Józef Kowalski

Who was Józef Kowalski?

Józef Kowalski was a Polish supercentenarian and the last surviving veteran of the 1919–1921 Polish-Soviet War. Kowalski served in the 22nd Uhlan Regiment of the Polish Army. He took part in the September Campaign in World War II, and was later held in a concentration camp. On his 110th birthday, he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for his war service by President Lech Kaczyński, of Poland. He lived in Tursk, near Sulęcin, in a care home. On 23 February 2012 Kowalski was promoted to the rank of kapitan, and on 16 August 2012 he was nominated to become an honorary citizen of the city of Wołomin, having already become an honorary citizen of both Warsaw and Radzymin.