Ignacy Skorupka

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Ignacy Skorupka
Roman Catholicism
NationalityPolish
Senior posting
OrdinationJanuary 26, 1916

Ignacy Skorupka (31 July 1893 – 14 August 1920) was a Polish priest, chaplain of the

Polish Army. He died during the battle of Warsaw
. He became one of the most famous casualties of the battle.

Biography

Ignacy Jan Skorupka was born on 31 July 1893 in

In early July 1920 he volunteered as a

Anointing of the Sick for a fatally wounded soldier when he, a noncombatant, was hit by an accidental bullet.[2][3][4] Another, popularized by a Polish military dispatch from 16 August stated that chaplain Skorupka died while encouraging soldiers to advance, leading a charge in the front lines, with a crucifix in his hands.[1][4]

Remembrance

Monument to Skorupka in Warsaw

A day later his body was transported to a garrison church in Warsaw, and shortly, he was given a state funeral at the prestigious Powązki Cemetery, attended by many government and military authorities; general Józef Haller presented him with a posthumous Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari.[1] His death became a political ploy, used by the opponents of Polish military commander and leader Józef Piłsudski, architect of the Polish strategy that led to the victory at Warsaw. His opponents labelled the battle "miracle of Vistula", and attributed the Polish victory to a number of causes, up to and including divine intervention, and Skorupka's martyr-like death became part of their attempt to minimize Piłsudski's fame.[2][5] Several monuments, streets and other landmarks were dedicated to him in the Second Polish Republic; he became a central figure in several books, poems and dramas; and Pope Pius XI commissioned a wall painting of him by Jan Henryk de Rosen at the battle at the Castel Gandolfo.[2] Another popular painting of him was created by Jerzy Kossak.[4]

A documentary about him, Zwyczajny bohater, was released in 2005.[6] In 2010 he was posthumously awarded the Order of the White Eagle.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Stanisław Konarski: Skorupka Ignacy Jan. In: Polski Słownik Biograficzny. T. XXXVIII. 1997–1998, p. 275–277
  2. ^ a b c Janusz Szczepański, "Kontrowersje wokół bitwy warszawskiej 1920 roku". Archived from the original on May 19, 2003. Retrieved 2008-05-12.. Mówią Wieki, 2001
  3. .
  4. ^ a b c "Ksiądz Ignacy Skorupka, symbol zwycięstwa w Bitwie Warszawskiej". rp.pl. 2013-08-14. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  5. .
  6. ^ "Zwyczajny bohater - ks. Ignacy Skorupka - TVP Historia - niedziela, 10.11, g. 08:10 - film dokumentalny - Program TV - Sprawdź program telewizyjny - program tv online - Dziennik.pl". Tv.dziennik.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  7. ^ "Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych". Isap.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-22.

Further reading

External links