Halszka Wasilewska, sometimes called Halina, (21 March 1899 – 8 February 1961), WW2 nom-de-guerre Krystyna, was one of the first women to attain the rank of Major in the Polish Armed Forces. She was a Legionnaire in the First world war and the subsequent Polish-Soviet War in 1920. She participated in the battle for Lwów and in the Polish - Ukrainian War. As an officer, she had special responsibility for training in the women's Polish Armed Forces during the interbellum. With the outbreak of WW2, she directed training for the women in the Polish Underground Army. She was captured and tortured by the Nazis and held in Ravensbrück concentration camp for two years. After liberation she rose to the rank of Major of the Women's forces in General Maczek's 1st Armoured Division in post-war Germany. She was the elder sister of the deeply controversial communist activist, Wanda Wasilewska who has overshadowed her in history.
Born |
21 March 1899 Warsaw, Poland
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Died |
8 February 1961 (aged 61) Stafford
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Zodiac | Aries |
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