Family Treasures

The history of my family is connected with the history of the 20th century thanks to my great-grandfather, Józef Jastrzębski.

The family treasure I am submitting to the competition consists of memorabilia connected with my great-grandfather and his collection of medals. These items have been kept in our family for many years and remind us of his life and the events of the 20th century.

My great-grandfather was born in 1907 near Kraków. As a young man, he fought for the freedom of Poland in the Third Silesian Uprising. For his bravery he received the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari – the highest Polish military decoration. This document is very important to our family

because it shows that he took part in the fight for Polish independence.

During the Second World War he worked in the underground as a soldier of the Home Army. He used the pseudonyms “Gryf”, “Bogoria” and “Gozdawa”. He was involved in intelligence, sabotage and worked as a liaison officer in Kraków. Every day he risked his life carrying secret information and fighting the occupier. His activity was part of the wider European struggle against occupation and totalitarianism.

After the war he received the Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945 for fighting against Germany. He also received many foreign decorations. He was appointed a Major of the Allied Resistance Force and received the French Croix de Partisan. This shows that his actions were important not only for Poland but also for other European countries and were part of the common fight for freedom.

Over the years, my great-grandfather received many decorations from Poland and from abroad. They included military medals, diplomas and awards for bravery and activity in the resistance movement. For our family these decorations are proof that his sacrifice was noticed and appreciated by different countries. Every medal tells a separate story and reminds us how difficult the war times were.

In the competition I am submitting scans of documents and photographs preserved in our family, as well as photos of my great-grandfather and his medal collection. One of them is the diploma of the Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945, awarded for fighting the German occupation during World War II. Another document is the nomination of my great-grandfather as a Major of the Allied Resistance Force, which confirms his activity in the international resistance movement. I also include the French decoration Croix de Partisan awarded for fighting in the underground against the occupier.

My great-grandfather’s apartment was a real museum and was located at the foot of Wawel Hill in Kraków. In almost every room there were display cabinets full of medals from all over the world. He collected decorations, armour, cold weapons and paintings. History was his great passion.

Artists and well-known people visited his home. Among the visitors was Saint John Paul II, when he was still a young priest Karol Wojtyła. Colonel Piotr Klimuk – a cosmonaut who flew to space together with Mirosław Hermaszewski – also visited him. My great-grandfather was friends with

Jerzy Kossak, a well-known Polish painter. Writer Magdalena Samozwaniec, poet Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska and actor Daniel Olbrychski also visited him. These are only a few names from the long list of guests recorded in our family guest book.

In our family, 11 November was a very important day. It was my great-grandfather’s most important national holiday, even when it was not officially celebrated in Poland. On this day he always dressed elegantly in a suit and a white shirt to celebrate Polish independence.

For our family these memorabilia are more than just documents. They are symbols of courage, freedom and memory. Thanks to them, the history of the 20th century becomes personal and close to us.

That is why the memories and memorabilia of my great-grandfather are our greatest family treasure.