1947. He then married Johanna, and they raised 3 sons. He became a Dutch citizen in December 1950. This opened up the possibility to visit his family in Poland. In the summer of 1958, after a period of 19 years, he saw his mother and the rest of the family again. Unfortunately, his father had died the previous year.

Mieczyslaw worked at Backer and Rueb in Breda and led a quiet life with his wife and children.

Mieczyslaw died on 6 March 1970 in Breda.

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Source: 1st Polish Armoured Division Facebook post

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