In Gdańsk there was a farewell ceremony of Colonel Vincent Sobociński, who warned the commander of the Military Transit Component on Westerplatte against the German attack on 31 August 1939. After many years, the ashes of Haller's army soldier, the hero of the Polish-bolshevik War and the Polish Armed Forces were brought to the country and buried with honors on 1 September.
– Guest Argentina has accepted you as a political emigrant. The war was over, but you couldn't come back from your warpath to Poland. However, your heart has always been connected to your homeland, to your family's land in the negro region of Kujawy. Your will was to remainder in the household tomb there. Let me tell you something, Colonel, before you find your eternal remainder there, you'll be taking another walk with us. on Westerplatte – said Stanisław Sikora, Vice president of the Colonel Vincent Sobociński Association during the ceremony held in Gdańsk on 31 August, on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of planet War II.
On that day, the urn with the ashes of the officer was brought to the police assistant with the historical field car Willys, utilized by the Polish Army during planet War II in the west. The solemn farewell began in the square in front of the Police Municipal Command (ul. Nowe Ogrody 27), where in 1939 Colonel Sobociński worked as Head of the Department of the General Police of the Republic of Poland in the Free City of Gdańsk. The event was attended by, among others, Alicia Irene Falkowski, Ambassador of Argentina to Poland, Lech Parell, Head of the Office for Combatants and Represented Persons, Piotr Borawski, Vice president of Gdańsk, representatives of the Kombatant families, local governments from Gdańsk and the Negro area, soldiers of the 7th Pomeranian Territorial Defence Brigade and members of the Association who helped to find the ashes of Colonel Sobociński.
A Lesson in Patriotism
– Thanks to the enthusiasts of the Colonel Vincent Sobociński Association, his earthly road ends with honours and dignity. Thanks to you many people will learn that there was individual like Colonel Vincent Sobociński. He who full deserves our memory and his life is simply a actual lesson in patriotism," said Piotr Borawski. “I am glad that we are surviving in a free Poland that is looking for its heroes, uncovering them, paying tribute to them and returning their loved ones,” added the vice president of Gdańsk.
After the ceremonies in Gdańsk Main urn with the ashes of the officer was transported to Westerplatte. The convoy that opened the military field car escorted motorcycles at the police signal. 85 years earlier, Colonel Sobociński went the same way with the driver to tell his friend, Major Henryk Sucharski: “Heniek, do not number on any help, you have no chance here, Gdansk is cut off. Watch out, the Germans will hit you next day morning, don't be surprised. You're in charge and you're in charge. If you think opposition doesn't stand a chance, you know what to do. Don’t be surprised.”
The urn with the ashes of Sobociński was exhibited at the Polish Army Soldiers Cemetery on Westerplatte, and after the ceremony it went to close Wartrow No. 1.
A day later, on 1 September, a ceremony of an officer with military assistance was held in Murzinno (Kujawsko-pomorskie) where the household grave of Sobociński is located. A letter to the participants of the ceremony was written by Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish. The head of the MON stressed that Colonel Sobociński's soldier's road was marked with symbols of fighting for free Poland. He mentioned among others. The Blue Army of General Joseph Haller, Polish-Bolshevik War of 1920, serving in the Division of the 2nd General Staff of the WP, the 4th firearm Squadron and the 1st Self-Separation Brigade.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz added that after the war Colonel Sobociński knew that returning to the country meant persecution by communist authorities, therefore, as many soldiers of the Polish Army decided to destiny as an immigrant in Argentina. "After years of remainder in a abroad country, he was again in Poland. In free Poland, which he fought for many years. He returned in full glory, greeted with appropriate honors. Today, by laying down his ashes in Negron, we give Colonel Wincentem Sobociński due for all the deeds and merits of honor," the Deputy Prime Minister wrote.
The Wandering War
The colonel certified Vincent Sobociński after giving the commander of the Military Transit Component secret information about the planned attack on Westerplatte returned to Gdańsk. There, on the morning of September 1, 1939, he was arrested and beaten by the Nazis. His diplomatic immunity was not recognized until a fewer days later. On 5 September Sobociński, together with another employees of the General Police of the Republic of Poland in Gdańsk, went to the Polish-Lithuanian border. With a diplomatic passport he could have stayed in Lithuania, distant from the battlefield, but wanted to fight. He made his way to the Chief Command in Brest, from where he was sent to Romania. He stayed in an internment camp, then moved to France.
In the Polish Armed Forces in the West, he served in the office of Deputy Chief Commander, General Sosnkowski. In 1942, he became Chief of Staff 1 Self-serving Paradox Brigadej. After the injury he suffered during a parachute jump, he began his service in the Inspectorate of the Military Board, and in 1944 trained diversions in the Independent Grenadier Company. After the war, he served in Polish military missions to British troops. He never returned to his homeland. His fresh home since 1948 became Argentina, where he died in 1959, aged 65.
Long way home
The association of Colonel Vincent Sobociński was established by a group of historians, socialists and guides of PTTK who wanted to find and bring to Poland the ashes of the hero. The search was conducted since 2021 and was successful thanks to Father Jack Twarog from the Polish Catholic Mission of the Franciscans in Martin Colorado. It was he who found Vincent Sobociński's grave at St. Isabella's Cemetery in Merlo (agglomeration of Buenos Aires). On 7 November 2023, with approval of the nearest family, the remains of Colonel Sobociński were exhumed. In Argentina, the solemn farewell of the urn with the ashes, attended by representatives of the Polish community, was held on 10 December 2023 at the Mary's Sanctuary in Lujan. The ceremony was chaired by the Field Bishop of the Polish Army by Fr Wiesław Lechowicz. 2 weeks later, the urn reached Poland and has since been in the Basilica of St. Brigida in Gdańsk.
