Wladyslaw SMROKOWSKI
Commando Commander
Wladyslaw Smrokowski was born on 25 October 1909 in Krakow, Poland – commander of the 1st Independent Company of Commandos and the 2nd Battalion of Motorized Commandos during World War II.
He graduated high school in 1928 and started studying at the Jagiellonian University. A year later, he quit his studies and joined the Infantry School in Ostrów Mazowiecka - Komorów. After graduating in 1932, he was promoted to the second lieutenant and was assigned to the 3rd Regiment of the Podhale Riflemen.
In 1935, he was transferred to the position of instructor, training future officers of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division.
In September 1939, in the rank of lieutenant, he commanded the 8th Company of the 3rd Battalion and participated in the September Campaign in Poland. He evacuated to Hungary, where he was interned, but later made his way to France via Yugoslavia and Italy.
On 3 May 1940, he was promoted to the rank of captain. During the French Campaign, he commanded the 3rd Grenadiers of the Silesian Regiment.
After the surrender of the French army, he made his way to southern non-occupied France. When crossing the border between the French zones, he was shot in the leg. With the help ohis soldiers, he reached Lyon, where his wound was treated. He then arrived in the UK through Spain and Portugal.
He was awarded the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari, as well as the French Croix de Guerre.
The Supreme Allied Command decided to form a battalion of the commandos. In August 1942, Captain. W. W. Smrokowski became the commander of the Polish 1st Independent Company of Commandos. After training in Algeria in October and November 1943, the Company was transferred to Taranto in southern Italy on December 1. Upon their arrival in Italy, the Company was assigned to the British Commando troops operating in the country. On 13 December 1943, Captain W. W. Smrokowski personally commanded the first patrol in Italy.
On 1 March 1944, he was promoted to the rank of Major. The Company was then transferred to the Polish 2nd Corps, and participated in the battles of Monte Cassino and Ancona. He was awarded the Gold Cross of Virtuti Militari.
Subsequently, he became commander of the 2nd Battalion of Motorized Commandos, which was created from the reorganization of 1st Independent Commando Company and constituted a motorized battalion of the 2nd Armoured Brigade, and they fought in the Battle of Bologna.
After the end of the war Wladyslaw worked at a textile factory in Bradford. He married and his son Adam was born in the UK. In 1951 he emigrated to the USA. He settled in Chicago where he worked in an iron-works. His two daughters Anna and Eve were born in the United States.
He died in Chicago on 2 January 1965 and was buried in the Maryhill Cemetery.
Copyright: Smrokowski family