Freely I Served

The memoirs of this well known Polish airborne General of WW 2, the author was born in Poland and saw service in the Austrian Army in World War I. He joined the newly created Polish Army in 1918 and served in a variety of command and staff positions during the inter-war period. In September 1939, he commanded the 21st Infantry Regiment in the battle of Warsaw. Taken prisoner, he escaped to rejoin the Polish Army in France and later in England. In 1941, he raised and led the famed Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade (attached to the British First Airborne Division) in England 1941-45, and led them into combat during the airborne drop at Arnhem during Operation Market-Garden. Although the operation was unsuccessful, the Brigade fulfilled its missions with extreme valour. After commanding the Parachute Brigade for three years, he resigned due to differences with British officials on the use of his unit.