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Lewenhoff, Tadeusz Zbigniew

Date of birth:
1920 (Czestochowa/Silesia, Poland)
Date of death:
1998
Service number:
1920/86/III
Nationality:
Polish (1918-1939, IInd Republic)

Biography

Born in 1920 in Czestochowa, Poland, Tadeusz Zbigniew Lewenhoff was at the university in Warsaw in September 1939. As a member of the Cadet Corps he was given a rifle and was told to defend the country against an attack from the west but was taken by Russian troops to a detention camp in Siberia.
When Anders army was formed he was released and travelled by train through the Crimea to get to Persia. Marching through Palastine the men would pick oranges from the trees to drink, not eating the flesh so as not to become bloated from eating so many.
Time spent in Egypt included the command of a half track towing an artillery piece. Shipped to Italy, movement was initially up the east through Bari as part of 5th Army, 2nd Polish Corps, 5th Kresowy Division. Action was seen at Monte Cassino Withdrawn for rest and re-equipping, he spent time at the Isle of Capri. At the completion of hostilities he was shipped to England travelling on the New Mauritania. He was based at Cark airfied in Lancashire not far from the town of Grange-over-Sands wherehe became part of 17th Polish Artillery Regiment.

Here he met his wife to become and was demobilised after choosing not to return to Communist Poland. He was not to see his family in Poland until 1960. He lived until 1963 in the North East of England, then emigrated to Western Australia becomming a successful businessman. He died in 1998 of liver cancer.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 10th, 1945

No. 22359
Krzyz Monte Cassino
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Podporucznik (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
March 18th, 1946
1939-1945 Star
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Podporucznik (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
March 18th, 1946
Italy Star
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Second-Lieutenant
Unit:
5th Kresowa Anti-Tank Regiment, 5th Kresowa Rifle Division, Polish II Corps, Polish Armed Forces in the West
Citation:
"For heroic service in action on 19 April 1945 in Italy. The infantry had succeeded in establishing a bridgehead across the River Gaiana when enemy artillery, machine gun and small arms fire brought them to a standstill. Although under direct enemy observation, Lieutenant Lewenhoff carried out a reconnaisance of the situation, brought his guns to the bridgehead and destroyed some of the enemy firing positions with direct hits. The morale of the infantry was considerably heightened and the inactivation of some of the enemy's positions enabled them to continue their advance. Common sense, quick judgment and great personal courage in the part of Lieutenant Lewenhoff inspired his troops to effective and resolute action."
Bronze Star  Medal (BSM)

Sources

  • Photo 1: Paul Lewenhoff
  • - Certification 17th Polish Artillery Regiment, March 18th, 1946
    - Awarding certificate Kryz Monte Cassino
    - Headquarters 15th Army Group, APO 777, AG 200.63

Photo