Born on May 20, 1881 in the village of Tuszow-Narodowy in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship in Galicia on the territory of Austria-Hungary. He studied in Rzeszow and graduated from high school in Lviv. In 1902 he entered the Faculty of Roads and Bridges of the Lviv Polytechnic Institute. In 1908, Sikorsky became one of the founders of the Lviv Union of Active Struggle, then in 1910 - chairman of the local paramilitary union of Polish citizens "Strelec". Since 1914, a member of the Galician Main People's Committee, since 1916, head of its military department. During this period, a serious conflict began between him and Józef Pilsudski: unlike Pilsudski, Sikorski advocated the re-establishment of the Polish state under the auspices of Austria-Hungary. In 1916-1918, Sikorsky was involved in the recruitment of Poles into the Austrian army.

Since November 1918, Wladyslaw Sikorski has been part of the Polish Army: chief of staff of the military groups "East" in Galicia, commander of the "Bartatow" group and the "group of Colonel Sikorski".

During the Soviet-Polish War of 1919-1921, Vladislav Sikorsky commanded the 9th Infantry Division and the Polesie Group of Forces in the Kyiv Operation, the 5th Army in the Warsaw Operation, and the 3rd Army in the battles for Zamosc. During the Battle of Warsaw, units under the command of Sikorski managed to stop the Bolshevik troops north of the Polish capital, which gave Pilsudski time to carry out a victorious counter-offensive operation. For his participation in the Battle of Warsaw, Sikorski was awarded the most honorable Polish military order, the Virtuti Militari. In April 1921, Sikorski replaced Józef Pilsudski as Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army and headed the General Staff.

Prime Minister

On December 16, 1922, after the assassination of President Gabriel Narutowicz, Marshal (Chairman) of the Sejm Maciej Rataj proposed the candidacy of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, Wladyslaw Sikorski, for the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers, simultaneously acting as Minister of the Interior. Sikorsky held this position until May 26, 1923. The Sikorski government managed to restore internal stability and achieve recognition of the Polish eastern borders from Western countries.

As part of the Polish Army

In 1923-1924, Sikorsky was the Inspector General of the Infantry. In 1924-1925, Sikorski was Minister of War in the second government of Wladyslaw Grabski. In 1925, he headed the 6th district of the Polish Army in Lviv. Another conflict with Józef Piłsudski forced him to leave this post in 1928.

May coup

During the May Revolution of 1926, Sikorski did not leave the command of the military district in Lvov, but did not provide any assistance to the government, which made the task much easier for the rebels led by Józef Pilsudski.

Best of the day

In 1928 he emigrated to France, where he was in opposition to the Polish government. Until 1939, he was at the disposal of the Minister of War, without holding any official positions. He studied in France at the Higher Military School.

The Second World War

World War II began on September 1, 1939, with the attack of Germany and Slovakia on Poland. With the outbreak of the war, General Sikorski tried to get Marshal Edward Rydz-Smigly to assign him to the front, but received no answer. He went to France again, where on September 28 he began forming the Polish army in exile.

On September 30, 1939, Sikorski became prime minister of the Polish emigration government (and remained so until his death in 1943). On November 7, by decree of the President of the Polish Republic, Sikorski was appointed Inspector General (Commander-in-Chief) of the armed forces. The army he created in France numbered 84 thousand people. After the German invasion of France, the Poles, along with the French and British, actively participated in the battles. After the defeat of France, the surviving Polish units crossed to England at Dunkirk and on September 5, 1940 joined the British armed forces

Anders Army

After the German invasion of the USSR on July 30, 1941, Sikorsky signed with I.M. Maisky, the Soviet ambassador to England, an agreement with the USSR on the resumption of diplomatic relations and a pact on the creation of a Polish army in the East. In 1941-1942, he participated in the creation of the Polish Army of Anders, which was formed in the Buzuluk area and subsequently transferred to the Middle East.

However, soon the discovery and publication by the Germans of the Katyn burial site led to Sikorsky’s break with Moscow. In April 1943, these relations were formally severed by Stalin's government after Sikorski demanded an investigation into the Katyn massacre of Polish soldiers.

Atlantic disaster

In connection with the facts of the Katyn execution that were discovered in April 1943, Sikorsky made sharp accusations against the USSR, in particular demanding that Churchill sever relations with the USSR. A few weeks later, General Wladislav Sikorsky and his daughter Sophia died in a plane crash on July 4, 1943 near Gibraltar. Some modern historians argue that this most likely was not an accident. An English pilot who had never worn a life jacket put one on on this flight and survived. The incident, which has not been fully clarified, has given rise to many rumors, guesses and versions. In November 2008, his body was exhumed and checked by Polish experts in order to confirm the version of the involvement of Soviet intelligence services in his death, but no facts were discovered. You can read about who is really guilty of the death of General Sikorsky in the book by G. Douglas “Gestapo Chief Heinrich Müller. Recruitment conversations." The general was buried with honors in the presence of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the cemetery of Polish pilots in Newark near Nottingham (Nottinghamshire). On September 17, 1993, his ashes were transported to Poland and buried at Wawel in Krakow.

Awards

Order of the White Eagle,

Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Virtuti Militari

Silver Cross of the Order "Virtuti Militari"

Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 1st class (2.VII.1946)

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Renaissance of Poland

Commander of the Order of the Renaissance of Poland

Cross of the Brave

Golden Cross of Merit

Knight Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor

If anyone knows about popularity, it's Clematis Genera? Sikorski (General Sikorski). One of the most famous varieties of vines among gardeners, it is so honored not only because of its illustrious name, but also because of many factors.

Perhaps the most important thing is flower diameter 20 cm. A colossal size for such an elegant vine. Clematis flowers General Sikorsky simple shape, there are 6 sepals, the middle of the bud is in thick white-lemon stamens. Abundant summer flowering will hide any fence under a blue-violet hat. Even foliage will have difficulty breaking through this thicket of flowers. Well, what is also quite important is that flowering is almost continuous from June to September.

To Clematis Genera? Sikorski If it pleases you longer, give it a semi-shaded corner or a place where, in the afternoon, the sun disappears as much as possible, illuminating, but not scorching, and without spoiling the richness of the flowers. This will help extend their life and value. The stems of the vine are powerful, about 3 meters long. But this will not prevent you from easily forming a bush, directing young shoots in the direction you need. By taking simple steps, you can create a real picture. Add refreshing petulant white roses or honeysuckle to your companions and your yard will be filled with a wonderful aroma. Pruning is weak, type 2. Winter hardiness indicators are high.

Before planting, you need to familiarize yourself in detail with the clematis variety: it prefers shady or sunny places. We must not forget that the enemy of all clematis is the wind, so you need to choose places with little airflow. You must definitely think about the supports on which your vine will climb; they must be at least 1.5 m. Planting is done in a pre-prepared hole 50x50 if the soil is light, and 70x70 for denser ones, after fertilizing it with superphosphate and humus. The distance between seedlings must also be maintained, at least 70 cm between holes.

Delivery of clematis seedlings Genera? Sikorski (General Sikorski) carried out using the services of the Russian Post and transport companies, delivery by air mail and courier is possible.

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Sending orders with clematis produced only in the spring (shipping restrictions in accordance with the customer’s climate zone).

PROLOGUE
Late in the evening of July 4, 1943, a B-24C Liberator heavy long-range bomber manufactured by an American company crashed in Gibraltar. Consolidated Aircraft Corporation. On board were the Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile and the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish forces, General Wladyslaw Sikorski, his daughter Zofia, the Chief of the Polish General Staff, General Tadeusz Klimecki, as well as several passengers. Only the first pilot was saved. Until now, the circumstances of the disaster cannot be clearly formulated, despite the conclusions of two official investigations. Moreover, all documents from both commissions are locked in the British Military Archives and cannot be opened until 2033. For 75 years now, this catastrophe continues to haunt our minds...

PART 1
So, what is known about the disaster? The day before, after inspecting the Polish II Corps in the Middle East, General Sikorski flew from Egypt to London, making a brief stop in Gibraltar. In Egypt, he was joined by three Polish officers led by Tadeusz Klimecki, his daughter Zofia Lesniewska and a British liaison, Colonel Victor Cazalet. At the last moment, three more passengers were added (one of them in Gibraltar). Thus, on board the B-24C Liberator AL523 were:

PASSENGERS
General VLADISLAV SIKORSKY
Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland and Commander-in-Chief

ZOFIA LESNIOWSKA, his daughter
Commandant of the Women's Auxiliary Service
Body not found

Major General TADEUSZ KLIMECKI
Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army

Colonel ANDRZEJ MARECKI
Chief of the Operations Department of the General Staff

Lieutenant Jozef PONIKEVSKI
Adjutant for Naval Affairs

ADAM KULAKOVSKY
Personal Secretary of General Sikorsky

Colonel VICTOR CAZALET
British Military Police Liaison Officer

Brigadier J.P. WHITELY
British Military Police Officer

"Mr. W. H. LOCK"
British intelligence agent, data still classified
Body not found

"Mr. PINDER"
Chief of the Middle East Division of British Intelligence
His position was not known to Sikorsky

Colonel Bombardier JAN GRALEWSKI
Home Army Courier
Got on the plane in Gibraltar.

CREW
Aviation Captain EDUARD MAX PRHAL (Czech)
1st pilot

Air Major WILLIAM S. HERRING
2nd pilot
Body not found

Warrant Officer L. SALSBERG
Navigator

Sergeant F. KELLY
Flight engineer

Flight Sergeant J.B. GERRY
Gunner-radio operator

Flight Sergeant D.HUNDER
Gunner-radio operator
Body not found

Note: The military ranks of both pilots are given in approximate correspondence with the general army ranks. The actual ranks are as follows. Prhal – Flight Lieutenant, Herring – Squadron Leader

Liberator AL523 took off at exactly 23.07. The weather was excellent, almost windless. The RAF airfield's runway was known to be extremely short. The plane reached a height of 50 meters and a speed of about 200 km per hour. Suddenly there was a crash. A few minutes after takeoff, the Liberator crashed into the sea. The first pilot survived, but none of the passengers were saved.

The plane's takeoff was observed by signalman Douglas Martin, who was on duty that night. From his testimony the following picture can be established. The Liberator roared toward the take-off point. And all engines worked properly. The runway was short, but the takeoff took place long before its end. The plane rose to 50 meters (above the Gibraltar Hills) and had to straighten its flight. However, for such a height with strong headwinds, the speed was clearly insufficient. The pilot dropped a little lower to reach 248 km per hour. This was often done in case of overload on the Liberators. But, as Prhal later showed, the steering wheel suddenly jammed. The pilot only had time to shout: “Emergency landing!” when the plane rapidly, at an angle of 15 - 20 degrees, began to fall. Having fallen into the water, he broke in half.

Rescuers immediately rushed to him. For some time, about 7 minutes, the Liberator remained on the surface. But suddenly it turned over and began to slowly sink. Rescuers managed to pull pilot Prhal, the only survivor of this disaster, from the cockpit. Then 4 more dead were lifted from the water. One, wounded in the head, dressed in a shirt and khaki trousers - General Vladislav Sikorsky, who died immediately when the plane crashed. The body of his daughter Zosia was never found. Also, the bodies of co-pilot William Herring, second radio operator Hunder and a certain “Mr. Lock” were not found. Subsequently, this played a certain role in versions of the crash.

Immediately after the disaster, two official investigations were carried out - British and Polish. However, neither one nor the other Commission of Inquiry was able to determine the probable cause of the tragedy. Having only found that “the plane became uncontrollable for reasons that are not possible to establish.” Based on the testimony of the first pilot and technical expertise, the commission concluded that the aircraft's uncontrollability was caused by a malfunction of the elevator. However, the investigation did not answer the question of why the steering wheel was faulty. But it completely ruled out the possibility of sabotage. The investigation also found that the plane was excessively overloaded. The fact is that in England at that time there was an acute shortage of food. Especially vegetables and fruits. That is why all passengers returning to London, both Poles and English, carried huge suitcases stuffed with colonial goods. All this luggage was crammed into the cargo hold of the plane back in Egypt. But there was also cargo in the passenger compartment - boxes of oranges.

PART 2
Rumors immediately spread about the deliberate elimination of Sikorsky. And they were not founded out of nowhere. The political context of what happened, the presence of some strange and curious circumstances - all this made us assume that the general could have fallen victim not to an accident at all, but as a result of a well-planned action. Which, in turn, was the result of a British, Soviet and even Polish conspiracy.

In 1940, they tried to kill Sikorsky in Paris. In 1941 - on a London street. On March 21, 1942, the general flew out to report to Roosevelt to tell him about the situation of the Poles and their unstable relations with the USSR. But halfway through the flight, passengers were seized by panic - a bomb was discovered on board, which was supposed to explode immediately after landing. The bomb was quickly defused. At first it was assumed that this was an accident, but then several more similar alarming incidents followed.

7 months later, on November 30, 1942, Sikorsky again flew to the USA. This time he flew on a twin-engine Lockheed-Hudson aircraft. The purpose of the visit to Roosevelt was to discuss the same complex Polish-Soviet relations. Having taken off at Montreal's Dorval airfield, the plane took off safely, but at an altitude of 30 meters both engines suddenly failed. The pilot, however, managed to land the car in Montreal. She was dragged 200 meters, but the passengers were not injured. Now no one considered it an accident. The same story happened on January 12, 1943 at Gander Airfield in Newfoundland on the way back to the UK.

Six weeks before the crash, when the general stopped in Gibraltar on the way from London to Egypt (let me remind you that he crashed on the way back), the Minister of National Defense, General Marian Kukel, and his deputy, General Isidor Modelsky, received a telephone message from an unknown person. Which claimed that the plane with Sikorsky crashed in Gibraltar. In this case, all passengers and crew died. The excited generals demanded confirmation. And they learned that in fact the Liberator had arrived safely in Cairo. It is still not known what this message about the death of Sikorsky actually meant. Somebody's stupid joke? Or was someone just in a hurry? I note that Kukel and Modelsky were in a state of protracted and serious conflict, in which other ministry employees were also involved. It is possible that this was an attempt to bring the confrontation of the generals to a new level...

However, a completely natural question arises. Well, let’s say Vladislav Sikorsky died as a result of an assassination attempt. But who benefited from his death? From the very minute after the tragedy, three names were named. And the first of them is Churchill. The British Prime Minister's dissatisfaction with Sikorsky's policies reached its apogee precisely in the summer of 1943. And above all, due to the sharp deterioration of Polish-Soviet relations. It must be said that, in principle, Vladislav Sikorsky sympathized with the USSR. For which, by the way, he was repeatedly criticized by his political opponents. First, Marshal Jozef Pilsudski. Then - General Vladislav Anders. However, I note that Stalin personally hated Sikorsky since 1920. However, as a politician, Sikorsky’s personality as prime minister, in general, suited him. However, over time, their relationship deteriorated significantly, about which the general constantly informed the allies. There were several reasons. It’s not clear where thousands of Polish prisoners of war have disappeared to. And numerous obstacles in the formation of military units from the Poles who were in the USSR. And so on and so forth.

By November 1942, relations between the Polish government and the USSR had reached the point of maximum tension. So difficult (but still bearable) they continued for three months. And suddenly, in February 1943, everything collapsed - the Germans dug up (literally) Katyn. Sikorsky was beside himself. He demanded the most thorough investigation and analysis of the bullet holes. Katyn brought the entire allied coalition to the brink of rupture. It turned out to be especially difficult for Churchill, who admitted that he could not take a position in the conflict between Poland and the USSR. This brought the entire allied alliance to the brink of collapse.

The general announced a severance of relations with Stalin. In response to this, the latter created another Polish government. And in contrast to the Home Army - the pro-communist Guard Ludow. For his part, the British prime minister desperately tried to rectify the situation and distract the angry Poles. Churchill asked Sikorski to visit all Polish units and reassure his men. In May 1943, he was provided with a Liberator bomber for a trip to the Middle East. The general was flying on the route London - Gibraltar - Cairo.

In Cairo, the general visited the units that had fought valiantly at Tobruk and were about to land with the allies in Italy. Here he met with the commander of the Polish II Corps and his longtime rival, General Wladyslaw Anders. After completing his mission, Sikorsky and his daughter planned to return to London with a stop in Gibraltar. He flew back on the same plane, with the same pilot. New passengers also joined the flight. On the evening of July 4th, General Sikorsky said goodbye to his personal friend, the Governor of Gibraltar, Lieutenant General Sir Mason MacFarlane, whose guest he was, and went on board. We took off with a delay, as the first pilot Eduard Prhal was concerned about the overload and demanded to unload some of the luggage. At 23.07 the dispatcher gave permission for takeoff.

What made the British leadership classify all materials from the investigation into the crash of the Liberator until 2050? It is also known that after the disaster, submariners carefully examined the sunken plane. They found Sikorsky's personal briefcase and handed it over to the governor. Since then, no one has seen this briefcase again.
A recently declassified letter from Sir Robin Cooper, a former Cabinet Office pilot, to Sir Burke Trend, the Cabinet Secretary, states that "security arrangements at Gibraltar were ad hoc." And that “there were many opportunities for sabotage while the plane was there.” Cooper himself doubted that there was sabotage or a deliberate act on the part of the pilots. However, I considered it necessary to add that even if this was an assassination attempt, the British had nothing to do with it. At the same time, Cooper emphasized, the possibility of Sikorsky’s murder by unknown persons cannot be ruled out.

In 1968, a play by German playwright Rolf Hochhuth was published, in which he directly accuses Winston Churchill of organizing the assassination attempt on General Sikorsky. And at the beginning of 1969, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who was familiar with all the materials of the case hidden from the general public, said in the House of Commons: “There is no clarity in all this, and therefore there are serious grounds for a re-investigation.” Almost simultaneously with Hochhuth’s play, the notorious historian and journalist David Irving, known for his sympathies for Nazi leaders (and their biographer), published the book “The Death of General Sikorsky,” where he also accused Winston Churchill. And he named the pilot Eduard Prhal as the direct perpetrator. It must be said that the Czech, the only survivor of the crash, immediately aroused serious suspicion.

Prhal's salvation was explained by the fact that he had a Mae West life jacket.
The famous B-4 vest was invented by James F. Boyle and during World War II received the name of a popular Hollywood actress and sex symbol of that era. Her last name rhymes well with vest (vest) — "Mae West life vest" However, the Czech pilot was known for never wearing life jackets. And, somehow miraculously, I found myself there on that fateful evening. The pilot himself denied everything. And later, years later, he referred to amnesia caused by the impact of the crash. Irving's book infuriated him. With the support of Churchill's grandson, he sued the writer for libel and won. This forced the supporters of the “Churchillian” version to become somewhat silent. But the version of the English trace is still alive today...

PART 3
The second name mentioned as one of the versions is, of course, Joseph Stalin. Indeed, someone, and he had very good reasons to remove the general. Moreover, this very method of eliminating political opponents was very dear to his heart (“if there is a person, there is a problem...”). Just then, after Stalingrad, when it became clear to everyone that Nazi Germany would soon collapse, Stalin began to seriously think about the post-war structure of Europe. Where Poland, according to his plan, was assigned a very important role. The main obstacle to this, undoubtedly, was Vladislav Sikorsky. Which the majority of Poles will definitely follow. Not to mention the support from the USA and England. The question of the Bolshevization of Eastern Europe had long been of concern to Churchill. At the same time, Stalin was clearly aware that the general would not forgive Katyn. All this was quite enough to eliminate Sikorsky. However, the question arises: how did a Soviet agent manage to carry out such an operation? And is there any confirmation of this?

At the same time that Sikorsky arrived in Gibraltar, a serious diplomatic discrepancy occurred - the USSR Ambassador to Great Britain, Ivan Maisky, also arrived here. Both knew each other well and met several times in London. There, together they signed a Pact on the formation of Polish military units in the USSR. However, now, after the rupture of relations between the Republic of Poland and the USSR, it was quite obvious that they could not visit the governor together. With great difficulty, the latter managed to solve this complex problem. Both delegations settled with the governor. But their neighborhood was too dense. And the planes shared a common runway. Sikorsky's "Liberator" was guarded both outside and inside, where a security soldier was constantly on duty. However, the plane remained vulnerable.

Ivan Maisky was heading to Moscow with a stop in Cairo. As a rule, planes flying from Gibraltar to Cairo made one landing along the way. And she was at the Castel Benito airfield, near Tripoli. Maisky, however, landed in the desert at a military airfield. This happened at approximately 18:00 on July 4, 1943. According to Maisky, his plane took off again sometime after midnight and reached Cairo by 7:00 am on July 5th. This seems highly doubtful. The route from a military airfield in the Libyan desert to Cairo would take 31 hours (even though it is generally technically unreliable). This is why many experts believe that Maisky flew out of Gibraltar not on Sunday, July 4, but on Monday, the 5th. That is, after the disaster.

In an interview in 1966, the former ambassador denied that he lived with Sikorsky in the governor's palace. Moreover, he stated that he was not aware of the general’s presence at all. According to him, Governor McFarlane did not like him and, in order to prevent any diplomatic incident, did not inform him about Sikorsky. As mentioned above, both planes, Ambassador Maisky and General Sikorsky, stood side by side at the Gibraltar airfield. This led to at least a dozen officials and military personnel swirling around, whose identities have not yet been established. This made sabotage quite real. And a jammed steering wheel is a clear sign of it.

But the most interesting thing is different. The chief of British counterintelligence on the Iberian Peninsula in 1941 - 1944 was none other than Kim Philby. He deserted in 1963 and stated that he had been working for the USSR since 1940. That is, he was a double agent. And until 1941, Philby served as an instructor in the Special Operations department, engaged in sabotage and sabotage behind enemy lines. So, after the war, it unexpectedly turned out that just then, on July 4, 1943, he was in Gibraltar. This fact was not given much importance. However, after his escape they looked at him in a different light. Here, however, one “but” arises. If Philby organized this disaster (which, of course, was not difficult for him), then who did he work for then? Whose orders were you following—Stalin’s or Churchill’s?

There is another version that fits firmly into the “Soviet trace”. Even then, immediately after the disaster, there were suggestions that General Sikorsky may not have died on board the plane. A was killed along with his daughter and officers at his residence before the flight. Supporters of this version claim that there were no wounds on the general’s body, but only signs of strangulation. The description of the wound on the head was already included in the examination report later. In other words, the protocol is falsified. And not only him. There is also an assumption that British submariners, if they found anything confirming the “Russian” version, then, in any case, hid the find so as not to destroy the fragile allied alliance. But something else is also possible. One of the submariners was Lionel Crabbe. Thirteen years later he mysteriously disappeared under a Soviet warship in British waters. But he could only “disappear” by going onto the ship. This gave reason to believe that Crabbe had been working for the USSR for a long time.

As is known, four bodies were never found. And not all of those found could be identified. This gave reason to suspect that they may have survived, but were abducted by Soviet agents. Among the alleged victims is Sikorsky's daughter. At the beginning of the war, Zofia became one of the initiators of the creation of the Polish elite commandos - the “Silent Commandos”. The famous Polish politician Jan Kozlowski (one of the founding fathers of Solidarity) writes in his article that in 1945 or 1946, one of the “quiet ones” Tadeusz Kobylinski recruited a group of volunteers from his fellow soldiers in order to try to rescue Zofia from the Gulag. However, at the border they were captured by border guards and were never heard from again.

PART 4
New research conducted at the London State Archives shows that a third party may also be involved in the death of General Sikorsky. Found a report from Colonel Hall, a British liaison officer on General Anders' staff. According to Hall, most Poles in the Middle East consider their leaders in London to be compromisers. They are not satisfied with the government's position regarding Stalin. And they demand decisive action on the issue of the Katyn tragedy. All this led to a drop in morale, which affected subsequent campaigns.

Hall also reports that Anders knew that in early March Sikorsky met with his associates. At the meeting the issue of the removal of General Anders and the arrest of some Polish soldiers was discussed. Next comes the most important thing. Hall notes that dissatisfaction with the Sikorski government in Anders' units is so great that the latter will do everything possible to replace him. And if the legal path does not produce results, then there will be other means of influence. Essentially, this is a direct threat from Anders. The story of the two British intelligence officers Pinder and Locke who boarded Sikorsky’s plane in Cairo is still not entirely clear. It is possible that they worked for Anders. After the death of Wladislav Sikorski, his widow Helena officially accused General Anders of her husband's death. However, after some time (probably under pressure) she withdrew her accusation.

It cannot be said that the official version - “tragic accident” - is not confirmed. Many years later, another witness appeared - Patrick Bronte-Hearn, who was then serving as a signalman in Gibraltar. He was at sea at the moment the Liberator took off and clearly saw everything that was happening. Patrick believes that the short runway is to blame. And that the plane’s engines simply did not have time to reach full power.

Moreover, in addition to people, Sikorsky’s plane also carried bags of mail. Some of them, half empty, were later found on the runway. Almost immediately after landing, the bow hatches were battened down. And the side ones were not locked, since they were often opened for ventilation in the parking lot. As well as the entry and exit of security soldiers. During the pre-takeoff check, they might well have forgotten to lock one of them. Since the runway was in poor condition, the plane undoubtedly shook during acceleration. This probably caused the unlocked side hatch to open.

The wind rushed through the open hatch, which inevitably would collide with the half-empty mail bags and push them along the cabin. Perhaps some of them fell through the open side hatch. Most likely, during the fall, one of them got stuck between the elevator and the stabilizer located at the tail of the plane. This could be quite enough to disrupt the operation of the steering wheel. Prhal tried to accelerate with a slight descent. But a stuck steering wheel prevented him from landing. Seconds later the plane fell into the sea. I note that on the technical side, not everyone agreed with the conclusions of the commissions. For example, the weight of the aircraft before takeoff, according to all calculations, should have been approximately 55,200 - 55,400 pounds. Which did not exceed the permissible norm. However, the aircraft’s overload should be considered in conjunction with the wing’s load-bearing force, take-off speed, wind direction, and so on.

Polish researchers split into two groups. Those who believe that this is an assassination attempt. And supporters of the “accident” version. In 1992, on the initiative of the famous historian and journalist Dariusz Baliszewski, a computer simulation of the flight of the Liberator AL523 was carried out at the Warsaw Polytechnic Department under the leadership of Professor Jerzy Maryniak. This examination does not confirm the British study results. And it completely refutes the statement of the pilot Prhal that after takeoff the plane gained an altitude of 150 feet (or 300 feet, according to his later testimony), after which the control wheel jammed. A computer simulation showed the plane only climbed 30 feet (or 9 meters). A version of Eduard Prhal’s involvement in the plane crash has resurfaced. Some authors, in addition, do not exclude the participation of co-pilot William Herring in the assassination attempt, whose body was never found. Tadeusz Kisielewski, the author of the famous book “Assassination - on the trail of the murderers of General Sikorski,” also refers to the results of computer simulation.

However, the conclusions of the computer examination themselves were also sharply criticized. So that such a large aircraft, a heavy bomber, after takeoff could not rise to a height above 9 meters? What kind of start is this? Moreover, the versions about the involvement of the pilots are, frankly speaking, very doubtful. Indeed, in such an attempt they inevitably expose their lives to mortal danger. True, supporters of this hypothesis argue that a plane falling into water at a speed of 260 km per hour cannot cause much harm to it. The speed, they say, is not high enough. And as proof they point to Prhal - everyone died, but he was safe. At the same time, they forget that the first pilot was literally thrown out of the cockpit through a plexiglass window. He broke his leg above the knee and was seriously injured. The pilot did not drown only because he had a life jacket with him (with which, however, not everything is clear). As for Herring, all the talk that he escaped and, being the organizer of the disaster, simply hurried to disappear, has not yet been confirmed by facts.

PART 5
For many years now, the attention of researchers of the Gibraltar tragedy has been attracted by the very same passenger who boarded the plane immediately before the disaster - a certain courier of the Warsaw underground. Who lived in Poland under the pseudonym Pavel Pankowski (“Pankrats”), and in Spain - Jerzy or Pavel Nowakowski. The courier left Warsaw on February 8, 1943, and arrived in Gibraltar on June 24. Here is what Dariusz Baliszewski writes: “...On July 4, there were as many as three people in Gibraltar posing as Gralewski and introducing themselves as couriers from Poland, who...tried to be as close to Sikorski as possible.” Sikorsky ordered one of them to fly with him to London.

According to the found diary of Nowakowski, writes Tadeusz Kisielewski, he arrived in Gibraltar on June 23. However, Second Lieutenant Ludwik Lubensky, the head of the Polish naval mission there, testified that Gralevsky appeared with him only on the night of July 3-4. Therefore, either the information in the diary is false, or the AK courier has been hiding somewhere in Gibraltar all this time. In any case, on the morning of July 4, Lyubensky escorted the courier to Sikorsky. In a conversation with the general, Gralevsky stated that he had important documents encrypted with the AK code. Since there was no way to decipher them in Gibraltar, Sikorsky decided to bring a courier to London. On the plane, the courier took the place of Lyubensky, who (fortunately) remained in Gibraltar.

True, it is not entirely clear why to bring a courier if you could just take the documents. However, we do not know why Sikorsky needed Gralevsky himself. Maybe he wanted to use him as his personal courier. Maybe he wanted to talk about the situation in Poland, but there wasn’t enough time for that in Gibraltar. One thing is clear. The initiative came from the general himself. Gralevsky, by his own desire alone, in no case
could have been on the plane. Around midnight from July 4 to July 5, about forty minutes after the Liberator took off, the body of Jan Gralewski was discovered on the runway with a bullet in his head. His personal belongings, identified by his wife, Alicja Iwanska, were recovered after the plane crash. This means that he was either already in it or was preparing to sit down.

Further more. On June 24, a group of 95 Polish soldiers, previously interned in the Spanish camp of Miranda del Ebro, arrived in Gibraltar. With them was a man who called himself Jerzy Nowakowski (interned since May 27). Those. just like the AK courier. Around noon, having visited the soldiers liberated from the camp, Sikorsky recognized Novakovsky and announced that he was taking him with him to London. A somewhat strange decision by the general. After all, in order to make room for Gralevsky, he left Lyubensky in Gibraltar. It turned out that he was taking both of them to London at once. And Gralevsky, and the “Mirandian” posing as him. For which there was no longer room. It can be assumed that it came to confrontation. During which the real Gralevsky was shot. Or vice versa. In other words:

1) The real Colonel Gralevsky died on the plane (the body was caught on July 8, but it was not possible to identify him)

2) The real Colonel Gralevsky was found with a bullet in his head on the runway. On the evening of 9 July he was buried in Gibraltar, between the Rock and the airfield.

3) Both bodies belong to the fake Gralevskys. The fate of the present remains unknown.

One can agree with Tadeusz Kisielewski when he believes that the key to unraveling the death of General Sikorski lies in establishing the truth around the personality of Jan Gralewski. The writer proposes to exhume the body buried in Gibraltar in order to identify it using the most modern methods. But it is unlikely that the British will do this, having locked away all the information for more than a hundred years. It is still not entirely clear how many people were on board the Liberator. According to official data - 17 people. However, there are witnesses who saw 20 - 24 people boarding. Departure times also range from 23.00 to 23.24.

Jan Gralewski's passport page. The examination established that neither the passport nor its owner could have been on board the plane

PART 6
In 1993, in connection with the 50th anniversary of the death of General Wladyslaw Sikorski, Foreign Minister Krzysztof Kubiszewski, on behalf of the Polish government, submitted a request to the British government about the possibility of exhuming the general's body and reburying it in Poland. The request was granted. The exhumation in Newark took place in accordance with official agreements, as well as secret agreements. For unexplained reasons, the British side prohibited the presence of a representative of Polish forensic medicine. An examination of the body was carried out by a British forensic doctor. One of the witnesses to the exhumation, the current Polish Ambassador to Ireland Tadeusz Szumowski, said in an interview: “During the exhumation, I examined his body very carefully. The only damage that was visible were broken legs."

On September 17, 1993, in the presence of the last President of the Republic of Poland in the West, Ryszard Kaczorowski, and the first President of the post-communist Republic of Poland, the remains of General Wladyslaw Sikorski were buried in the crypt of St. Leonard in the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and Wenceslas in Wawel.

By order of the Katowice prosecutor from the Special Commission for the Investigation of Crimes against the Polish People on September 3, 2008, an investigation was launched into the case of crime of the Stalin regime , which consisted of organizing a plane crash on July 4, 1943 in Gibraltar with the aim of taking the life of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, General Wladislav Sikorski, which resulted in the crash of the Liberator AL 523 aircraft, belonging to the 511th division of the British Royal Air Force, which resulted in the death of General Wladislav Sikorski and his accompanying citizens RP .

Even earlier, the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski spoke in favor of exhuming the remains of General Sikorski. He was also supported by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Donald Tusk. Sikorski’s closest relative (his sister’s granddaughter) Ewa Wojtasik also agreed to the exhumation. Her decision also entailed the consent of the Krakow cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. In addition to Eva, there are also other relatives - the great-granddaughter and great-great-grandchildren of Sikorsky’s brother. However, it is Ewa Wojtasik who is the representative of the family, and only she was present at the burial of the general’s body in Wawel.

When choosing ornamental plants for your summer cottage, you need to take into account the climate of that region. Therefore, clematis for the Moscow region (varieties, their descriptions and photos below) should be resistant to sudden changes in weather conditions. The main feature of these tropical “inhabitants” is that they are heat- and light-loving. In temperate latitudes, only hybrid varieties feel comfortable when cultivated. Moreover, they produce lush and abundant blooms without requiring painstaking care from the gardener.

Many of them adapt perfectly to different conditions. Like all crops, these plants need proper planting and care. Watering, pruning and fertilizing promote active development.

Moscow region, meet the following varieties

It’s so gentle on the surface, but in reality it’s strong and durable. This description is quite suitable for these decorative vines. In the wild, they can be found anywhere. It could be:

• rocky slopes;
• steppe;
• river valleys.

They appear before the tourist either in the form of climbing vertical “carpets” or mighty bushes. Such wild species have miniature blooms. While clematis varieties for the Moscow region (photo with descriptions below) are distinguished by large flowers. They can be of various shades from snow-white to black and burgundy. There are varieties in which the flowers are collected in luxurious inflorescences of 3-7 pieces in a bunch. The shape of each of them is striking. The flower can be represented:

• half umbrella;
• panicle;
• shield.

You can admire these lovely buds already in May, but you will have to say goodbye to them in September. The main stems reach about 5 meters in length. They are exquisitely decorated with dark green foliage. Due to the fact that the leaves are arranged in pairs or alternately, the plant has a chic appearance. In one place, these hybrids can “live” for more than 30 years. However, you need to know that it is not recommended to replant varieties with a tap root system.

Shoots can develop very intensively. Thus, dense tufts are formed in the middle of the bush, which eventually dry out. Therefore, they need to be thinned out, and the bush itself needs to be trimmed. This does not in any way affect the splendor of flowering.

"Ville de Lyon" - Monsieur from France

It tolerates cold winters of mid-latitudes well, so its branches do not need to be covered. The gardener does not have to worry that the foliage and stem will be affected by fungal or any other diseases. He has excellent “immunity”. As you might expect, only a true Frenchman can boast of such endurance.

Throughout the summer, owners will admire its carmine-red flowers, which expand to 12-15 cm in diameter. These variegated umbrellas look harmonious on young brownish shoots (they grow up to 4 m). The rich red petals of clematis 'Ville de Lyon' are painted with light ripples. At the same time, the shaggy center adds some exoticism to this “carpet of love”.

Early spring or autumn is suitable for planting. It is advisable that the threat of nighttime temperature changes has already passed.

"Gypsy Queen" - blue blood

This variety is also called "Queen of the Gypsies." In fact, the large flowers of a purplish-violet hue with thinned petals (4-6 pieces) resemble the skirt of a Romanesque girl. These velvety umbrellas can be either 11 or 18 cm in diameter. They are decorated with purple anthers, which are crushed with scarlet pollen. Clematis "Gypsy Queen" is valued by many summer residents for:

• disease resistance;
• lush flowering that does not fade in the sun;
• frost tolerance (down to -30°C);
• ability to grow luxuriantly in shaded areas.

The flowering period begins on the 15th of July and continues until the first frost in October. Luxurious buds bloom on the young shoots (the top five). In total, there can be up to 20 of these charming “beauties” on the stem.

The choice of location is very important. The area should be moderately warm and illuminated by the sun. Excessive shade and heat will be destructive for him. The plant should be planted 20-35 cm from the wall/fence.

"Rouge Cardinal" - a person of clergy

Translated from French, this name sounds like red cardinal. It suits the plant quite well. Large velvet flowers have a burgundy tint. When the bush blooms in the spring, it inspires some kind of awe. Its spectacular appearance transports observers to the era of the musketeers. This description of clematis Rouge Cardinal fully justifies its name.

Young shoots of climbing vines must be tied up so that the bush grows in the right direction, acquiring the desired shape. As a result, it produces 3 to 5 shoots over the summer months.

Saline, acidic, damp and heavy types of soil are not suitable for such varieties. The alkalinity indicator should be as low as possible, neutral. Loamy fertilized soil is ideal.

“General Sikorsky” – military leader and politician rolled into one

This variety of clematis came to Russia from Poland. It was here in 1965 that breeders developed a hybrid that was resistant to sudden temperature changes, as well as fungal diseases. Bright purple petals with a bluish tint perfectly weave along living supports from:

• trees;
• bushes;
• phytosten.

Clematis "General Sikorsky" can be safely grown even in a container. Its foliage and flowering will be as lush and dense as possible if it is planted in partial shade. Despite such a high-profile title, this variety does not tolerate heat. Dry summers cause it to quickly fade. In this case, the buds acquire a pale tint.

After planting, the seedling needs feeding. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied during the growing season so that clematis blooms luxuriantly. By the end of spring, add ash or potash fertilizer to the soil. Organic matter and peat simply destroy the young shoot.

Luther Burbank is more than a breeder

A unique hybrid of tropical liana was named in honor of this great scientist. In the matter of breeding, this man was a pioneer.

A purple hanging carpet of large flowers will not leave any passerby indifferent. You can enjoy such luxury for six months. Among the important features of Luther Burbank are the following:

• the stem grows up to 5 meters;
• the size of one flower is about 24 cm in diameter;
• up to 10 vines develop in one bush;
• the anthers are very large.

You can find up to 12 flowers on one shoot. The elliptical shape of the ruffled petals creates a dramatic look.

In each subsequent season, the plant needs to be deepened. To do this, you can simply fill the root collar with another layer of soil.

“Nikolai Rubtsov” – lyrical digression

Apparently the extraordinary colors of these flowers have become a portal of inspiration for many poets. In this regard, he was named after one of them. His description is worthy of a literary work. On the purple umbrellas of clematis Nikolai Rubtsov, someone seemed to have made original white stripes with a brush. In the middle, above the petals, rises an amphora of anthers, which resembles some kind of precious Renaissance vase. The branches of the hybrid are so tightly woven together that they form a lush wreath/tiara of bright colors. The buds stay on the shoots for about a month and then fall off.

"Niobe" - caused the disapproval of the gods

Breeders decided to name this beautiful clematis Niobe because its purple flowers remind them of the story of a grieving mother. In an instant, she lost 14 children, executed at the behest of the ruthless Diana and Apollo. It is the dark red hue of the wavy petals that indicates her grief. Still, this is just a myth.

The shrub will grow up to 1 meter in width and up to 2.5 meters in height. In spring, you can see black buds on the shoots with a slight reddish tint. Over time they lighten.

Although the hybrid is considered frost-resistant, agronomists nevertheless recommend wrapping the branches tightly for the winter.

"Nelly Moser" - oh, what a woman

Seeing these pink and white umbrellas for the first time, many are ready to exclaim this phrase. A wide pink stripe is drawn in the center of each of the 9-11 snow-white petals. Unlike all other varieties, clematis Nelly Moser has a unique sepal structure. The petals are arranged in two rows, in a checkerboard pattern. Thanks to this structure, they look unusually impressive. When growing a plant, it is worth considering the following points:

• flowering fades in the scorching sun;
• the first buds appear on old branches towards the end of spring;
• In autumn they can also be observed on young shoots.

In dry weather, the plant should be watered more often than once a week. After this procedure, it is important to loosen the soil, removing all weeds from the garden bed.

“Ballerina” – grace in every contour

The appearance of this “beauty” reminds many of a bride. However, the crimson, slightly shaggy center immediately destroys this illusion. It was the outstanding ballet actress Maya Plisetskaya who became the muse that inspired the botanists to create this miracle.

The stem of clematis “ballerina” weaves slowly. It stretches only up to 3 meters. Magnificent white blooms (each 15 cm in diameter) stand out brightly on the green leaf surface. The bush has such a spectacular appearance that even the bush fades against its background. Buds bloom on both last year's (in June) and young (in July) stems.

The root of the seedling must be soaked 3-5 hours before planting. The first thing to do in the hole is to lay drainage, cover it with soil (5 cm layer) and carefully straighten the roots of the plant.

"Hope" never dies

Undoubtedly, this name immediately tells everyone about a Soviet woman. In 1969, the variety was bred by a simple flower lover who decided to perpetuate the memory of her sister by calling it clematis “Nadezhda”.

Twice a season (summer and autumn) this unique specimen produces large pale pink blooms. A bright purple stripe looks elegant on the petals. While the yellowish anthers combine delightfully with the spreading petals.

The stem should be pruned in late October or early November.

From a detailed description and vivid photos of ten varieties of clematis intended for the Moscow region, each gardener can choose several at once. They grow next to each other without any problems, creating amazing living curtains in the country.

Amazing clematis of the Moscow region - video

The Pole Wladislaw Sikorski became famous thanks to his participation in the struggle for national independence during the First World War. He managed to combine military service and a vibrant political career. After the occupation of Poland by the Third Reich, Sikorski became chairman of the government in exile. He died in a plane crash, and its circumstances became the basis for many conspiracy theories.

early years

The future Polish politician and military leader Wladyslaw Sikorsky was born on May 20, 1881 in Tuszow-Narodow, a small village in Galicia. The region then belonged to Austria-Hungary, although its population was mainly Slavic. The boy graduated from high school in Lvov (Lemberg) and entered the local polytechnic institute. At this time, Poland was divided between Russia and the Habsburg Empire. Therefore, it is not surprising that Vladislav Sikorsky became an active participant in the national movement. In Lviv, he took part in the creation of Polish liberation organizations.

In 1908, the young man joined the Union of Active Struggle. He was elected chairman of the Polish paramilitary organization Strelets. While anti-Austrian sentiment was growing in Galicia, Europe was inevitably approaching the First World War. In 1914, a Serbian terrorist shot and killed Austrian heir Franz Ferdinand. This event became the reason for the start of a war that engulfed the entire Old World. Austria-Hungary and Russia found themselves on opposite sides of the barricades. The Poles, whose lands were divided between these powers, began to prepare for a war for their own independence. Vladislav Sikorsky turned out to be one of the most active figures in this liberation movement.

Struggle for independence

After the unsuccessful offensive of the Russian army, the Central Powers occupied the western provinces that belonged to Russia. Among these lands was the Kingdom of Poland - Polish autonomy within the empire.

In 1916, Sikorski Wladyslaw became a supporter of Germany and Austria-Hungary, beginning to agitate for the creation of a nation state with the support of the Central Powers. This position brought the military leader into conflict with the nation's leader, Józef Pilsudski, who believed that Poland should shun the patronage of its neighbors.

Allied with Germany

Nevertheless, in 1916, Sikorsky’s project was actually implemented. On November 5, an act was signed according to which Germany and Austria-Hungary recognized the new Kingdom of Poland. This state turned out to be a satellite of its powerful neighbors.

The Germans did not care about Polish independence, they only wanted to enlist the support of the Poles in the fight against Russia. Nevertheless, for some time Vladislav Sikorsky remained a supporter of Germany and Austria, hoping for their support in creating an independent state. In 1916-1918 the military leader was engaged in recruiting Poles into the army of the Central Powers.

In the new Polish army

On November 11, 1918, the Polish militia in Warsaw disarmed the German garrison. Germany had just lost the First World War, after which a revolution began. Under such conditions, German protection could not be maintained in Poland under any circumstances. A few days after the above-described episode, Józef Pilsudski arrived in Warsaw and became head of state. In the same November, Wladislav Sikorsky was appointed chief of staff of the army in Galicia.

Although World War I had ended, Poland had yet to achieve peace on its territory. Soviet Russia became a threat to the country. The Bolsheviks, establishing their power on the ruins of a collapsed empire, considered Poland to be theirs by right. The war between neighbors began in January 1919. Lenin viewed this campaign as the initial stage of the world proletarian revolution. Gradually, after the successive defeat of white groups on different fronts, the Red Army concentrated all its forces in the western direction.

Against the Bolsheviks

With the outbreak of the war against Soviet Russia, the Polish military leader and politician Wladyslaw Sikorski went to the Polesie group of forces, where he became commander. He had to organize an army from scratch. did not have a single control center and clear structure. The authorities simply have not yet had time to transform the volunteer detachments into a normal army. Poland had to enter the war literally with bare hands.

Yet, once it became clear that the Bolsheviks were a real threat, the army was quickly organized and equipped. Vladislav Sikorsky made a huge contribution to this success. The biography of this man is a vivid example of the biography of a military leader who tried himself in a variety of capacities in staff and field work. Therefore, it is not surprising that the leadership of the new state considered it appropriate to entrust him with conducting several operations.

Kyiv operation

Sikorsky was assigned to Army Group Polesie in August 1919. For some time, its units stood motionless in the vicinity of Minsk. Then Mozyr was taken. The Red Army tried to recapture the city at least four times, but without success. In April 1920, the military leader took part in the offensive Kyiv operation with the aim of capturing the Ukrainian capital, occupied by the Bolsheviks. The attacks were carried out on the border section from Olevsk to Mozyr. In this operation, the Poles were supported by a 15,000-strong army

On April 28, the Polesie group as part of the Polish Army found itself on the line Vinnitsa - Kazatin - Chernobyl. Over the next 24 hours, she marched another 90 kilometers and ended up on the outskirts of Kyiv. Throughout this route the Poles did not encounter any resistance. Soviet military leader Sergei Mezheninov withdrew his troops, fearing a direct clash with the enemy who had gained momentum.

Vladislav, together with his colleagues, entered Kyiv on May 8, 1920. However, this success was temporary. Already on May 14, the Red Army under the command of the “demon of the Civil War” Mikhail Tukhachevsky launched a counteroffensive, because of which the Poles had to hastily retreat. On June 5 the front was broken through. On the 12th, the Red Army soldiers entered Kyiv. On August 6, the Polesie group was disbanded. Sikorsky began to command the 5th Army.

Warsaw operation

Tukhachevsky's counterattack forced the Poles to retreat. Army after army surrendered more and more cities. In this stream there were also units commanded directly by Vladislav Sikorsky. The military leader, however, did not give up and was preparing for a decisive confrontation with the Bolsheviks.

At the most crucial moment, when blood was already flowing in the vicinity of Warsaw, his 5th Army stopped the enemy north of the capital. Tukhachevsky's forces were stretched too thin and became vulnerable to Polish attacks. Sikorsky's army took advantage of this and broke through the Bolshevik ranks, advancing several kilometers. On the decisive night of August 15, divisions under the command of Lucian Zheligowski came to her aid.

This success allowed the commander-in-chief to better prepare for the upcoming counter-offensive, which was supposed to rid Poland of the “red plague”. Sikorsky's contribution to the salvation of Poland was enormous. He was awarded the most honorable national military order - "For Military Valor". In April 1921, he replaced Piłsudski as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Head of the General Staff.

Peaceful years

With the advent of peace, Sikorsky became involved in politics. In December 1922 - May 1923. he occupied the chair of Prime Minister and at the same time served as Minister of the Interior. The government under the leadership of Sikorsky was able to get Western countries to recognize the borders established after the won war with the USSR. Western Ukrainian and Belarusian regions were annexed to Poland.

Since 1928, Sikorsky lived in exile in France. The departure was due to the fact that the politician was one of the most active critics of the then government. The military man spent his years in France for a reason - he entered the Higher Military School. Sikorsky's premonition did not deceive him. Peace in Europe turned out to be short-lived.

The Second World War

When Nazi Germany attacked Poland in 1939, Vladislav Sikorsky, who lived in exile, tried to get an appointment to the front from the country's leadership. These efforts ended in nothing. At the same time, the formation of a Polish army in exile began in France. Vladislav Sikorsky began to lead this process in Paris. The Pole did everything he could while his country was rapidly approaching defeat.

Just a month after the start of the war, Sikorski became prime minister in the government in exile. Under his leadership, an 84,000-strong Polish army was created in France. When the Third Republic came under attack from the Germans, Sikorsky's troops tried to stop the aggressors. After the defeat of France, both the Polish government and the remnants of its troops moved to England.

When Germany attacked the USSR, Sikorsky went to resume diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. The normalization of relations was short-lived. Soon the Germans, who occupied part of Soviet territory, published information about the Katyn massacre. The news of the brutal massacre of Polish prisoners by NKVD officers led to another break. Sikorsky began to persuade Churchill to stop cooperation with the USSR. A few weeks later, on July 4, 1943, the exiled Prime Minister, along with his daughter, died in a plane crash near Gibraltar. The unexpected death was the final chord in the life of the politician. The rest of his biography was just as changing and full of sharp turns. Vladislav Sikorsky and his death still cause a lot of controversy. The Pole was buried in England in the presence of Churchill. The ashes of the national hero were transported to his homeland in 1993.