Józef Szczepański | |
|---|---|
 Józef Szczepański | |
| Nickname | Ziutek |
| Born | (1922-11-30)30 November 1922 |
| Died | 10 September 1944(1944-09-10) (aged 21) Warsaw |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Home Army |
| Branch | Grey Ranks |
| Rank |  Podporucznik (Second lieutenant) |
| Unit | Parasol Battalion |
| Battles / wars | Warsaw Uprising |
| Awards |  Silver Cross ofVirtuti Militari_2r_BAR.svg) Cross of Valour (twice) |
Józef Szczepański (Polish pronunciation:[ˈjuzɛfʂt͡ʂɛˈpaj̃skʲi]; 30 November 1922 inŁęczyca – 10 September 1944 inWarsaw) was a Polish poet who was a member of theArmia KrajowaPolish resistance. Commander of theBattalion Parasol during theWarsaw Uprising, known under his codenameZiutek, he was also a notablepoet of the occupation period. Many of his poems were made into songs; the most notable one was "Pałacyk Michla".[a]
Szczepanski spent his childhood in several places, such as Łęczyca,Grudziądz, Jablonna and finally, some time in mid-1930s, he moved with the family to Warsaw. During thePolish September Campaign, he fled with parents toVolhynia, then moved toRzeszów andDębica. Finally, some time in the early 1940s, he returned to the capital of Poland. Back in Warsaw, Józef Szczepański continued his educationin underground courses; interrupted by the German and Soviet attack on Poland. He also joined the Polish resistance (see:Szare Szeregi), becoming anofficer candidate. He was a member of the squad that attempted to assassinate Nazi official,Wilhelm Koppe. Szczepanski was the soldier of the 1st Platoon of the 1st CompanyAgat of the Battalion Parasol, he publicly recited his first poem "Dzis ide walczyc - mamo" ("Today, I am going fighting, mother"), on 31 December 1943 in a house at 12 Swietojanska street in Warsaw. Soon afterwards, he became abard ofParasol
During the Warsaw Uprising he was a squad leader in the Battalion Parasol (mostly composed of youths, many of them fromSzare Szeregi underground scouting). He took command of the entire unit after its previous commander was killed. Wounded on the same day (1 September) inWarsaw Old Town, he was evacuated by his soldiers toWarszawa-Śródmieście but would die on 10 September.
Recipient of theCross of Valour (twice), and theVirtuti Militari (5th class,posthumously).
Many of Szczepański's poems became popular in occupied Warsaw, particularly as he used them to chronicle the fights of the 'Parasol' Battalion; some were made into songs. Many were however destroyed during the Uprising; less than 20 survive to this day. His poetry, particularly his poemRed plague, was also one of the things that inspired PolishOscar-winning film director,Andrzej Wajda, to create the movieKanał.[1] The poem, which described the failed hopes of Warsaw insurgents that theRed Army would save them, was banned in thePeople's Republic of Poland due to itsanti-Soviet context; during theJoseph Stalin era the very possession of it was punishable by imprisonment.[2][b]
He is counted among theGeneration of Columbuses - generation of Polish artists whose lives were dramatically impacted by the Second World War.
a^ You can listen to "Pałacyk Michla"here[permanent dead link]
b^ Fragments of Red Plague: "We are waiting for you, red plague... you will be salvation welcomed with revulsion... we are waiting for you, our eternal enemy... bloody murderer of so many of our brethren...."
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