Leon Kozakiewicz was born to Piotr and Józefa (nee Paszkowska) in 1914 in Chucnia settlement near Czerwiszczy, in the region of Kamieniec Koszyrski, Poland. 

 

The Germans invaded Poland from the west on 1 September 1939, and the Russians invaded from the east on 17 September 1939. They divided Poland between them. In the Russian-controlled area, the plan to ethnically-cleanse the area soon took effect with the first of four mass deportations to Siberia that were carried out in 1940 and 1941.

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When war broke out, Leon was mobilized into the Polish Army and fought in the September Campaign. On 10 February 1940, he was deported to Siberia with his family.

In June 1941, Germany turned on its ally, Russia. Stalin then quickly changed tactics and allied himself with the west so that the allies could help him defeat the Germans. This led to the signing of the Sikorski-Majewski agreement that called for the freeing of Poles imprisoned in POW camps and labour camps in the USSR, and the formation of a Polish Army in the southern USSR.

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The news of this ‘amnesty’ did not reach every camp, but where it did become known, the men and boys soon made plans to make their way south to join the army. For most, this meant walking thousands of kilometers and only occasionally getting on a train for part of the journey.  Many did not make it, and those who did were emaciated skeletons by the time they got there. Leon and his brother Jozef were among those that made this journey.

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General Anders oversaw the army, and he tried hard to get the Russians to provide the food and equipment they had promised. When this became increasingly impossible, he negotiated the right to evacuate the army to Persia, where the British would provide what was needed.

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The evacuation took place by ship over the Caspian Sea to Pahlavi in Persia (now Iran). The ships that were used were oil tankers and coal ships, and other ships that were not equipped to handle passengers. They were filthy and lacked even the necessities, like water and latrines. The soldiers and civilians filled these ships to capacity for the 1–2-day trip. When there were storms, the situation got even worse – with most of the passengers suffering sea sickness.

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Leon’s brother Jozef ended up joining the Polish 2nd Corps and fighting in the Italian Campaign, whereas Leon was sent to Scotland where he joined the 1st Polish Armoured Division and fought as bombardier in the European Campaign. Leon was demobilized in 1947. He was awarded the VIRTUTI MILITARI Cross – V Class (Poland’s highest honour), and the Cross of Valour, in addition to the campaign medals.

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He married Margareth in Germany, and they raised five children (Monika, Wolfgang, Klaudyta, Edward, Piotr). Leon passed away in Germany on 8 June 1997, at the age of 83 years.

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Copyright: Kozakiewicz family

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