Edward KEMNITZ
Home Army (AK)
Edward was born on 10 October 1907 to Wojciech and Maria (nee Kukułka). During the First World War he lived with his mother and brothers in Berlin, returning to Poznań on 4 May 1919. He attended the Middle School in Gniezno, then graduated from the St. Stanisław Kostka in Warsaw.
From 1926 he studied law at the University of Warsaw. From 1932 he continued his studies in the United Kingdom at the prestigious London School of Economics. After returning to Warsaw in 1934, he took a job as a director in the Lead and Tin Products Factory belonging to his father.
From 1936 to 1937, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the secret ONR. After becoming a co-owner of the family factory, he co-financed the activities of the organization, and became a member of the management board of the publishing company issuing “ABC – Daily News”. In addition to political activity, he was socially involved in the economic organization of the Polish Union.
In WW2, he was a platoon commander in the rank of lieutenant and took part in the September 1939 Campaign in defense of the Modlin Fortress. After the end of the war, he returned to Warsaw, where he married Izabela Lubieńska.
From December 1939, he became involved in conspiracy activities and financed underground magazines. From January 1943, he worked in the Home Army "Import" cell, dealing with the reception of weapons and equipment. He also conducted activities in the Council for the Assistance of Jews "Żegota". The outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising found him outside the capital. He began organizing a network of facilities in the area of Milanówka, Podkowy Leśna and Żyrardowa, which would help families evacuated from Warsaw.
After the occupation of Poland by the Red Army and the installation of the communist government, he continued to operate underground. From April 1945, he served as the commander of the Pomeranian National Armed Forces. In July, he was arrested by UB in Poznań and imprisoned in Warsaw, Poznań, Bydgoszcz and Wronki. In July 1947, he was released in connection with an amnesty. In 1949, he was arrested again and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was in prisons in Mokotów, Warsaw, Wronki and Sztum. After his conditional release from prison in 1955, he worked as an English teacher in Warsaw.
Due to the constant harassment of UB and the lack of opportunities, he emigrated to Canada in 1964. Initially, he was a lecturer in Polish history and culture at Loyola College in Montreal. He then served for 11 years as director of the scientific library, at Loyola College, later renamed Concordia University. He joined the life of the Polish community in Canada, organizing high school courses, and lectures. he was active on the boards of Polish organizations like the SPK – Branch No. 7, the Polish Western Lands Club, the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Polish Veterans Association, the Polish School Council, the Friends of the John Paul II Foundation in Montreal, and the Polish Scientific Institute.
For the assistance provided to the Jews during the German occupation, he and his late father were awarded a medal and the title of Righteous Among the Nations the Jad Washem Institute. He published his Memories of Political and Social Work in London. Until his death, he co-edited the "Bulletin of the AK Soldiers' Circle in Montreal," of which he was a member.
He died on 10 March 2002 at the age of 95 years and was buried in the Cote-Des-Neiges cemetery in Montreal.
Distinctions:
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Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
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Cross of Valour – twice
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Home Army Cross (AK)
Source: Several Facebook posts
Copyright: Kemnitz family