Franciszek Karwowski

Franciszek Karwowski (10 October 1895 - 12 April 2005) - was a Polish centenarian who was the oldest living person in Poland at the time of his death.

Biography

Franciszek Karwowski was born in Mroczki In August 1914 he volunteered for the Polish Legions, served in the 5th Infantry Regiment. After graduating from military school in 1915 he was promoted to Corporal-Scout. He belonged to the Polish Military Organization. After Poland regained its independence in November 1918, he was transferred to the 10th Polish Regiment of Lithuanian Lancers and promoted to Plutonowy in 1919. He fought in the Polish-Russian War of 1920 and was awarded the Cross of Valor. He was moved to reserve in 1923.

After the outbreak of the World War II, in February 1940, he was deported to Kazakhstan with his family. There he lost family members, his mother and wife. Since 1943, he served in the Tadeusz Kosciuszko 1st Infantry Division then in the 1st Armored Brigade, He crossed the Berling army battlefield from Lenino to Berlin and took part in the liberation of Warsaw in January 1945. After the war, he participated in the reconstruction of Warsaw. He was demobilized in 1946 and was given a farm in Nakomiada near Kętrzyn, where he spent the rest of his life.

At the end of his long life he received many honors. He was awarded Knight's Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, Cross for participation in the War of 1918-1921, Medal for Warsaw 1939-1945, Medal for participation in fights for Berlin, Cross of the Battle of Lenino. In July 2003, he was promoted to lieutenant, and received a memorial saber from President Aleksander Kwasniewski. In the same year he was given the honorary citizenship of Ketrzyn. At the age of 109 he was the oldest living man and the oldest living person in Poland as well as the oldest man in Poland ever recorded.

He was married three times and had eight children. He was buried in Rozogi near Szczytno.