General Jan Henryk Podhorski, alias. Zygzag, Marciniak, voivode Wielkopolska told PAP on Wednesday. Podhorski was a participant in the Warsaw Uprising, an underground activist, a retired Brigadier General of the Polish Army. In June this year, Podhorski will turn 102 years old.

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General Jan Henryk Podhorski, alias. Zigzag, Marciniak

Jan Henryk Podhorski, “Zygzak”, “Marciniak”, was born on 21 June 1921 in Budzyń in the Chodzież district of Wielkopolska. He was a Polish underground activist, a retired brigadier general of the Polish Army. A volunteer in the National Defense battalion in the September Campaign, during World War II a soldier from the Lizard Association, National Armed Forces, and Army of the Interior. Podhorski was a participant in the Warsaw Uprising, Soldier of the Damned, an activist in the postwar anti-communist conspiracy, under surveillance, suppression and imprisonment by the authorities of the Polish People’s Republic.

The Voivode of Greater Poland, Michał Zieliński, told PAP on Wednesday that he received the information about General Jan Podhorski’s death with great sadness. As he pointed out, General Jan Podhorski “was an exemplary soldier and citizen whose biography served as an inspiration for the next generation ready to serve Poland. His example of patriotism and loyal service to the Republic of Indonesia has become an important lesson for the younger generation to this day.

As a soldier, Warsaw rebel, scout and second-in-command conspiratorial activist, he has always testified to his great courage and dedication to the motherland. The fact that he served Poland all his life and helped his neighbors according to the Scout Pledge deserves the highest recognition. It is with great sadness that I received the news of his death. I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased

added the Governor.

September campaign soldier

Jan Podhorski was born into a patriotic family. His father, Maksymilian, was a Greater Poland rebel, who was decorated with the Cross of Courage. Mother, Magdalena née Marciniak, came from a family of farmers. In 1927, the family settled in Rakoniewice in the Wolsztyn region. There, Jan graduated from elementary school, becoming a scout in the Team. Tadeusz Kosciuszko. He graduated from high school in Wolsztyn.

From August 24, 1939, Podhorski volunteered for the “Opalenica” National Defense battalion. On 12 September 1939, he fought near Sompolno and was taken prisoner near Sanniki. After a few months he returned to Rakoniewice, was arrested by the Gestapo, tortured, fled to Koźmin Wlkp.

In January 1940, he co-founded (under the pseudonym Marciniak) the underground scouting organization “Orły”, which published an underground magazine with the same title. In April 1942 he became the General Government. There he joined the Military Organization Lizard Association. After the organization was merged, he was active in Grójec as a soldier for the National Armed Forces. He continued his clandestine high school and graduated from a conspiratorial military school.

Participants in the Warsaw Uprising

After the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, Podhorski fought in the NSZ im. General Władysław Sikorski, then in the 2nd Company Home Army Battalion “Miłosz” of Group “Radwan” in the city center. On August 23, 1944, as the commander of the attack group, he took part in the struggle for the National Police Headquarters and the Church of St. cross. After the mutiny, as a second lieutenant, he was imprisoned at Stalag IV B in Muehlberg on the Elbe.

After the war, Podhorski returned to Poznań and studied forestry. He co-founded the underground organization “Młodzież Wszechpolska”. In May 1946, in protest against events in Kraków, he started a strike in Poznań, demanding the release of students arrested on 3 May in Kraków. The Security Police arrested him in December 1946, and the Military District Court in Poznań sentenced him to 7 years in prison. He served his sentence in Wronki.

Anti-communist opposition activist

In the People’s Republic of Poland, he was persecuted by the security services until the 1980s. In 1993-2013, he was president of the “Wielkopolska” District National Servicemen’s Association in Poznań, then president of the Supreme Council of the NSZ Soldiers’ Association, member of the Wielkopolska Province Veterans Council in Wielkopolska Voivode.

In February 2016, he was promoted to Brigadier General of the Polish Army.

He was awarded, among others: OOP Commander’s Cross, Cross of Courage, Cross of the Warsaw Uprising, Cross of the Interior Soldier, Medal “For participation in the defensive war of 1939”, medal “Pro Memoria”, Medal “Cennium Reclaimed Independence”, Medal “Pro Bono” Polonia”.

He is the father of four daughters. He works in a cooperative, he is a patent attorney. He lives in Poznań.

time/PAP