Włodzimierz Potasiński
Encyclopedia
Włodzimierz Potasiński (July 31, 1956 – April 10, 2010) was a Polish
military figure, commander-in-chief of the Polish Special Forces.
Potasiński was born at Czeladź
. He was killed in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
at Smolensk
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
military figure, commander-in-chief of the Polish Special Forces.
Potasiński was born at Czeladź
Czeladz
Czeladź is a town in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with a population of 2 million. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river ....
. He was killed in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
The 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash occurred on 10 April 2010, when a Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft of the Polish Air Force crashed near the city of Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 people on board...
at Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
.
Honours and awards
Potasiński was awarded numerous civil and military awards, including the Order of Polonia Restituta in 2006.- Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2010, posthumously) previously awarded the Knight's Cross (2006)
- Gold Cross of Merit (2000)
- Silver Cross of Merit (1993)
- Gold Medal in the Service of the Armed Forces of the Homeland
- Gold Medal for his contribution to national defence
- Commemorative medal of the Multinational Division Central-South Iraq
- Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(2006, United States) - Special Operations Command Medal of the United States (2010, United States, posthumously)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Merit - 2008, Portugal
- UN Medal UNDOF mission
- entry in the "Book of Honour of the Minister of National Defence" (2007)
Reference
- Interview from 2009