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“What did Pavlo Shandruk actually receive the Virtuti Militari for?” Doubts about the heroic act for which Pavlo Shandruk was awarded the Silver Cross 5th class of the War Order of Virtuti Militari
ORCID: Piotr Greszta: 0000-0002-9210-4549
Afiliacja: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II
Pages: 39-60
Edition: Lublin 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36874/RIESW.2025.1.2
Citation method: P. Greszta, „Za co tak naprawdę Pawło Szandruk dostał Virtuti Militari?” Wątpliwości wokół czynu bohaterskiego, za który Pawło Szandruk został odznaczony Srebrnym Krzyżem V klasy Orderu Wojennego Virtuti Militari, „Rocznik Instytutu Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej” 23 (2025), z. 1, s. 39–60, DOI: https://doi.org/10.36874 /RIESW.2025.1.2
Keywords: 29th Infantry Brigade, August Zaleski, battles of Tomaszow Lubelski, Jan Bratro, Jerzy Giedroyc, Krasnobrod, Pavlo Shandruk, Polish Army, Polish campaign 1939, Stabrow, Ukrainian National Army, Virtuti Militari, Wlodzimierz Wisłocki
Abstract: Pavlo Shandruk was undoubtedly a controversial figure. His activities in the final phase of the World War II continue to cause controversy, especially his takeover of the Ukrainian National Army in the spring of 1945. In September 1939, he fought as a contract officer in the Polish Army with the rank of certified lieutenant colonel, for which he was awarded Poland’s highest military order after the war. The aim of this article is to resolve the question of which specific act during the 1939 campaign earned Pavlo Shandruk the Silver Cross, 5th class, of the War Order of Virtuti Militari from the Polish President-in-exile. In addition, the article discusses the course of the officer’ service in September 1939, especially in the context of the so-called second battle of Tomaszów Lubelski, and clarifies inaccuracies associated with it.
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