Zofia Leśniowska
Encyclopedia
Lt. Zofia Wanda Leśniowska (née Sikorska), (2 March 1912 - 4 July 1943) was daughter of Lt. Gen. Władysław Sikorski, she was first lieutenant
(porucznik) of Polish Armed Forces
.
Zofia Leśniowska was daughter of Lt. Gen. Władysław Sikorski and Helena Zbuczewska, whom Sikorski married in 1909. On 30 September 1936 she married Lt. Stanisław Leśniowski (1904 - 11 December 1987). After the World War II
broke out, on 7 September 1939 Lt. Gen. Sikorski ordered her to organize resistance movement
. Her apartment on Górczewski's Street in Warsaw
was used for a conspiracy movement. In January 1940 she was called as an emissary to France. She was her father's personal secretary, interpreter and advisor. She was decorated by the honorable Polish Red Cross
' order. In London she was superintendent of Women's Auxiliary Service. She was killed, together with her father and nine others, when plane, a Liberator II crashed into the sea 16 seconds after takeoff from Gibraltar Airport
at 23:07 on 4 July 1943. Her body was never found.
Her and General Sikorski's deaths remain one of the greatest mysteries of all history. Her body was never found, and her presence alongside the General in these tragic days poses with controversy and misunderstandings. How to give witnesses, she was repeatedly warned against participation in the flight, apparently by telephone by Winston Churchill
himself. Formed as a hypothesis stating that her absence during the flight, the kidnapping and deposited in the camps near Moscow, and later in the interior of the country, where she was seen by the Polish officers, including special agent Tadeusz Kobyliński.
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
(porucznik) of Polish Armed Forces
Polish Armed Forces
Siły Zbrojne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej are the national defense forces of Poland...
.
Zofia Leśniowska was daughter of Lt. Gen. Władysław Sikorski and Helena Zbuczewska, whom Sikorski married in 1909. On 30 September 1936 she married Lt. Stanisław Leśniowski (1904 - 11 December 1987). After the 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...
broke out, on 7 September 1939 Lt. Gen. Sikorski ordered her to organize resistance movement
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
. Her apartment on Górczewski's Street in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
was used for a conspiracy movement. In January 1940 she was called as an emissary to France. She was her father's personal secretary, interpreter and advisor. She was decorated by the honorable Polish Red Cross
Polish Red Cross
Polish Red Cross is the Polish member of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It was founded in 1919 by Dr. Benjamin Reschovsky of Warsaw City Hospital and recognized by the Red Cross on July 24th 1919, and its first president was Paweł Sapieha....
' order. In London she was superintendent of Women's Auxiliary Service. She was killed, together with her father and nine others, when plane, a Liberator II crashed into the sea 16 seconds after takeoff from Gibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport or North Front Airport is the civilian airport that serves the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence for use by the Royal Air Force as RAF Gibraltar. Civilian operators use the airport; currently the only scheduled flights operate to the...
at 23:07 on 4 July 1943. Her body was never found.
Her and General Sikorski's deaths remain one of the greatest mysteries of all history. Her body was never found, and her presence alongside the General in these tragic days poses with controversy and misunderstandings. How to give witnesses, she was repeatedly warned against participation in the flight, apparently by telephone by Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
himself. Formed as a hypothesis stating that her absence during the flight, the kidnapping and deposited in the camps near Moscow, and later in the interior of the country, where she was seen by the Polish officers, including special agent Tadeusz Kobyliński.