Kazimierz Leski - Warsaw, Poland - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

A bronze plaque on the wall of the house where Kazimierz Leski used to live. It was hung here in 2002 and mentions many of his accomplishments.

He was an excellent engineer who worked on submarines ORP Orzel and ORP Sep.

Before 1939 German invasion of Poland, he joined the Polish Air Force. On 17 September 1939 his Lublin R-XIII F plane was shot down by the Soviets, and Leski was badly injured.

Later he worked as an officer in the Army's intelligence and counter-intelligence. He is credited, during World War II, with at least 25 journeys across Europe, usually in the uniform of a Wehrmacht Major General.

During Warsaw Uprising, with a group of volunteers, he formed a battalion, Milosz, and became commander of its first company, Bradl. The unit fought in the area of Triple Cross Square. After the Uprising's capitulation, Leski became commander of the Home Army Western Area and later the chief of the Armed Forces Delegation for Poland.

Leski was awarded several decorations, including the Silver Virtuti Militari, the Gold and Silver Crosses of Merit with Swords, and three Crosses of Valor.

After the communist takeover of Poland, he became the first managing director of the demolished Gdansk Shipyard. His tasks included reconstructing the shipyard. In 1945 he was charged with attempting to overthrow the regime and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

After the death of Polish leader Boleslaw Bierut, Leski was freed and soon rehabilitated. He became a member of the Polish Academy of Sciences. He continued his scientific work, publishing seven books and over 150 other publications. He also patented inventions. In 1995 he was honored by Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among the Nations.

In 1989 he published his memoirs, which became a best-seller. He received a Polish PEN Club Prize and the Award of the Polish Writers' Society in Exile.

He died on 27 May 2000 and was buried at Warsaw's Powazki Cemetery.

Text on the plaque:
[PL]

Dr inz plk pilot
Kazimierz Leski
"Bradl"
1912-2000

Wawelberczyk, Absolwent Politechniki w Delft. Konstruktor i budowniczy okretów podwodnych ORP "Orzel" i ORP "Sep". Oficer wywiadu i kontrwywiadu Komendy Glównej Armii Krajowej. W Powstaniu Warsawskim 1944 r dowódca kompanii "Bradl" walczacej w rejonie Placu Trzech Krzyzy. Szef Sztabu Zachodniego AK. Dlugoletni wiezien polityczny PRL. Honorowy obywatel Miasta Stolecznego Warszawy. Urodzil sie i mieszkal w tym domu.

[ENG]

EngD Colonel Pilot
Kazimierz Leski
"Bradl"
1912-2000

Wawelberczyk, a graduate of the Delft University of Technology. Design engineer and constructor of submarines ORP "Orzel" and ORP "Sep". Officer in the Home Army's intelligence and counter-intelligence. In Warsaw Uprising in 1944 a commander of the company "Bradl" that fought in the area of Triple Cross Square. Commander of the Home Army Western Area. Long-term political prisoner. Freeman of the city of Warsaw. He was born and used to live in this house.

More information: (visit link)

Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link] List if there are any visiting hours: 24/7 Entrance fees (if it applies): 0 Type of memorial: Plaque

Visit Instructions:

*(1.)* Please submit a photo(s) taken by you of your visit to the location (non-copyrighted photos only). GPS photos are also accepted with the location in the background, and old vacation photos are accepted. If you are not able to provide a photo, then please describe your visit or give a story about the visit.
*(2.)* If you have additional information about the memorial which is not listed in the waymark description, please notify the waymark owner to have it added, and please post the information in your visit log.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.