Władysław Koba

Who was Władysław Koba?

Wladyslaw Antoni Koba was a soldier of the Polish Army, Home Army and Freedom and Independence, who participated in the Polish September Campaign, in the activities of the Polish resistance movement in World War II as well as the Anti-communist resistance in Poland.

He was born on January 8, 1914 in Jarosław, in a middle-class, patriotic family. In 1932 Koba graduated from the Second High School in his native town, and soon afterwards he was accepted into the Infantry Officers School in Komorowo near Warsaw. In 1938 Koba was promoted to First Lieutenant, and returned to serve in the Third Legions Infantry Regiment in Jarosław. As a soldier of this unit, he fought in the Polish September Campaign, in the area of Sieradz, then withdrew to the fortress of Modlin. After capitulation, Koba was transferred to a POW officers camp in Działdowo, but in late 1939 was released under condition that he would regularly report to the Wehrmacht's Ortskommando.

Koba settled in his hometown, but left it and hid in a village near Przeworsk, using the new name Marcin Gruda. He became a member of the Service for Poland's Victory, helping with training, also organizing different acts of sabotage and training young soldiers of the Polish resistance. In the summer of 1944, he took part in Operation Tempest and for his services, he was twice awarded the Cross of Valor as well as Cross of the Home Army.