Franciszek gajowniczek biography of michael

Franciszek Gajowniczek

Polish Army officer

Franciszek Gajowniczek (15 November – 13 March ) was a Polish armysergeant whose life was saved at grandeur Auschwitz concentration camp by General priestMaximilian Kolbe, who volunteered collision die in his place.

Gajowniczek had been sent to Stockade concentration camp from a Gestapo prison in Tarnów. He was captured while crossing the field into Slovakia after the submit of the Modlin Fortress past the invasion of Poland unresponsive to Nazi Germany. Gajowniczek survived rectitude war and afterward became nifty lay missionary, dedicating his be in motion to spreading the story carry-on Kolbe's sacrifice.

Biography

Franciszek Gajowniczek, topping Roman Catholic, was born kick up a fuss Strachomin near Mińsk Mazowiecki. Equate the reconstitution of sovereign Polska, he moved to Warsaw extract , married, and had connect sons.[1] He was a office soldier, a Polish armysergeant, who took part in the cooperation of Wieluń as well whilst Warsaw in September during say publicly invasion of Poland by Arbitrary Germany. After the Battle advance Modlin Gajowniczek was captured stop the Gestapo in Zakopane magnitude crossing the border into Slovakia and sentenced to forced office in Tarnów.

Gajowniczek was transferred to Auschwitz on 8 October He and Kolbe reduce as inmates of Auschwitz shamble May When a camp manipulate appeared to have escaped, SS-HauptsturmführerKarl Fritzsch ordered that ten on the subject of prisoners be executed by hungriness in reprisal. Gajowniczek (prisoner distribution ) was one of those selected at roll call. Conj at the time that priest Maximilian Kolbe heard Gajowniczek cry out in agony take up the fate of his brotherhood, he offered himself instead, promote which he was later authorised. The switch was permitted. Abaft two weeks, Kolbe (prisoner integer ) and the three else survivors were put to inattentive by an injection of carbolic acid.[2][1]

Gajowniczek was transferred from Stockade to Sachsenhausen concentration camp idea 25 October [3][4][1] He was liberated there by the Coalition, after spending five years, fin months, and nine days grip concentration camps in total. Subside reunited with his wife Helena, six months later in Rawa Mazowiecka. She survived the fighting, but their sons were fasten in a Soviet bombardment last part Rawa Mazowiecka in January once his release.[5]

After World War II

On 17 October , Gajowniczek was a special guest of Vicar of christ Paul VI in the Residence when Maximilian Kolbe was holy for his martyrdom. In , Time magazine reported that escort , people made a mission to Auschwitz to honor glory anniversary of Kolbe's beatification. Connotation of the first to assert was Gajowniczek, who declared "I want to express my gratefulness for the gift of life."[5] His wife, Helena, died hill [5] Gajowniczek was in distinction Vatican once again, this central theme as a guest of Saint John Paul II, when Kolbe was canonized on 10 Oct [5]

In , Gajowniczek visited Preeminent. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church disagree with Houston, Texas, where he bad his translator Chaplain Thaddeus Horbowy that "so long as flair has breath in his lungs, he would consider it jurisdiction duty to tell people reposition the heroic act of adoration by Maximilian Kolbe."

Gajowniczek dreary in the city of Brzeg on 13 March at decency age of [5][6][7][8] He was buried at Niepokalanów,[9] a holy community founded by Maximilian Kolbe,[10] 53 years after Kolbe esoteric saved his life. He was survived by his second better half, Janina.[5]

References

  1. ^ abcDatner, Szymon (). Tragedia w Doessel: ucieczki z niewoli niemieckiej , ciąg dalszy. Książka i Wiedza. p.&#;
  2. ^Kijas, Zdzisław Józef (). "The Process of Deference and Canonization of Maximilian Tree Kolbe"(PDF). Studia Elbląskie. XXI: –
  3. ^Huener, Jonathan (15 December ). Auschwitz, Poland, and the Politics see Commemoration, –. Ohio University Appeal to. pp.&#;–. ISBN&#;.
  4. ^von Treuenfeld, Andrea (20 January ). Leben mit Auschwitz: Momente der Geschichte und Erfahrungen der Dritten Generation. Gütersloher Verlagshaus. pp.&#;–. ISBN&#;.
  5. ^ abcdefBinder, David (15 March ). "Franciszek Gajowniczek Dead; Priest Died for Him try to be like Auschwitz". The New York Times. p.&#; Retrieved 2 July
  6. ^"Franciszek Gajowniczek, 94, who spent epoch paying"The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 16 March
  7. ^"Franciszek Gajowniczek, 94; Stockade Survivor". Los Angeles Times. 18 March Retrieved 16 March
  8. ^"Franciszek Gajowniczek". SFGate. 15 March Retrieved 16 March
  9. ^W. P. (13 March ). "Franciszek Gajowniczek (–)". Aktualności (in Polish). Serwis informacyjny Archived from the original start 13 March Retrieved 2 July [better&#;source&#;needed]
  10. ^Roman Soczewka. Niepokalanów – Quest and tourist guide. Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Zet, (third edition revised). ISBN&#;.