They honored the memory of General Waldemar Skrzypczak

On July 21, 2025, Lieutenant General Waldemar Skrzypczak, an outstanding soldier, citizen, and great friend of the Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg, passed away. Although born in Szczecin, he had a special bond with Kołobrzeg. He lived there and commanded the 32nd Mechanized Regiment from 1991 to 1993. Part of his family was, and still is, connected to Kołobrzeg.

Despite his military service, which often took him to various regions of the country and the world, General Skrzypczak always remembered Kołobrzeg. Even after becoming a general and holding important positions in the Polish Army, he never forgot his hometown. He also remembered our Museum, to which he donated two of his uniforms from his time commanding the Polish continent in Iraq, as well as other valuable memorabilia. It was also thanks to his personal involvement that a historical weapon from Iraq, found on an Iraqi battlefield and slated for destruction, found its way into our collection. One of the weapons bears the serial numbers, written in numerals used in Arab countries.

The exhibition was created in memory of this important officer for Poland, who always stood up for soldiers. We want to recall his significant connection with Kołobrzeg, but also highlight his immense contributions to the country and, a fact few people know, to Polish museology.

At the exhibition, we present to the public for the first time numerous artifacts, including weapons, which thanks to the late General Waldemar Skrzypczak were brought from Iraq to the Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg: field uniform (jacket, trousers, hat and footwear) in which the General commanded the Multinational Division Central-South in Iraq; a commemorative pennant in Iraqi colors; a pennant of the Land Forces; a commemorative tapestry with the embroidered inscription Operation Iraq Freedom 2008-2009; 9 mm Sterling submachine gun model MK 4 (L2A8); 8 mm GR Enfield SULE III short rifle, made in 1918, model MK III UK; 8 mm GR Enfield rifle model M 1917 (PATTERN 17) UK; 8 mm GR Enfield ELA III 1110 short rifle, made in 1916, model MK III UK; 9 mm Smith&Wesson Springfweld revolver, 38s8cW, Special CYG model Military§Police.

Waldemar Henryk Skrzypczak – Lieutenant General of the Polish Armed Forces, certified armored officer – was born on January 19, 1956, in Szczecin. He grew up in Kołobrzeg, where his father served in the 32nd Mechanized Regiment. In 1976, he began his military service as an officer cadet in the Armed Forces of the Polish People's Republic. He commanded the 32nd Mechanized Regiment, the 16th Mechanized Division, the 11th Armored Cavalry Division, and the Multinational Division Central-South. From 2006 to 2009, he was commander of the Land Forces. In 2009, he resigned in protest at the management of the Armed Forces by the Polish Ministry of National Defense. Since 2011, he has served as an advisor to the Minister of National Defence, Tomasz Siemoniak, and in 2012–2013 as Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of National Defence.

After leaving the army, he became active in the media as a military expert. He also ran a blog commenting on the current situation in the Polish army. He also appeared in the music video for "Uprising" by the Swedish metal band Sabaton, playing Antoni Chruściel, one of the commanders of the Warsaw Uprising.

Mission in Iraq

On November 29, 2004, General Skrzypczak was appointed commander of the Multinational Division Central-South (as part of the fourth rotation of the Polish Military Contingent in Iraq). In early 2005, he deployed with his soldiers to Iraq, where, by employing offensive tactics, he minimized the number of insurgent attacks. During the mission, he benefited not only from the Multinational Division Central-South, but also from the Iraqi Army, establishing cooperation with the 3rd Brigade of the 5th Iraqi Division. In the summer of 2005, the general and his division returned to Poland. He was the first Polish commander to complete a mission in Iraq without combat casualties. For his actions, he was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by President Aleksander Kwaśniewski.

It was thanks to the commitment and determination of General Waldemar Skrzypczak that a vehicle based on the M4 Sherman tank chassis was brought from Iraq to Poland. Specifically, it's an American World War II tank destroyer, designated the M36B1 Jackson. The general spotted it on one of the battlefields of the Iran-Iraq War (fought from 1980 to 1988). Officially, the 11th Lubusz Armored Cavalry Division in Żagań received it as a gift from the Iraqi authorities as a reward for good service. He personally oversaw the entire operation to bring the vehicle back to Poland. The tank was restored by mechanics from the 11th Division in Żagań and painted in the colors of the 2nd Armored Regiment, part of General Stanisław Maczek's 1st Armored Division. Today, it can be admired in Tankman's Square on Żarska Street in Żagań, which was also founded at his initiative. Currently there are tanks: T-34,

A T-55, a T-72, a monument to General Maczek, and a World War II-era M36 brought from Iraq. Although based on a Sherman chassis, the M36 is distinguished by a different turret and gun. The vehicle is a dream come true for the commanders of the 11th Division, which cultivates the traditions of General Maczek's "Black Division."

We can confidently say that in the person of the late General Waldemar Skrzypczak, Poland, Kołobrzeg and Polish museology have lost an outstanding Soldier and Citizen.

Honor to his memory.

On Friday, July 25, 2025, at 1:00 PM, a Holy Mass was celebrated in the memory of the late Lieutenant General Waldemar Skrzypczak at the Garrison Church at 3 St. Macieja Street in Kołobrzeg. It was a moment of shared prayer and reflection on the life of this outstanding commander, whose service will forever be remembered by soldiers and the entire military community.

Polish Arms Museum in Kołobrzeg