EXHIBITION
Stanisław and Stasinek Sosabowski, father and son, fought for a free and independent Poland during the Second World War. One of them was the commander of the Polish airborne troops during the Battle of Arnhem, whilst the other played a key role in the Polish resistance. Although they shared the same goal, their choices took them in different directions and divided the family for many years.
On 1 September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, marking the start of the Second World War. The Polish army fought bravely but was pushed back along the entire front. By the end of September, Polish troops in Warsaw were ordered to surrender. Stanisław and Stasinek were taken to a prisoner-of-war camp, but soon managed to escape. After their escape, father and son went their separate ways.
Leaving
Stanisław Sosabowski joined the resistance and escaped from occupied Poland. After a perilous journey, he managed to reach France, where he joined the Polish Army in exile. Following the German invasion of France, Sosabowski evacuated to the United Kingdom, where he established the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade.
Staying
Stasinek Sosabowski decided to complete his medical studies in Poland and, like his father, joined the resistance. He became a prominent figure of the resistance in Warsaw and was involved with sabotage and assassinations.
How did Stanisław end up in Arnhem? How did Stasinek fare in the resistance? And were father and son ever reunited? In this exhibition, you will discover their remarkable stories and gain a personal insight into some of the most pivotal moments in Poland’s Second World War history. Professor Hal Sosabowski, great-grandson of Stanisław Sosabowski and grandson of Stasinek Sosabowski, is guest curator and narrator of the exhibition’s audio tour full of family stories.
This exhibition is on view from April 10 2026 to January 3 2027 in the Airborne Museum Hartenstein.
