Documentary filmmaking the wartime story of Romuald ‘Roman’ Rodziewicz within Poland’s Auschwitz death camp during 1995 became the pinnacle of my broadcast news media career.
As my professional relationship with Roman developed to a close and fascinating friendship, a more detailed insight of his life began to uncover a wider story.
Here was a national hero of Polish resistance against Nazi Germany’s Blitzkrieg of his homeland, one who waged war alongside a band of 50 comrades on horseback, charging at their enemies with raised sabres.
Roman’s escape from the onslaught of an invasion force of such magnitude was miracle in itself, but his capture and later imprisonment within the death camps of Auschwitz provides an astonishing insight to one man’s survival.
As the Second World War ended in confusion with a mass exodus from the horrors of cruel Nazi occupation, Roman was transported to a new life in England.
Living and working within British coal and steelwork industries, Roman built a new life with marriage and children becoming his focus.
But darker memories of his deeply troubled wartime experiences soon surfaced.
Roman confided his entire detailed story to our friendship during near twenty years association and friendship. Primarily, this was to enable an accurate and independent story to be told after his passing.
Roman spent most of his life in England living anonymously without any recognition of his exploits.
Our paths had randomly crossed and a deeply meaningful friendship developed, so I took on the responsibility of making sure Roman received his deserved recognition. I believed he should be greeted with the love and full attention of his birth homeland’s peoples, and gain the respect of those ex-combatants who settled and also made Britain their new home.
The horrors of a wartime Poland were vividly recounted in Roman’s story telling.
He was a man whose entire life was affected by the bloodletting philosophy of the crazed Nazi dream of supremacy, led by an equally crazed Fuhrer of death and destruction.
His band of freedom fighters became collectively known as ‘Hubal’s Men’, so named after their Commanding Officer.
Roman’s honour and courage is undeniable. His forgiveness is the greatest legacy of a truly great man.
Watch Pilgimage to Poland Associate Producer Malcom R Fane and CBM’s first collaborative documentary film for ITV.
Watch & listen to Malcolm’s BBC Radio 5Live broadcast
Romuald ‘Roman’ Rodziewicz
Romuald ‘Roman’ Rodziewicz – Malcolm’s ‘Two Minute Take’ of a Polish legend produced for social media platforms.
Malcolm’s tribute to
Roman Rodziewicz
Polish WW2 Legend
1913 – 2014
‘Polish Tribute’ project television coverage
The Polish Tribute – 29th August 1997 – Peebles, Scotland.
Hundreds of Polish and British ex-servicemen and women march from Peebles Tweed Green.
Commemoration of Poland’s WW2 allied fight for freedom against Nazi tyranny.
The Polish Tribute – 29th August 1997 – Peebles, Scotland.
Hundreds of Polish and British ex-servicemen and women march from Peebles Tweed Green.