Zefiryn Machalla
Encyclopedia
Zefiryn Machalla was a major of the Polish Army and participant of the Polish September Campaign. In the interbellum period, his talent was highly praised by the Polish Army Headquarters, for his outstanding bravery, Machalla was nominated for the Virtuti Militari
cross.
In late 1939, after Polish defeat, Machalla was captured by the NKVD
and sent to Siberia
. Two years later, he managed to reach the Anders Army
and then, together with the whole army, fought the Germans
in Italy
.
After World War II
, Machalla, unlike most of his fellow soldiers, decided to return to the communist-controlled Poland. In late 1940s he was sentenced to death for alleged spying by communist court. He was not allowed to have a lawyer and was executed on January 10, 1952. His wife found out about the execution a few years later.
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
cross.
In late 1939, after Polish defeat, Machalla was captured by the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
and sent to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. Two years later, he managed to reach the Anders Army
Anders Army
The Anders Army was the informal yet common name of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in the period 1941-1942, in recognition of its commander Władysław Anders...
and then, together with the whole army, fought the Germans
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
After 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...
, Machalla, unlike most of his fellow soldiers, decided to return to the communist-controlled Poland. In late 1940s he was sentenced to death for alleged spying by communist court. He was not allowed to have a lawyer and was executed on January 10, 1952. His wife found out about the execution a few years later.