Band of Brothers
Salwiczek Rudolf
Kaporal14-07-1923 - Krolewskiej Hucie (Chorzow) - Polska
02-03-1988 - Oosterhout (NBr) - Netherlands
Rudolf Salwiczek was force enlisted in the German Army and sent to Africa, where he was captured as POW in Cap Bon Tunisia in May 1943.
He was shipped to the UK and enlisted with the First Polish Army in October 1943. He assumed as pseudonym Rudolf Jurand to protect his family in Poland. After a training period he was transferred to the CKM unit on April 6th 1944. He landed in Normandy in August 1944 and participated as commander of a Bren carrier in the horrendous battle on Mont Ormel. His journey north lead him through France and Belgium to participate in the liberation of Breda, where he was billeted with the Kerstens family. One of the daughters from Rombout Kerstens and Rudolf fell in love. Rudolf had to move on in April 1945 to liberate eastern parts of Holland and serve as occupying forces in Germany till his demobilisation in 1946.
He decided to go back to Breda to his love and marry her, with as a result two sons, of which I am the eldest: Peter R. Salwiczek
Photo 1 Bren carrier
Rudolf Salwiczek and Kajetan Lewandowski in front of their Bren Carrier in Breda late 1944.
In the back the militairy "Kitchen" is visible, where the soldiers obtained their meals.
Photo 2 Bren Carrier
Rudolf, Kajetan and the rest of the crew in the Brenn Carrier in surroundings of Breda
Militairy parade in Breda 1944
Bren carrier with Rudolf in the command seat during militairy parade 1944
Liberation of Heemse in east of Holland
Rudolf in front of his Bren Carrier. Picture taken in Heemse near Hardenberg in the East of Holland. My father and crew on the way north in April 1945 to continue liberation of Holland to reach Wilhelmshafen as occupational forces in May 1945. The unit served in the First Polish Armoured Division under Canadian command. Therefore it is badly known, that the men were not Canadian, but Polish !!!
Author of the biographical information on this page : Peter Salwiczek
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