Fialkowski, Zbigniew Stefan

Date of birth:: November 14th, 1910 (Mielec, Poland)
Date of death:: November 18th, 1997 (Kraków, Poland)
Buried on:: Parish Cemetery Mielec
Nationality:: Polish (1918-1939, IInd Republic)

Biography

Zbigniew Fialkowski served as 2nd Lieutenant Artillery in the Polish Army during the German invasion of Poland in 1939. After the capitulation, Fialkowski arrived in France to join the Allies. After the defeat of the Allies in France in 1940, he was evacuated to Great Brittain. He followed a number of military traing courses and was dispatched to Palestine in 1942 and from there to Iraq in 1943. In 1944 he was transferred to Italy where he fought against the Germans in Isernia, Monte Cassino, Apolinnare, San Vito, Fileto, Monte Marciano, Numana, Sunliano, Rocca, San Casciano, Pieve, Salutare, Revere, Santa Lucia and Marceno, commanding an anti-aircraft battery. July 2nd, 1944, Fialkowski was promoted to Captain. He also took part in the Allied Spring offensive in 1945 between April 6th and May 2nd and was engaged in the bitter battles for Rimini, Ravenne, Cesenatico, Costa Monte, Calette, Bruciate, Castel Guelfo di Bolongia and Granarole.
On October 7th, 1947, he was discharged from the Army.

Promotions:
1931: Cadet;
1934: 2nd Lieutenant;
1941: 1st Lieutenant;
2 July 2nd, 1944: Captain.

Career:
1929: Graduation from University;
1929: public authorities Jaroslaw;
1931: School of Cadets for Reserve Officers "Marcina Katskiego" 24th Regiment Artillery in Wlodzimierz (VI Kurs Wolynskiej Szkoly Podchorazych Rezerwy Artylerii 1930-1931);
1932: public authorities Rawa Ruska and member of L.O.P.P. (Liga Obrony Powietrznej i Przeciwgazowej);
1938: PZL (Panstwowe Zaklady Lotnicze) in WP-2 (Wytwórnia Platowców-2) in Mielec;
1938: training as commander anti-aircraft at the School of Cadets in Torun;
1939: commander anti-aircraft battery 'PZL Wytwórnia Płatowców nr 2' in Mielec;
September 1st, 1939: mobilisation;
September 6th, 1939: Commander anti-aircraft battery at the "Lignoza" works in Pustków;
September 8th, 1939: 11 Dywizjonu Artylerii Przeciwlotniczej (11th Anti-aircraft Division);
September 19th, 1939 – March 5th, 1940: Prison camp for Polish soldiers in Ipolytarnóc;
March 6th, 1940: escape;
April 17th, 1940: Reached Marseille, France aboard the vessel "Warzawa" ;
From April 18th 1940: military staging camp in Carpiagne, France;
Until June 17th 1940: training center for officers anti-aircraft artillery in Pontchateau;
June 18th, 1940: evacuated to Edinburgh, Scotland;
June 20th, 1940 – June 16th, 1942: Great-Britain;
June 21th - 30th 1940: 4th Cadre Rifle Brigade School in Elie;
June - September 1941: 4th Cadre Rifle Brigade;
September 1941 - June 1942 1st Polish Independent Parachutist Brigade;
Until June 1942: 1 SBS training center for anti-aircraft artillery;
June 16, 1942: 3rd Carpathian Air Artillery Regiment (3 Karpackiego Pulk Artylerii Przeciwlotniczej), 3rd Polish Carpathian Infantry Division (3 Dywizja Strzelców Karpackich), Palestine;
November 13th, 1943: Battery Commander of 7th Air Artillery Regiment (7 Pulk Artylerii Przeciwlotniczej), Iraq;
January 9th, 1943 – November 29th, 1943: deputy CO of Battalion 1;
1944: Egypt;
February 4th, 1944: 2nd Polish Corps, Italy;
June 21st, 1945: Commander Battalion 1, 3rd Karpathian Air Artillery Regiment;
August 21st, 1946 – June 5th, 1947: Great-Britain;
June 7th, 1947: Polish demobilisation camp, La Courtine;
October 7th, 1947: discharge;
May 24th, 1948: Poland;
July 1st, 1948: Cattle farmer;
?: Engineer in Mielec.