Last month, the Polish war veteran took part in the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the historic battle, attending events in both Poland and Italy.
Referring to the victorious battle, which opened the road to Rome for the Allied forces in World War II, Kowalski, a retired major, said in one of his last interviews: “We, soldiers of the Second Polish Corps, served Poland with all our hearts. We fought to make Poland free.”
The Second Polish Corps under Gen. Władysław Anders played a crucial role in the victory at Monte Cassino. It came after a long battle that claimed the lives of 923 Polish soldiers and left 2,931 wounded.
The cemetery on the slopes of Monte Cassino is a major site of national remembrance for Poles. A sign on the cemetery wall says: "Go, tell Poland, O stranger passing by, that here we lie—having fallen faithful in her service." Photo: PAP/Albert Zawada
Born in 1922, Kowalski was deported to the Soviet Union in his late teens. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, he joined the Second Polish Corps.
After the war, he settled in Argentina.
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