A Warsaw Uprising participant and a "Wigry" scout battalion nurse Janina Gruszczyńska-Jasiak, nom de guerre "Janka", passed away on Tuesday at the age of 99. She was an eyewitness of German heavy explosive carrier blast which killed over 300 Polish insurgents and civilians on August 13, 1944.
Information about "Janka's" death was confirmed by writer and friend of Warsaw Uprising veterans Małgorzata Czerwińska-Buczek. She said that Janina Gruszczyńska–Jasiak died on Tuesday at the age of 99.
History Group "Gustaw - Harnaś", which was in constant contact with the veteran, informed about her passing in social media.
"Nurse for 'Wigry' scout battalion during Warsaw Uprising, eyewitness of a tragic mine carrier explosion in the Old Town, a person who had her fair share of wartime experiences, and at the same time a woman of real class, serenity, and sense of humour - and what's most important for us - a huge and sincere friend of 'Gustaw-Harnaś' History Group," the group said on Facebook.
Janina Gruszczyńska-Jasiak was born on December 11, 1922 in Warsaw. In recent years she lived in Poznań. During WWII she used her wartime pseudonyms "Janka" and "Porzęcka".
Between 2-6 August of 1944, she served as a nurse at Mariańska Street hospital. On August 7, she was assigned as a nurse to "Wigry scout battalion. Six days later, on August 13, 1944, she was wounded in a tragic blast of German explosives carrier in Warsaw's Old Town.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP