Born: January 21, 1926, Chełmno, Poland
Died: May 25, 2020, Toruń, Poland
Buried: Chełmno, Poland – parish cemetery – section 3, row 63, grave 7
Medals: Polish – Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, Gold Badge of the 1st Armored Division, Pro Bono Poloniae Medal; French – Legion of Honor
Fates before World War II:
Edmund Semrau lived in Chełmno before World War II.
Fates during the war:
After Germany attacked Poland in 1939, the family moved to eastern Poland. After this territory was occupied by the Soviets from September 17, 1939, Edmund Semrau, together with his parents and siblings, was deported to Siberia. Released after the conclusion of the Sikorski-Maysky Pact on July 30, 1941, he joined the Polish Armed Forces in the USSR commanded by General Anders. Together with Polish troops, he evacuated to Iran in 1942. From Iraq, he reached Scotland by sea with some Polish soldiers. After reaching the age of 18, he was accepted into the 1st Polish Armored Division. He fought as a soldier of the 2nd squadron of the 1st Armored Regiment on the Division’s combat route in France (Falaise, Chambois, Mont Ormel), Belgium, the Netherlands (Baarle – Nassau, Breda, Moerdijk) and in Germany (Jever). He had his baptism by fire as an 18-year-old soldier on Hill 111 in Normandy. Wounded in battles. During the two-year occupation of Germany by the 1st Armored Division, he was a student of the 1st Division Gymnasium in Quakenbrueck, from which he passed the high school maturity exam. Student of a 9-month course at the Royal Armored Weapons School in Bovington, Great Britain.
Post-war fate:
Demobilized, he returned to his family in Poland in June 1948. Only the mother and her siblings returned from exile in the USSR. The father died there. The communist authorities did not recognize the high school leaving certificate of Edmund from the 1st Armored Division. He had to take the exam again in Poland. Very distinguished in commemorating and popularizing the history of the 1st Armored Division in Poland and abroad. Participant of many meetings with young people. Promoted to the rank of captain. He died in 2020 in Toruń. Funeral of Cpt. Edmund Semrau took place on May 30, 2020 in the parish church in Chełmno. He was then buried in the local cemetery.
author: Aneta Hoffmann