"...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 Sawicka

listen 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 archive

https://www.foto.karta.org.pl

Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola Piesakowska

Supported by the Polish Cultural Institute

Produced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondyn

Colonel Lipinski's in depth memoirs

https://www.kresyfamily.com/romuald-lipinski-intro.html

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