Peter Dmytruk
Encyclopedia
Peter Dmytruk
Peter Dmytruk (May 27, 1920 in Radisson
, Saskatchewan
– December 9, 1943 at Les Martres-de-Veyre
, Puy-de-Dôme
in the Auvergne
area of France
) is a military hero of World War II
.
At the outbreak of World War II, Peter Dmytruk was living in Wynyard, Saskatchewan
when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force
in July 1941. Following his training, he was shipped overseas where he served as a tail gunner with the 405th Bomber Squadron. During a mission over France
, just east of Paris
, Flight Sergeant Dmytruk's plane was shot down by German
anti-aircraft fire. He survived the crash and after hiding in the woods, he was protected by locals who put him in touch with members of the French Underground
. Dmytruk was led south through German-occupied France towards the escape route through the Pyrenees
into Spain
. Along the way, he was deeply impacted by the plight of the French people under a brutal Nazi
regime and chose not to be smuggled out of the country. Instead, he joined the French Resistance
where they soon dubbed him, "Pierre le Canadien."
Peter Dmytruk's fight for freedom brought him to the small village of Les Martres-de-Veyre, about 15 kilometers south of Clermont-Ferrand
where he gained a reputation amongst his French counterparts as a fearless fighter, undeterred by the ever-present danger. Following the sabotage of a German troop and munitions train, the Germans sent troops into Les Martres-de-Veyre. Normally, the Germans took reprisal for such sabotage incidents by executing the men of the village. However, on December 9, 1943, Peter Dmytruk was arrested and because the Germans believed the notorious "Pierre le Canadien" was responsible for the train sabotage, he was executed on the spot. As a result, the German troops believed they had broken the backbone of the local Resistance movement and did not conduct the usual mass executions of any of the citizens of the village.
The people of Les Martres-de-Veyre buried the 23-year-old Peter Dmytruk with honors in the community cemetery. Because of the war, it would be more than a year before the Canadian government could confirm his death to his family. Following the liberation of France and the surrender of Germany
, he was amongst those individuals almost forgotten by a Canadian nation anxious to put the horrific memories of the War behind them.
However, acclaimed as a hero whose selfless courage helped bring freedom to France and whose death saved the life of many residents of Les Martres-de-Veyre, a street was named after him. The government of France honored Dmytruk with the Croix de Guerre
and at the end of the War, beginning in 1946 and each year thereafter, the citizens of Les Martres-de-Veyre held a parade and memorial service at his monument. Almost thirty years after his death, in August 1972, the surprised mayor of Wynyard, Saskatchewan received a letter from a mayor of Les Martres-de-Veyre that showed Peter Dmytruk was not just a name on a war memorial, but was in fact a true hero of the War. The mayor of Les Martres-de-Veyre proposed to honour the dead Canadian soldier through the twinning of their two small towns and the creation of a new large memorial at his gravesite. On the thirtieth anniversary of his death, a 13-person delegation of family and officials from Saskatchewan joined the French commemoration ceremony.
In 1999, Peter Dmytruk was awarded the "Nation Builders Awards" that honors the contributions of outstanding Ukrainian Canadian
s from the province of Saskatchewan.
Peter Dmytruk (May 27, 1920 in Radisson
Radisson, Saskatchewan
-Transportation:The community is served by Radisson Airport which is located adjacent to Radisson.- See also :* List of communities in Saskatchewan* List of towns in Saskatchewan-External links:*...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
– December 9, 1943 at Les Martres-de-Veyre
Les Martres-de-Veyre
Les Martres-de-Veyre is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-References:*...
, Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme
Puy-de-Dôme is a department in the centre of France named after the famous dormant volcano, the Puy-de-Dôme.Inhabitants were called Puydedomois until December 2005...
in the Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
area of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a military hero of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
At the outbreak of World War II, Peter Dmytruk was living in Wynyard, Saskatchewan
Wynyard, Saskatchewan
-Climate:-Sites of interest:Frank Cameron Museum provides local historical artifacts as well as tourism information and is located in Wynyard. Wynyard Regional Park is the local camping site and is 2 km or 1 mi from Wynyard. Wynyard is located just to the south of Big Quill Lake which is the...
when he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
in July 1941. Following his training, he was shipped overseas where he served as a tail gunner with the 405th Bomber Squadron. During a mission over France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, just east of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Flight Sergeant Dmytruk's plane was shot down by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
anti-aircraft fire. He survived the crash and after hiding in the woods, he was protected by locals who put him in touch with members of the French Underground
Underground resistance
Underground resistance may refer to*Underground Resistance , a musical collective from Detroit, Michigan*Underground resistance during World War II, the inhabitants of various locales resisting the rule of the Nazis, the Empire of Japan, and Mussolini...
. Dmytruk was led south through German-occupied France towards the escape route through the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
into Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Along the way, he was deeply impacted by the plight of the French people under a brutal Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
regime and chose not to be smuggled out of the country. Instead, he joined the French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
where they soon dubbed him, "Pierre le Canadien."
Peter Dmytruk's fight for freedom brought him to the small village of Les Martres-de-Veyre, about 15 kilometers south of Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
where he gained a reputation amongst his French counterparts as a fearless fighter, undeterred by the ever-present danger. Following the sabotage of a German troop and munitions train, the Germans sent troops into Les Martres-de-Veyre. Normally, the Germans took reprisal for such sabotage incidents by executing the men of the village. However, on December 9, 1943, Peter Dmytruk was arrested and because the Germans believed the notorious "Pierre le Canadien" was responsible for the train sabotage, he was executed on the spot. As a result, the German troops believed they had broken the backbone of the local Resistance movement and did not conduct the usual mass executions of any of the citizens of the village.
The people of Les Martres-de-Veyre buried the 23-year-old Peter Dmytruk with honors in the community cemetery. Because of the war, it would be more than a year before the Canadian government could confirm his death to his family. Following the liberation of France and the surrender of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he was amongst those individuals almost forgotten by a Canadian nation anxious to put the horrific memories of the War behind them.
However, acclaimed as a hero whose selfless courage helped bring freedom to France and whose death saved the life of many residents of Les Martres-de-Veyre, a street was named after him. The government of France honored Dmytruk with the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
and at the end of the War, beginning in 1946 and each year thereafter, the citizens of Les Martres-de-Veyre held a parade and memorial service at his monument. Almost thirty years after his death, in August 1972, the surprised mayor of Wynyard, Saskatchewan received a letter from a mayor of Les Martres-de-Veyre that showed Peter Dmytruk was not just a name on a war memorial, but was in fact a true hero of the War. The mayor of Les Martres-de-Veyre proposed to honour the dead Canadian soldier through the twinning of their two small towns and the creation of a new large memorial at his gravesite. On the thirtieth anniversary of his death, a 13-person delegation of family and officials from Saskatchewan joined the French commemoration ceremony.
In 1999, Peter Dmytruk was awarded the "Nation Builders Awards" that honors the contributions of outstanding Ukrainian Canadian
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
s from the province of Saskatchewan.