Kazimierz Leski

Kazimierz Leski, pseudonim "Bradl", was a Polish mechanical engineer, inventor, pilot colonel of the Polish Army, and a decorated hero of World War II. He was born on June 21, 1912, in Warsaw, into a family with engineering traditions. After completing his studies at the Faculty of Mechanics of the Wawelberg School of Engineering in Warsaw, he worked in the Netherlands in a design office, where he participated in the design of Polish submarines, such as ORP "Sęp" and ORP "Orzeł". During World War II, as a pilot, he was shot down but escaped from captivity. After returning to Warsaw, he became involved in underground activities, holding positions in the Home Army. In the Warsaw Uprising, he commanded the "Bradl" company of the Miłosz battalion, demonstrating bravery for which he was awarded the Virtuti Militari Cross and many other decorations. After the war, Leski experienced repression from the communist authorities, being arrested and sentenced to many years in prison, which he eventually served. After rehabilitation, he began working as a scientist and inventor, authoring many patents and scientific papers. From 1994 to 1997, he served as president of the Warsaw Insurgents' Association, and in 1995 he received the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" awarded by the Yad Vashem Institute. Leski died on May 27, 2000, and was buried in Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw. Commemorations of Leski can be found in the form of memorial plaques in Warsaw, as well as in historical documents related to the Warsaw Uprising. His life is full of extraordinary events, and some controversies regarding his intelligence activities highlight the complexity of his character in a historical context. He operated in difficult times, and his professional and underground career left a lasting mark on Polish history. In 2016, a documentary film about his life was made, which demonstrates the continued interest in his person and his contribution to Polish history.