The 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade

(1 Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa)

In Memory Of
Wladyslaw Hoscik

This site is dedicated to my grandfather, Wladyslaw Hoscik (Also known as Wladyslaw Gostik and Wladyslaw Radziwill), born 30th May 1908 in Bialystok, Poland (Kresy) and a member of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade (1 Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa).

Learning about his life, specifically as a parachuter, inspired me to build this website as a resource for anyone who had a relative in the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade and would like to learn more about their ancestry.

In the course of researching my grandfather, Wladyslaw Hoscik, I ended up finding the Polish family he left behind in 1939. The first person I met was Ewa Gostik, who like myself shares a massive fascination about our grandfather and his life, struggle to survive and the wide-ranging experiences he encountered.

Ewa and myself work together collating and researching the history of our grandfather that makes this website possible and factually correct serving as a resource for any other researchers.

My Hero

When my parental family broke up my grandfather, Wladyslaw Hoscik, took me in and essentially fostered me for around 6-12 months.

Maybe he remembered the family he had left behind in Poland all those years previously, maybe it was some sort of penance for the guilt he felt for not going back to Poland to reunite with his family.

Either way, my grandfather extended a hand of kindness towards me and cared for me in 1976/77. He made a large impact on me, taught me to ride a bike and showed me his sense of humour on occasion.

Researching My Grandfather

In 2017 I decided to research his history as no-one in our family knew it as he kept it to himself.

This website is the result of many hours research, the facts contained herein will help thousands of descendants of these paratroopers piece together vital family history.

I miss my grandfather very much and would have loved the opportunity to hear his life story. This labour of love website is the closest I can get to re-creating it.

Authors Note

This biography was written by the grandson Of Wladyslaw Hoscik. It is based on known facts, military records of Wladyslaw, life stories of other survivors of the Russian deportations, accounts, video interview and suchlike of others who went through the same life journey as Wladslaw Hoscik. 

These facts supplied by others have been woven into Wladyslaw life to replicate his life story. The biography has been written as if Wladyslaw himself had written it.

To Wladyslaw Hoscik, my grandfather, a website of resources to help others in their journey of tracing their Polish ancestry.