Halina Jędrzejewska Honorary Citizen of Warsaw

Ms Halina Jędrzejewska
Honorary Citizen of Warsaw since 30th May 2019

In the Underground she was known under the pseudonym of Sławka, a front-line nurse during the Warsaw Uprising, later a doctor, and a veteran activist. She graduated from the Juliusz Słowacki Secondary School in Warsaw and passed the secondary school leaving exam in July 1944 under the underground education framework. She started working for the Underground State in July 1940 when she joined the 3. Czerwona Warszawska Drużyna Harcerek [Third Warsaw Scouting Troop “Red”]. In March 1940 she transferred to Konfederacja Narodu [Confederation of the Nation] which was incorporated into Armia Krajowa [Home Army] in 1942. It was then that the she stared her service as a messenger under the pseudonym of Sławka. She was assigned to Kedyw [Directorate of Diversion] during the Warsaw Uprising and served as a front-line nurse of a medical patrol under Captain “Niebora” (Franciszek Mazurkiewicz), the commander of “Miotła” Battalion belonging to “Radosław” Regiment. After the death of “Niebora”, she was assigned to a unit commanded by Lieutenant “Szczęsny.” She participated in all battles fought by the Unit in Wola, Old Town, Czerniaków and Książęca St. She was awarded a Cross of Valour twice. After the Uprising she was detained in a German POW camp (Stalag XB in Sandbostel), and later transferred to the POW camp for female soldiers of the Home Army in Oberlangen. After the liberation from the camp she was transferred to the Netherlands with a group of girls, and later moved to the UK where she was assigned to the Women’s Air Force Auxiliary Service (WAAF). In 1946 she returned to Poland, and started her studies at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Poznań. In 1947 she married Tomasz Jędrzejewski whom she had met during the Uprising and moved to Warsaw where she continued education at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Warsaw. She obtained the diploma of a medical doctor in February 1952, and three months later she commenced employment with an orthopaedic clinic where she worked until she retired in 1987. In 1958 she passed a 2nd degree medical speciality exam in orthopaedics and trauma surgery. In 1966 she received her PhD. Following retirement she worked with a Clinic of the “Inspol” Disabled Cooperative. In October 1956 she became a social activist for the group connected with the Home Army’s “Miotła” Battalion. For a number of years she presided over the group’s social committee. As a specialist, she also provided medical consultations to members of Związek Inwalidów Wojennych [Polish Association of War Veterans]. In June 1981 she was elected Member of the Regional Executive Board of Związek Bojowników o Wolność i Demokrację, ZBoWiD [Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy], and served three terms as a Regional Executive Board Vice President for Social Affairs. In November 1994 she was elected Member of the General Board of Związek Powstańców Warszawskich [Association of Warsaw Insurgents] and now serves as its Vice President.
She is a holder of a Knight's Cross, Officer’s Cross and Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. She also received a Gold Badge for Merit to Warsaw.

(photo. JWK/Piotr BŁAWICKI)