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Wlodzimierz Edward PotasinskiPolish general
Date of Birth: 31.07.1956
Country:  Poland |
Content:
- Polish General
- Early Life and Education
- Military Career
- Overseas Deployments
- Command and Staff Positions
- - Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Corps
- Personal Life
- Death and Honors
Polish General
General Waldemar Skrzypczak was a Polish general who served as Commander of the Special Forces of Poland from August 15, 2007 until his death in 2010.
Early Life and Education
Waldemar Skrzypczak was born in 1956. He graduated from the Higher Officers' School of Mechanized Forces in Poznań in 1980. He subsequently attended the Academy of the General Staff in Warsaw, graduating in 1988.
Military Career
Early CareerSkrzypczak began his military career as a platoon commander in the 6th Pomeranian Airborne Division in Kraków. He later served as Chief of Staff of the 16th Airborne Battalion and then as Commander of the same battalion.
Overseas Deployments
In 1993-1994, Skrzypczak commanded the Polish military contingent in Syria. He also served as Deputy Commander of the Polish military contingent in Iraq in 2004.
Command and Staff Positions
Skrzypczak held various command and staff positions within the Polish Army, including:
- Chief of Intelligence and Electronic Warfare of the Land Forces Command
- Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade of Legions of Marshal Józef Piłsudski
- Commander of the 25th Airborne Cavalry Brigade of Prince Józef Poniatowski
- Deputy Commander of the NATO Multinational Division Centre-South in Iraq
- Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Corps
- Acting Commander of the 2nd Mechanized CorpsCommander of Special Forces
In 2007, Skrzypczak was appointed Commander of the Special Forces of Poland. He held this position until his death in 2010.
Personal Life
Skrzypczak was married to his second wife, Marta, from 2009 until his death. He had an adult daughter. Skrzypczak was an avid sportsman, enjoying cycling, swimming, and long-distance running. He had also completed over 500 parachute jumps.
Death and Honors
Skrzypczak died on April 10, 2010, in the Smolensk plane crash that killed President Lech Kaczyński and other top Polish officials. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of General of the Armored Cavalry on April 15, 2010. Skrzypczak was buried with military honors at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Kraków on April 25, 2010. He received numerous awards and honors, including the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Meritorious Service Medal from the United States.
