1. Franciszek Gajowniczek was a Polish army sergeant whose life was saved at the Auschwitz concentration camp by Catholic priest Maximilian Kolbe, who volunteered to die in his place.
15 Facts About Franciszek Gajowniczek
1. 2.
Franciszek Gajowniczek was captured while crossing the border into Slovakia after the defeat of the Modlin Fortress during the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany.
3.
Franciszek Gajowniczek survived the war and afterward became a lay missionary, dedicating his life to spreading the story of Kolbe's sacrifice.
4.
Franciszek Gajowniczek, a Roman Catholic, was born in Strachomin near Minsk Mazowiecki.
5.
Franciszek Gajowniczek was a professional soldier, a Polish army sergeant, who took part in the defense of Wielun as well as Warsaw in September 1939 during the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany.
6.
Franciszek Gajowniczek was one of those selected at roll call.
7.
When priest Maximilian Kolbe heard Franciszek Gajowniczek cry out in agony over the fate of his family, he offered himself instead, for which he was later canonized.
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Maximilian Kolbe 8.
Franciszek Gajowniczek was transferred from Auschwitz to Sachsenhausen concentration camp on 25 October 1944.
9.
Franciszek Gajowniczek was liberated there by the Allies, after spending five years, five months, and nine days in concentration camps in total.
10.
Franciszek Gajowniczek reunited with his wife Helena, six months later in Rawa Mazowiecka.
11.
Franciszek Gajowniczek survived the war, but their sons were killed in a Soviet bombardment of Rawa Mazowiecka in January 1945 before his release.
12.
On 17 October 1971, Franciszek Gajowniczek was a special guest of Pope Paul VI in the Vatican when Maximilian Kolbe was beatified for his martyrdom.
13.
Franciszek Gajowniczek was in the Vatican , this time as a guest of Pope John Paul II, when Kolbe was canonized on 10 October 1982.
14.
Franciszek Gajowniczek died in the city of Brzeg on 13 March 1995 at the age of 93.
15.
Franciszek Gajowniczek was buried at Niepokalanow, a religious community founded by Maximilian Kolbe, 53 years after Kolbe had saved his life.