Dobiesław

(history based on the story of Damian Damięcki – Polish actor and film actor)

Dobiesław Damięcki (1899 - 1951) - the nestor of the famous acting family - his youth fell to the time of Poland’s reconstruction. Already at the age of 18, as a member of the Polish Military Organization (POW – Polska Organizacja Wojskowa) - Polish secret armed forces fighting with the practitioners (Prussia, Russia and Austria), took part in the action near the village of Bąkowiec (today Mazowsze Province), as a result of which 2 million marks from the Austrian transport were intercepted (the commander of this diversion group was his mother - Karolina Damięcka de domo Pomaski). Dobiesław took part in the Polish-Soviet war and access of Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze) by the Polish troops (1920). In 1921 he took part in the Third Silesian Uprising [1]. He fought in the "Destructive Group of Wawelberg" as the commander of the Destructive Subgroup "East". The Wawelbergs were responsible for supporting frontline insurgent units and hindering the progress of German troops by conducting sabotage acts.

It is 1964. Damian Damięcki - then a student at The National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw (Polish: PWST), had tactics lessons during military training for students. During an muster, the commander read the attendance list, pronouncing resoundingly names and surnames. Suddenly the name "Dobiesław" was called. Damian felt a shiver down his spine. This uncommon name belonged to his dead father. Intrigued, Damian decided to talk to the boy of this name after the muster. While Damian was coming up young Dobiesław, he saw the boy smiling. Seeing this, Damian asked:

“Why are you so happy?”

"Because I knew you would come to me", said Dobiesław, not stopping to grin.

“Why?”

“I'll explain everything soon ... listen to this story...”

Here he began to speak:

“My father took part in the 3rd Silesian Uprising. During the fighting, he was captured by the Germans and imprisoned in Annaberg (Mount of St. Anna; Polish name: Góra Św. Anny). He was waiting for execution in the death cell. When he heard that in the area of St. Anna’s Mount there were fights and the insurgents were recaptured town after town from Germans hands, he swore that if he survived and God gave him a son, he would give him the name of this insurgent who first crosses the threshold of his cell... - Dobiesław hung up his voice. Both men looked at each other, smiled, and - without a word - fell into their arms.

 Destructive Group of Wawelberg, Wikipedia source; Dobiesław Damięcki marked with a red circle.

[1] The armed uprising of the Poles from May till July 1921 aimed at joining to Poland the territories of Upper Silesia being under German rule.