Feliks Osinski

Polish 2nd Corps

Born on August 4, 1925, Felix was from a large family and raised on a small mixed farm near Zhytomyr, in present day Ukraine. His youth ended at the outset of World War II when his father and brother were imprisoned—never to be seen again. Like so many other Poles, the rest of his family were forcibly deported to Siberia by the Soviet invaders. The remaining family was split apart and Felix survived with his mother until her death a short time later.

In 1944, Felix joined the First Polish Army under General Berling and went through the combat trail eastwards where he joined in the Warsaw Uprising. Felix was one of the few „Berlingers” to successfully cross the Vistula River and attack Nazi German forces in the city of Warsaw. Felix was wounded, captured, and sent to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, then to Wolfsberg prison camp, then Yugoslavia as a slave labourer moving munitions, then back to Wolfsberg. After the camp was liberated, he crossed the Alps to Italy to have his wounds treated. Once recovered, he joined the

Polish 2nd Corps under General W. Anders.

At Monte Cassino, Italy, Felix served mainly performing bomb disposal and clearing mines which he described as more dangerous than being on the front line. The Corps was demobilized in 1946. Felix was transferred to England where, like so many other

Poles who fought for a free Poland alongside the Allied Forces in WWII, Felix would face persecution if he returned to his homeland or to Poland, where some members of his family remained.

For his wartime efforts, Felix was awarded:

Warsaw Medal of Distinction,
Outstanding Merit Medal,
Gold Cross of Poland,
Polish Military Cross,
Pro Patria,
PCA Gold Cross,
Order of the White Eagle,
and numerous other recognitions.

In England, Felix met Mary Hodowanec, a refugee who had been a slave labourer in Nazi Germany. They married in 1949 and with their son Zenon, they boarded the S.S. Atlantic and immigrated to Canada in 1952.

After working for some time on a farm near Virden, MB, Felix and Mary settled in Brandon, MB, where they raised their children Zenon, Rose, and Jozef. Felix worked various jobs until he was hired by the City of Brandon in roads and infrastructure maintenance until he retired.

Felix and Mary were active members of the local Catholic Church and the Polish Sokol and were involved in the Polish Combatants Association (SPK nr 18), as well as various committees and choirs. Once retired, they moved to beautiful Creston, BC, where they enjoyed their time raising cherries, other fruits, and honeybees. In 2010 Felix and Mary moved to Calgary, Alberta, to be closer to family.

Feliks passed away in 2025 in Calgary, shortly before his 100th birthday.