In Polish Hero Roman Rodziewicz: Fate of a Hubal Soldier in Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Postwar England, Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm traces the remarkable and tragic tale of Roman Rodziewicz, a true Polish hero of the Second World War. Roman's childhood was spent in Manchuria where his father, first deported to Siberia, later worked as an engineer for a Chinese company. Following the loss of his parents early in life after returning to free Poland, Roman was trained to manage a self-sufficient estate farming and producing various livestock, vegetables, and honey. Prior to the German invasion of Poland, Roman attended military school at the Suwalki Cavalry Brigade. After the surrender of the Polish army, the partisan forces of Major Hubal continued to fight the Germans. The brave anti-German activities of the Hubal partisans beckoned Roman and he joined them. About eight months later Major Hubal was killed. Roman escaped and joined the underground as an officer fighting the German occupation forces. Captured and tortured, Roman was subsequently imprisoned in Auschwitz and later Buchenwald. After the American army rescued Roman, he joined the Polish army in Italy. At the end of World War II Roman settled in England. One of the greatest misfortunes of his life was losing contact with his fiance Halinka, and later learning she had married believing him to be dead. Two weeks after her marriage, she received a letter from Roman that he had survived the war. They met many years later, and Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm witnessed the meeting of Halinka and Roman in Warsaw. Roman continues to live in England now having reached the age of 100 years in January 2013. Polish Hero Roman Rodziewicz explores the incredible story of one Polish soldier of World War II, and provides an illuminating contribution to the historical record of the period.
Foreword by Matt DeLaMater Acknowledgments Preface Chapter 1. Early Life in Manchuria Chapter 2. Japanese Occupation Chapter 3. Finally Poland Chapter 4. Zofia's Dream - Roman's Dream Chapter 5. Meeting Marshal Pilsudski Chapter 6. More Education Problems Chapter 7. Into the Cavalry Chapter 8. Learning to be a Farmer Chapter 9. All About Bees and Honey Chapter 10. All About Lawski Brod Chapter 11. All About Partridge Chapter 12. Roman the Hunter Chapter 13. Harbinger of War Chapter 14. Decision to Join Colonel Dobrawski Chapter 15. Under Major Dobrzanski's Command Chapter 16. Hubal - The Journal of Roman Rodziewicz Chapter 17. Warsaw Rendez-vous - Halina Chapter 18. A Belorussian Outpost Chapter 19. The Unlucky Boots Chapter 20. To Jail at Wolozyn Chapter 21. Gestapo Interrogation Chapter 22. To Prison in Stara Wilejka Chapter 23. Train to Auschwitz, Birkenau Chapter 24. Nightmares Relived Chapter 25. Numbered for Life Chapter 26. The Death of 30,000 Jewish Women Chapter 27. To Buchenwald Chapter 28. The Final Roll-Call-German Farewell Chapter 29. Freed by Americans Chapter 30. On to Italy Chapter 31. Meeting Hubal's Sister and Wankowicz Chapter 32. Letter About Halina Chapter 33. Uncertainty to Return Chapter 34. My Best Friend in England Chapter 35. English Marriage Chapter 36. Visiting Poland Chapter 37. Meeting With Halina Epilogue
