Remembering the liberation of Europe by a Rimbey Second World War veteran

Michael Jarmoluk was one of those troops fighting alongside Canadians during that time. A Polish veteran and current Rimbey resident, Michael Jarmoluk began his Second World War journey when Poland was invaded and separated in 1939 by Germany and Russia. “I was taken to Siberia and then released. I went to the Middle East and joined the Polish Army under British command,” Jarmoluk said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) Enlisting for service in Iran on Jan. 29, 1942. during the Second World War, Jarmoluk was one of the over 170,000 Poles fighting alongside the allies. Spending time training in Iran and Palestine, he then began crossing the Sinai Peninsula into Egypt and north Africa. Continuing his journey from there, around the horn of Africa en route to Liverpool. Jarmoluk was tasked with escorting German prisoners of war. Arriving in England in August 1942, he was then assigned to Scotland. “Polish forces were in Scotland and I was assigned to the First Armoured Division. I was under the Second British Army Command,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) Jarmoluk would spend almost two years in Scotland. Then word was received of the coming Allied invasion of Europe. At this time the operation was unknown to Allied troops. D-Day happened on June 6, 1944. Michael Jarmoluk landed in Normandy in early July 1944. “We landed in Normandy on July. 5th amongst thousands of ships landing troops. There was planes overheard when we landed on the beaches. The beaches were more or less safe but the landing had constant shelling. You never knew where it was coming from,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) Once organized in Falais in France, his corps fought alongside British and Canadian troops. “Our division took big losses and that battle was a real massacre. You could see the dead lying all over and you could smell the stink. That battle finally ended on August 23 in Normandy,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) Jarmoluk is proud of their achievements during that time, because they successfully landed and pushed the Nazis back. Before his corps went on to liberate France, Belgium and Holland, they stopped to regain their strength. They went on passed Ypres famous for the First World War battle that liberated Belgium. Then going to Ghent and Antwerp, and eventually into Holland where they liberated the south parts of the country. Breda was one of the cities they liberated. Jarmoluk can still remember the celebration in Breda after they were liberated in Oct. 1944. The city was so appreciative, it awarded his entire division citizenship. Travelling from there to river Mass where he patrolled the front lines with his unit until Feb. 1945. They fought along with the Canadian Army as part of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. They pushed their way into the Northern, then eastern part of Holland. Finally making way into Germany itself. During his time in Europe, Jarmoluk has the memory of all the Canadians on the road receiving parcels. “I had nobody. I was a single 20-year-old and I didn’t know where my family was. I was so lucky to have Rimbey accept me as one of their own. I am very proud to be here,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) His unit would push forwards towards the North Sea. Finally they heard Germany had surrendered on May 7, 1945. Canadians and British troops all celebrated together, though the Polish troops were disappointed not being able to fight on further into Germany and Poland. “We all wanted to go to Berlin and Warsaw to make up for what Germany did to Poland, occupying our country. That never happened,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) Allied troops began returning home after the war. The U.S.S.R. was now occupying Poland, so the end was bittersweet. There was not much cause to celebrate, not having a country to go home too. Polish people scattered all over, because few went back to Russia occupied Poland. Many people looked to find freedom in other countries. Jarmoluk would spend two years with the Allied occupying force in West Germany. He witnessed the true horrors of Hitler’s Nazi regime. Seeing for himself the concentration camps all around the country “It is important to remember the sacrifice that Canadians, British and Poles made to liberate Europe from the horror of Hitler. I have seen so much misery and distress. In Germany, I’ve seen the concentration camps and the massacre they did,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) In time allied forces were reduced in West Germany. Jarmoluk was sent back to London. There he took some photography courses. “They tried to help us establish ourselves or immigrate to other countries. I went to London for a year and a half,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) From London he was able to track down his family who were separated in 1939. Michael Jarmoluk had two sisters that lived in South Africa. His brother also fought along with Canadians in Italy. Immigrating after the war to a small town called Rimbey, in Canada. His father was in the middle east and he lost his mother during the war. “I told my brother I want to come to Rimbey too and in November 1949 I arrived. I started a photographic shop and I later built a store. I stayed in business for 42 years and joined the Legion. I am now a 70-year Legion member,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) Jarmoluk joined the Legion connecting with a great group of veterans able to share their stories. While living in Rimbey he got married and had three kids. Michael Jarmoluk is grateful to end up in Canada. “I am happy to be here and I have never forgot the history of the war. It was a long way from Poland to Rimbey. There is a lot more stories to tell,” he said. (Quote from: Article by Todd Vaughan / www.reddeeradvocate.com) Information and Quotes sourced from: www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/rimbeysecond-world-war-veteran-remembers-theliberation-of-europe by: Todd Vaughan Submitted by: Teresa Moench Central Alberta Tile One