Stefan Sznuk
Encyclopedia
Stefan Sznuk, OC
(1896 – May 6, 1986) was a pioneering Polish
aviator, as well as an Air Force Major-General and was among the first to join the new Polish Air Force
in 1919.
Born in Warsaw
, he was educated at the Warsaw University of Technology
.
He fought in World War I
for Imperial Russia and later, after the Russian revolution, with the counterrevolutionary White Russians.
During the Polish Defensive War
of 1939, he was staff officer and commander of the Polish Air Forces in the Army Kraków, then in the Army Lublin. He escaped to Romania
, later to France
and Great Britain
. In London
he became the Chief Inspector of the Staff of the Polish Air Forces in Great Britain.
Addressing the language problems of each nation controlling its own trainees during the 1942 Ottawa Air Training Conference (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
) of 14 United Nations countries that was designed to coordinate future air power; Poland's Group Captain Stefan Sznuk explained: Only in one instance does a Polish airman speak this language distinctly and with the proper accent—it is when he speaks to the enemy using the eloquent language of the twelve English-made machine guns of his fighter plane.
Sznuk was the last Polish Army and Air Force
attaché in Canada before the Soviet-control of the nation. After the demobilization of the Polish Army he settled down in Canada
. He helped over 4,500 Polish veterans emigrate to Canada after World War II
and was active in the Polish community as Vice-President of the Canadian Polish Congress
.
In 1970, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
He died on 1986-05-06 in Ottawa
, and was buried in the Notre-Dame Cemetery (Ottawa)
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1896 – May 6, 1986) was a pioneering Polish
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...
aviator, as well as an Air Force Major-General and was among the first to join the new Polish Air Force
Polish Air Force
The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
in 1919.
Born in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, he was educated at the Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology
The Warsaw University of Technology is one of the leading institutes of technology in Poland, and one of the largest in Central Europe. It employs 2,453 teaching faculty, with 357 professors . The student body numbers 36,156 , mostly full-time. There are 17 faculties covering almost all fields of...
.
He fought in 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...
for Imperial Russia and later, after the Russian revolution, with the counterrevolutionary White Russians.
During the Polish Defensive War
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939, he was staff officer and commander of the Polish Air Forces in the Army Kraków, then in the Army Lublin. He escaped to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, later to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. In London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
he became the Chief Inspector of the Staff of the Polish Air Forces in Great Britain.
Addressing the language problems of each nation controlling its own trainees during the 1942 Ottawa Air Training Conference (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
) of 14 United Nations countries that was designed to coordinate future air power; Poland's Group Captain Stefan Sznuk explained: Only in one instance does a Polish airman speak this language distinctly and with the proper accent—it is when he speaks to the enemy using the eloquent language of the twelve English-made machine guns of his fighter plane.
Sznuk was the last Polish Army and Air Force
Polish Air Force
The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
attaché in Canada before the Soviet-control of the nation. After the demobilization of the Polish Army he settled down in 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...
. He helped over 4,500 Polish veterans emigrate to Canada after World War II
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...
and was active in the Polish community as Vice-President of the Canadian Polish Congress
Canadian Polish Congress
The Canadian-Polish Congress , is an umbrella organization founded in 1944 by Polish-Canadians in Canada to coordinate the activities and to articulate the concerns of the Canadian Polish community on public policy issues....
.
In 1970, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
He died on 1986-05-06 in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, and was buried in the Notre-Dame Cemetery (Ottawa)
Notre-Dame Cemetery (Ottawa)
Notre Dame Cemetery, located at 455 Montreal Rd., in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, opened in 1872. It is the most prominent Catholic cemetery in Ottawa. The cemetery is located between residential area of Rockcliffe, Ontario and just south of Beechwood Cemetery on St. Laurent Boulevard in the east end...
.
Awards
- Virtuti MilitariVirtuti MilitariThe Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
, Silver Medal - Polonia RestitutaPolonia RestitutaThe Order of Polonia Restituta is one of Poland's highest Orders. The Order can be conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, science, sport, culture, art, economics, defense of the country, social work, civil service, or for furthering good relations between countries...
, Commander - Cross of Valour (Krzyż Walecznych), twice
- Gold Cross of Merit with Swords (Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami)
- Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, Officer