Tadeusz LUTAKA

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Tadeusz was born on 29 August 1917, in the village of Żarnowa in Podkarpackie Voivodeship. He volunteered to join the army just after finishing primary school. Captain Lutaka was an active scout and a member of the Strzelec Riflemen’s Association.

On 25 November 1937, he was assigned to the Non-Commissioned Officers’ School in the 2nd Armored Battalion in Żurawica. In September 1938, he was assigned to a Vickers tank company as a motorcycle courier. That same year, he participated in the Polish takeover of Cieszyn Silesia, Orava, and Spiš.

During the September Campaign of 1939, he fought with the 121st Light Tank Company of the 10th Cavalry Brigade, including in the Battle of Jordanów. He served as a motorcycle courier between brigade commander Col. Stanisław Maczek and company commander Lt. Stanisław Rączkowski.

Captured by German forces near Stary Dzików, he managed to escape and return home, where, under the pseudonym “Pancerz”, he continued the struggle as a member of the Home Army (AK), gathering intelligence and taking part in sabotage missions.

After the war he retreated from the military and turned towards farming in his home village. After the systemic transformation in Poland, he became involved in combatant activities as a member of the World Union of Home Army Soldiers, the Union of Veterans of the Republic of Poland, and the Union of Former Political Prisoners.

Selected decorations:

Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Cross of the Home Army
The Guerrilla Cross
Military Medal (four times)
Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945
Medal "For participation in the 1939 defence war"

Tadeusz Lutak, a resident of Strzyżów, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland, and the nation’s oldest man, celebrated his 108th birthday on 29 August 2025.

Translated from several Polish Facebook posts.