MONTE CASSINO 80

In this podcast we meet Nuna Staniaszek whose mother Tola Turska, nee Styraniec was a volunteer with 317 General transport 2nd Polish Corps. Her service as listed in her Military records began in the Middle East and then on to the Theatre of Operations in Italy between February 1944 and 4th March 1945: On the rivers Sangro and Rapido for Monte Cassino, The Gustav-Hitler Line Adriatic Coast, Ancona, The Gothic Line, Northern Appenines on the River Senio. I was gripped by Pani Tola’s stories of her service and humbled by the selfless dedication that these young women showed.In Italy 317 transport’s primary task was to supply the 2nd Corps Base from the ports, it was used to bring in ammunition and stores to the 2nd Corps' second supply line. The 317th PWSK Transport Company organised 203 transport columns carrying out more than 12,210 missions across 1,622,500 miles, and delivering just over 113,000 tons of supplies. We talk about Pani Tola’s story and about the reverberations of her experiences across 2 generations of women, through memory, Polish language, patriotism and culture. Pani Tola loved dancing, she danced in the Polish folk groups during WW2 and a wonderful photograph of her standing in the desert in front of her tent dressed in the Krakowski Stroj - Polish national costume - that she had sewed. In London Pani Tola continued to sew Polish dance costumes for Mazury Polish Dance Company, Nuna her daughter was part of the troupe for 30 years and her grandaughter continues to promote Polish folk dance.Medals and Awards Polish Army MedalBritish: 1939-45 StarItaly StarDefence MedalThe War Medal 1939-45Pani Tola opened my eyes to the overlooked Polish Women warriors of World War 2, when she took me through her annotated and much-loved copy of In Their Country’s service Women Soldiers of the 2nd Polish corps 1941 – 1946 this commemorative book was published in Italy by The Headquarters of the Polish Women’s Auxillary Corps 2nd Corps."We spoke about" Links:Theodora (Tola) Styraniec - by Nuna Staniszek https://artandmemory.uk/force-of-memoryhttps://www.facebook.com/PolishForgottenForce/posts/681754709066695/?_rdrIn Their Country’s service Women Soldiers of the 2nd Polish corps 1941 – 1946. Published in Italy by The Headquarters of the Polish Women’s Auxillary Corps 2nd Corps.https://www.polishexilesofww2.org/photo-books-and-publicationsMazury Dance Company of the Polish YMCAhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-2R2GSQ5c-lH0aBdN613LQOgnisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola PiesakowskaSupported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondynConnect with Ognisko PolskieX : @ognisko_polskieInstagram: @ognisko_polskieFacebook: OgniskoPolskieUKWebsite: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/Ognisko PolskiePrinces Gate,55, Exhibition Road,London,United KingdomSubscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

Not only was Zdzisław Łukasiewicz the 4th volunteer in the Polish Army under General Anders that formed in the USSR after the Sikorski Mayski Agreement, he was given the job of travelling across USSR to muster Poles who had been incarcerated in gulags and prisons.In this episode of Monte Cassino 80, we meet Konrad “Radders” Harandon, the grandson of Zdzisław Łukasiewicz member of the Polish 4th “Skorpion” and then 2nd Armoured Brigade who became the editor of “Taran,” the newspaper of 2nd “Warsaw” Armoured Division. Prior to Cassino, Zdzisław Łukasiewicz was transferred to Brigade HQ, and the Referatura Kultury i Prasy / Culture and Press Department.In this podcast we follow his incredible journey from his childhood as a defender of Lwow, his student life at Jan Kazimierz University, his family links to the Armia Krajowa / Home Army and the Warsaw Uprising. we learn about Zdzislaw's and his wife’s arrest and their forced deportation to the USSR. We hear how Zdzislaw was saved by his artistic skills and how he became a key person in General Ander’s mustering of Poles to the Polish army after the Sikorski Mayski Agreement.With Konrad we follow his grandfather’s incredible and well documented journey across the battlefields of Italy: Monte Cassino, onwards through Piedimonte and on to victory at Ancona in July 1944.Follow Konrad "Radders" Harandon's fantastic Twitter feed where he describes himself as an Anglo-Polish history lover. Polish 2nd Armoured Brigade/Division during the Second World War. On his feed, Konrad features some of the amazing photos from his father's archives as well as sharing detailed and fascinating insights into the 2nd Armoured Brigade."We spoke about" Links:Konrad “Radders” Harandon X (Twitter) @konnie83Tadeusz Szumanski https://twitter.com/konnie83/status/1723648876849078371Hubal film https://youtu.be/5rbuWiC5iGY?si=JMc-W5OxTzpE1p8OStanisław Tabisz („Piotrowski”) https://www.1944.pl/powstancze-biogramy/stanislaw-tabisz,45565.htmlGliwa https://www.foto.karta.org.pl/nasze-zbiory/fotografowie/s-gliwa,63633,zdjecie.htmhttp://fototekst.pl/bitwa-o-monte-cassino-najdluzszy-polski-fotoreportaz/Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola PiesakowskaSupported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondynConnect with Ognisko PolskieX : @ognisko_polskieInstagram: @ognisko_polskieFacebook: OgniskoPolskieUKWebsite: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/Ognisko PolskiePrinces Gate,55, Exhibition Road,London,United KingdomSubscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode. 

Marek Mrozek, talks about the 2nd corps soldiers’ their reputation for grit, determination and fearlessness in battle. Across 2 podcasts we will be talking about the historical and social journey of the Polish men and women, of the 2nd Corp, drugi korpus led by general Anders. We will explore why the volunteered to fight and why they were ready for the victory at the Battle for Monte CassinoIn part 2 of The Polish Soldiers' Grit, Determination and Fearlessness in Battle, before leaving the Middle East for Italy we find out about Tobruk and preparations for the Italian Campaign and then we examine General Anders' motivation for and the strategic details of the Battle of Monte Cassino. Marek draws our attention to the dedication and focus of the front line soldiers who were supported by the entire Polish 2nd Corps / Drugi Korpus and how the Battle was won by the efforts by every man and woman. Marek is a volunteer at Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, london and the curator of the highly successful exhibition Polish Armed Forces on the Front Lines 1944 Polskie Sily Zbrojne na Frontach WojnyThanks to Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, London (PISM) - the largest archival and museum institution in Western Europe that is focused on Polish history, predominantly covering the first half of the 20th century. From its foundation in 1945 until the fall of communism in 1989, the Institute was one of the main exiled institutions where Poland’s true history was presented to the public.You can explore at https://pism.org.uk/Or visit at20 Prince’s GateLondon SW7 1PTTue – Fri : 9.30am - 4pmOgnisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola PiesakowskaSupported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondynConnect with Ognisko PolskieX : @ognisko_polskieInstagram: @ognisko_polskieFacebook: OgniskoPolskieUKWebsite: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/Ognisko PolskiePrinces Gate,55, Exhibition Road,London,United KingdomSubscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode. 

In this episode of Monte Cassino 80, with thanks to Kresy Family Polish WWII History Group, we meet Jan Zajaczkowski. Jan is a volunteer at Kresy Family who has become an authority on navigating the available archives as well as adding to the tools to help you find your Polish Roots. In this podcast he explains what is accessible if you are researching a family journey from Kresy, through Siberia, Drugi Korpus 2nd Corps and service in the Italian campaign.KRESY FAMILY RESEARCH LINKS PAGE https://www.kresyfamily.com/family-research-links.htmlKRESY FAMILY VIDEO Family Research Webinar I - Pre war records, Maps, Deportation Lists (Siberia, Kazakhstan, etc)https://youtu.be/rlFiPVpkXKE?si=soyDH2QfM8gc-YxYKRESY FAMILY VIDEO Family Research Webinar II - Evacuation from USSR to Persia, Military service, Refugee campshttps://youtu.be/ytJjs_yqkhs?si=PghN_nwl09FRUjn8THE POLISH ARCHIVE AND SIKORSKI MUSEUM WEBSITEhttps://pism.org.uk/how-to-use-the-archive/JERRY KUBICA MONTE CASSINO WEBINAR: https://youtu.be/xBm5kYG2KZ4?si=A6weTplE_ZNSN53_Jola reads an excerpt from the document "W sprawie z plebiscytu urządowego przez Sowieckie władze w październiku 1939" which was written her aunt, Zofia Nowińska on the 10th of April 1943. Ochotniczka Zofia Nowińska went on to serve in 316 Transport and at Monte Cassino delivered supplies to the 2nd Front Line, she drive on the treacherous supply road under cover of darkness, with only the battle to light up the sky.The document is one of thousands of other similar testimonies recorded in 1943, scanned and held in the Hoover archive. Zofia's document had been unread by anyone in her family until it was discovered by Jola in June 2024 after she followed the advice given by Jan Zajaczkowski while recording “How to Find your Polish Roots”."The piece of advice he gave me was that once you have located the folder number, download the folder and you will find that it is uncatalogued. Don't give up - go through every document until you find the one you are looking for, it takes time but it is in there."Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola PiesakowskaSupported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondynConnect with Ognisko PolskieX : @ognisko_polskieInstagram: @ognisko_polskieFacebook: OgniskoPolskieUKWebsite: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/Ognisko PolskiePrinces Gate,55, Exhibition Road,London,United KingdomSubscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode.© Ognisko Polskie

Finally - 80 years after the Polish victory of the Battle of Monte Cassino – Melchior Wańkowicz’s “The Battle of Monte Cassino” has been translated into English.“The book should become a historical source. That's why we can find information about one and a half thousand participants on its pages.” Melchior Wańkowicz.In this episode, Jola Piesakowska speaks to distinguished translator Charles Kraszewski about his work translating Melchior Wańkowicz’s “The Battle of Monte Cassino” ahead of its publication in Autumn 2024. Charles Kraszewski discusses the translation process, shares his thoughts on Wańkowicz’s work and explains how he was commissioned by Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm to make this historic version of the Wańkowicz classic of military reportage. A journalist and publisher, Melchior Wańkowicz served as a correspondent during the Italian campaign with the 2nd Polish Corps. In "The Battle of Monte Cassino" he details military strategies and events, but also delves into the personal stories of the soldiers of the Polish II Corps. This human dimension to the historical narrative, highlights the bravery, sacrifice, and hardships faced by the soldiers. As an eye witness account of the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wańkowicz’s book is a piece of first-class literary writing and a classic of reportage – featuring as it does, unique interviews gathered from the troops.The battle for Monte Cassino was key to the Allied forces breaking through the German defensive lines in Italy and ultimately leading to the liberation of Rome. Wańkowicz’s account is a comprehensive and detailed first-hand testimony of this gruelling and pivotal battle.PRE - ORDERhttps://rowman.com/ISBN/9781666920215/The-Battle-of-Monte-CassinoCharles S. Kraszewski is a poet and translator creative in both English and Polish, Czech and Slovak. He has five volumes of poetry to his credit in English and in Polish. He was awarded the Gloria Artist medal by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Poland and the ZAiKS award for translations into a foreign language by the Polish Society of Authors. He is a member of the Union of Polish Writers Abroad (London) and the Society of Polish Writers, Kraków.Dr. Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm benefited from the early tutelage of Melchior Wankowicz working as his assistant. She is the author of 18 books in Polish and 7 in English, she has written many articles published in magazines and quarterly periodicals. Ziolkowska-Boehm has been the recipient of literary awards including a literature fellowship by the Delaware Division of the Arts in 2006, a Fulbright scholarship at Warsaw University in 2006-2007, and a Fulbright award in 1985 from the Institute of International Education. A member of the Society of Polish Writers in Warsaw, Polish Writers Union Abroad in London, New York: Kosciuszko Foundation, Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences, American PEN Club and in Washington DC: The Fulbright Association.Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola PiesakowskaSupported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondynConnect with Ognisko PolskieX : @ognisko_polskieInstagram: @ognisko_polskieFacebook: OgniskoPolskieUKWebsite: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/Ognisko PolskiePrinces Gate,55, Exhibition Road,London,United KingdomSubscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode.© Ognisko Polskie 

"I realise now, that at 18, I was too young to understand just how dangerous this was." Danuta (Mączka) Gradosielska was 18 years old when she saw active service at Monte Cassino and the Italian Campaign as a driver with 316th POMOCNICZA SŁUŻBA KOBIET, WOMEN'S AUXILIARY SERVICES Drugi Korpus 2nd Corps. The 316th PWSK Transport Company was an all-female unit, driving 3-ton Dodge trucks and armed with rifles for self-defence they serviced the supply columns of the 2nd Polish Corps and British Units. The 316th Transport Company's unique composition, roles, and contributions during World War II highlight the important and often under appreciated role of women in the military during this period.In this episode of Monte Cassino 80, with thanks to Pani Gradosielska’s family, the Kresy Family Polish WWII History Group and actress and presenter, Rula Lenska we hear the testimony of Pani Gradosielka who during the 365 days in Italy (5 May 1944 - 3 May 1945), was one of 324 women took part in the 316th Company 31,129 supply operations.316 company covered 1,978,108 miles, supplied 6,626 tons of ammunition; 77, 902 tons of provisions; 30,410 tons of fuel; and 23,320 tons of equipment. The involvement of women in the 316th Transport Company challenged the traditional gender norms of the time. It demonstrated women's capability to handle demanding and often dangerous tasks, paving the way for greater gender integration in the military. While women were not typically in combat roles, those in the 316th Transport Company often operated close to the front lines. They faced many of the same dangers as their male counterparts, including the threat of enemy attacks and the challenges of wartime conditions.The experiences and contributions of the women in the 316th Transport Company during World War II had a lasting impact. Their service helped to shift public perceptions about women's roles in the military and society, leading to greater acceptance and integration of women in various fields post-war.Rula Lenska, daughter of Major Count Ludwik Lubienski, Italian Campaign aide de camp of General Wladyslaw Anders during the Italian Campaign, reads from Pani Gradosielska’s testimony."We have fulfilled our duty. As Polish women-soldiers, wives-mothers, patriots-social activists, and now as grandmothers, we try to pass something of Polish culture and language to our grandchildren."To read more about Pani Gradosielka's life click here:https://www.kresyfamily.com/danuta-intro.htmlTo read her diaries in full click here:https://www.kresyfamily.com/sec-048-krechowiecka-maczka.htmlTranslation from the book Z Kresów Wschodnich R.P. Wspomnienia z Osad Wojskowych 1921-1940 (From The Eastern Borderlands of Poland, Memories of Military Settlements 1921-1940)Pub: Ognisko Rodzin Osadników Kresowych (OROK) (Association of the Families of the Borderland Settlers) London, UK. 1992 and 1998CLICK HERE: https://www.kresyfamily.com/wow-078-krechowiecka-maczka.htmlIn memory of Pani Porucznik DANUTA (MĄCZKA) GRADOSIELSKA1925 - 2024 She leaves a legacy of gaining recognition of the PWSK for their service and contributions in World War 2.Her military honoursPolish army medalMonte Cassino CrossBritish 1939/45 StarItaly StarThe Defence MedalWar Medal 1939/45 And numerous Civilian honoursOgnisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola PiesakowskaSupported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondyn© Ognisko Polskie

"...because Polish people are actually very brave and they fight well... even the women"Marking the 80th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino in May 2024, Pani Sawicka spoke to me for this podcast at her home in South West London. At 101 years old, she looks back on her military career in World War 2 and reflects on how as a 16 year old, the invasion of Poland in September 1939 shattered her idyllic life. With grit, determination and luck Pani Sawicka survived forced deportation to Siberia and commanded respect in the Polish Pomocnicza Służba Kobiet, Women's Auxiliary Service. Highly intelligent and a multi linguist, Pani Waleria Sawicka was promoted to the Superintendent of the Polish advanced base in Mottola, Italy during the Italian Campaign, serving as a corporal in the 2nd Corps Signals regiment. Her work in Signals work was highly classified: sending morse messages, responsible for secure telephone military communications between allied generals as well as encrypting military commands to Allied bases in Gallipoli, Italy.Monte Cassino 80 is supported by Polish Cultural Institute in London.With many thanks to Marek Mrozek volunteer at Polish Institute Sikorski Museum, London.If you would like to learn more about Pani Waleria Sawickalisten to the Swiat Sybiru 3 part podcast:https://swiatsybiru.pl/pl/ze-swiecian-do-kazachstanu-cz-1/and her personal collection of photographs 1935 - 1946 can view viewed in the Karta archivehttps://www.foto.karta.org.plOgnisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola PiesakowskaSupported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondynColonel Lipinski's in depth memoirshttps://www.kresyfamily.com/romuald-lipinski-intro.htmlConnect with Ognisko PolskieX : @ognisko_polskieInstagram: @ognisko_polskieFacebook: OgniskoPolskieUKWebsite: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/Ognisko PolskiePrinces Gate,55, Exhibition Road,London,United KingdomSubscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode.© Ognisko Polskie 

 Colonel Romuald Lipinski is a veteran of the battle of Monte Cassino and the last surviving soldier of the 12th Podolski Lancers Regiment, 12 Pułk Ułanów Podolskich. 2nd Polish Corps. Drugi Korpus. In this podcast he describes the moment on the 18th May 1944 when his regiment the 12th Podolski Lancers, 12 Pułk Ułanów Podolskich raised their pennant over the Monastery of Monte Cassino…  Recorded in April 2024, marking the 80th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino, Colonel Lipinski spoke to me for this podcast, from his home in in Virginia in the United States he offers us a first hand account, a unique perspective on this pivotal moment in history and of the 2nd Corp, Drugi Korpus whose bravery and sacrifices continue to resonate 80 years later.This is Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80, supported by Polish Cultural Institute - a podcast series where, in this 80th anniversary year we reflect on the Battle of Monte Cassino in the second world war, and consider the contribution of Poles to the battle itself as well as to the broader Italian Campaign – We hope to examine how 80 years on, the battle of Monte Cassino still reverberates - and consider its cultural and its emotional impact on Poles down the generations.I’m Jola Piesakowska and in this episode of Monte Cassino 80, with thanks to Kresy Family Polish WWII History Group we meet Colonel Romuald Lipinski.of the 12th Podolski Lancers Regiment, 12 Pułk Ułanów Podolskich. 2nd Polish Corps. Drugi Korpus. It was the troops of the 1st Squadron, 12th Podolski Lancers Regiment who on the 18th May 1944 were the first patrol to reach the peak of Monte Cassino and who raised their regimental pennant above the captured monastery as a signal that it had finally been taken by Polish forces.At Monte Cassino Colonel Lipinski was just 18 years old, he was the youngest in the mortar squadron, fighting throughout the Italian Campaign on the front line.Romuald Lipinski's journey from forced deportation from Poland, enduring the privations of Siberia, joining the Polish Army after the Sikorski Majski Agreement to the battlefields of Italy is a testament to the resilience and determination of the Polish people during World War II. Forced deportation from his home in the eastern Polish borderlands to Siberia by the Soviets, and ultimately joining the Polish Army after the Sikorski Majski Agreement exemplify the hardships faced by many during that tumultuous time. Colonel Lipinski's experiences, from recovery from the privations of Siberia to following the trail of the Polish 2nd Corps through the Middle East and into Italy, including the intense Battle of Monte Cassino, highlight the sacrifices made by individuals like him in the fight against tyranny and oppression. His story adds depth and humanity to our understanding of the war and the lasting impact it had on those who lived through it.Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola Piesakowska Supported by the Polish Cultural InstituteProduced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondynColonel Lipinski's in depth memoirshttps://www.kresyfamily.com/romuald-lipinski-intro.htmlConnect with Ognisko PolskieX : @ognisko_polskieInstagram: @ognisko_polskie Facebook: OgniskoPolskieUKWebsite: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/Ognisko PolskiePrinces Gate, 55, Exhibition Road, London, United KingdomSubscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode.© Ognisko Polskie