Pawel Parniak
Encyclopedia
Paweł Parniak of Wolibórz
, Poland
(February 27, 1890? - March 27, 2006) claimed to be the world's oldest living person
and oldest combat veteran ever. He gained international attention in 2002, when he was named Poland's oldest man by the Polish Book of Records.
Parniak claimed to have been born in 1890 in an area that is now part of the Ukraine
and at the time of his birth belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire
.
However, the birthdates of his parents (1870 and 1875) suggest he may have been about five years younger. The claim is also doubted because there have been other Polish claims as high as age 120, and it was common for Polish men to inflate their age to avoid service in the Second World War
. However, that strategy, if employed here, was not effective, as Paweł was forced into service anyway.
Apart from his age, Parniak's status as a surviving World War I veteran
made him a person of interest for those interested in Polish and World War I
history. He enlisted for the Austro-Hungarian army in 1914. In 1919, he joined the Polish army. From 1926 to 1932, he had emigrated to Canada
seeking employment. During World War II he was recruited again and suffered several stabbing wounds inflicted by a Ukrainian soldier, but survived this.
Wolibórz
Wolibórz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowa Ruda, within Kłodzko County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(February 27, 1890? - March 27, 2006) claimed to be the world's oldest living person
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
and oldest combat veteran ever. He gained international attention in 2002, when he was named Poland's oldest man by the Polish Book of Records.
Parniak claimed to have been born in 1890 in an area that is now part of the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and at the time of his birth belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
.
However, the birthdates of his parents (1870 and 1875) suggest he may have been about five years younger. The claim is also doubted because there have been other Polish claims as high as age 120, and it was common for Polish men to inflate their age to avoid service in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. However, that strategy, if employed here, was not effective, as Paweł was forced into service anyway.
Apart from his age, Parniak's status as a surviving World War I veteran
Surviving veterans of World War I
The last living verified veteran of World War I is Florence Green, a British woman who served in the Allied armed forces. The last combat veteran was Claude Choules who served in the British Royal Navy , and died 5 May 2011, aged 110...
made him a person of interest for those interested in Polish and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
history. He enlisted for the Austro-Hungarian army in 1914. In 1919, he joined the Polish army. From 1926 to 1932, he had emigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
seeking employment. During World War II he was recruited again and suffered several stabbing wounds inflicted by a Ukrainian soldier, but survived this.
See also
- Józef Piotrowski
- Longevity claimsLongevity claimsLongevity claims assert extreme human longevity. Those asserting lifespans of 110 years or more are referred to as supercentenarian. Many have either no official verification or are backed only by partial evidence...
- Oldest person
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2006Veterans of the First World War who died in 2006The following is a list of known veterans of the First World War who died in 2006.-Austria-Hungary :-France :-Germany :-Italy :-Turkey/Ottoman Empire :...