| Zefiryn Machalla | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1915-08-01)1 August 1915 Września, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Died | 10 January 1952(1952-01-10) (aged 36) Warsaw, Polish People's Republic |
| Allegiance | Second Polish Republic, Polish People's Republic |
| Service | Polish Armed Forces Polish Armed Forces in the West Polish People's Army |
| Years of service | 1939-1951 |
| Rank |  Major (Major) |
| Unit | 5th Podhale Rifles Infantry Regiment 16th Infantry Regiment 14th Infantry Regiment Polish General Staff |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | (see below) |
Zefiryn Machalla (August 1, 1915 – January 10, 1952), 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 by communist judge Stefan Michnik to death for alleged spying. 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.
Awards and decorations
References
Sources
- The Institut of National Remembrance, media view, 20.02.2007
- info at Adam Mickiewicz University in Posen
- 1915 births
- 1952 deaths
- Polish military personnel of World War II
- People executed by the Polish People's Republic by firearm
- Executed military personnel
- Executed Polish people
- Polish deportees to Soviet Union
- Polish people detained by the NKVD
- Polish Gulag detainees
- Polish people imprisoned in the Soviet Union