Andrzej Hałaciński

Andrzej Hałaciński
Born(1891-11-10)November 10, 1891
DiedApril 10, 1940(1940-04-10) (aged 48)
Cause of deathExecution by shooting
Buried
RankLieutenant colonel (podpułkownik)[1]
Conflicts
Awards[1]
Children2

Andrzej Tadeusz Hałaciński (10 November 1891 – 10 April 1940) was a Polish military officer, poet and local official, victim of the Katyn massacre, best known as the co-author of the lyrics of the popular Polish patriotic march We Are the First Brigade.[1][2]

Early life and education

He was the son of Eustachy Hałaciński and Feliksa née Rogozińska.[1] In 1913, he graduated from the Academy of Economics in Kraków.[1][2]

Military and civil career

During World War I, he served in the 1st Brigade of the Polish Legions, and then he fought in the Polish–Soviet War of 1919–1921[1] He wrote three verses and the chorus of the song We Are the First Brigade.[3]

In the 1920s, he was employed in the Consulate General of Poland in Berlin.[1] In 1929, he became the starost (head of administration) of Brzesko County, and later a notary in Łuck.[1][2]

Captivity and death

Following the German-Soviet invasion of Poland, which started World War II, he was held by the Soviets in camps in Putyvl and Kozelsk, and eventually murdered in Katyn during the Katyn massacre.[2]

Private life

He was married and had two sons.[1][2]

Commemoration

In 2010, a Memorial Oak was planted in Bielsko-Biała in honor of Colonel Andrzej Hałaciński.[4] In 2013, a street in his home town of Skawina was named after him.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Tarczyński, Marek, ed. (2000). Katyń. Księga Cmentarna Polskiego Cmentarza Wojennego (PDF) (in Polish). Warszawa: Rada Ochrony Pamięci Miejsc Walk i Męczeństwa. p. 196. ISBN 83-905590-7-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e Gurianov, Aleksandr, ed. (2015). Убиты в Катыни. Книга Памяти польских военнопленных – узников Козельского лагеря НКВД, расстрелянных по решению политбюро ЦК ВКП(б) от 5 марта 1940 года (PDF) (in Russian). Moscow: Общество «Мемориал» – Издательство «Звенья». p. 770. ISBN 978-5-78700-123-5.
  3. ^ a b "Legionista płk. Andrzej Hałaciński ma w Skawinie swoją ulicę". Dziennik Polski (in Polish). 3 July 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Dąb Pamięci". Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2026.