News

We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mirosław Żarczyński, president of the War Disabled Veterans Association in Opole. For the people of Opole, he was a dedicated social activist, for the CMJW, a person who could always be counted on during events commemorating POWs-victims of the Second World War.

He was born in Równe on 30 July 1930. Therefore, when the war broke out, he was just 9 years old. After the Red Army entered the area, he and his family managed to avoid the looming deportations. Upon returning home, however, Mirosław and his relatives were struck by a different tragedy. They were eyewitnesses to the murders committed by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, as a result of which part of the family, including his grandmother and grandfather, were killed. Mirosław with his relatives managed to escape to Cracow. After the war, he took up arms in the ranks of anti-communist partisans - the Resistance Movement of the Home Army. His rich biography there is also an episode of being arrested by the Department of Public Security and several months' imprisonment. Despite theses dramatic ordeals, he never lost his strength of spirit.

In free Poland, he became a member of the Main Board the War Disabled Veterans Association of the Republic of Poland, was activity involved in works of the Provincial Veterans' Council in Opole. In September 2018, he attended the congress of delegates of the War Disabled Veterans Association in Opole on its 100th anniversary. For his activities, he was awarded a number of decorations, including the Cross of the Home Army, the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the badge "For services to the Opole Voivodeship".