Ignacy Skowron was a Polish soldier guarding a military depot near Gdansk along with 200 other troops when it came under attack from the German warship Schlezwig-Holstein on September 1, 1939. This was the opening battle of World War II. They fought 1,500 German troops ,but were eventually captured and became prisoners. Fortunately for Skowron, he was released in 1940 because of illness and he returned home.
Skowrow, 97, was the last surviving Polish soldier from the battle. He died on August 5, 2012 near his home in Kielce in the southern section of Poland.
After the war, he spent his career working for the Polish rail system until he retired in 1975. He participated often in the annual observance on September 1st to commemorate the battle. His last time was in 2009 before he suffered a variety of illnesses that lead to his death.
He spent time throughout his life retelling his story of the battle to younger generations.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
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