The Ultimate Survivor

This is the story of a man born in rural Poland in 1923. During his childhood, the world changed for his country. In September, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, destroyed its weak armed forces and controlled the country for the next six years. With that invasion, the life of Wladyslaw (Wally) Pieszka was never the same. From being required to work at Auschwitz and being drafted into the German Army, to surviving the battle for Stalingrad in 1942 and escaping to England in 1943, his reasons for survival were either the Grace of God, pure luck, or the mere desire to live. His story is almost unbelievable but for the rare photographs and documents he and his mother were able to maintain. This is Wally's story.

This is the story of a man born in rural Poland in 1923. During his childhood, the world changed for his country. In September, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, destroyed its weak armed forces and controlled the country for the next six years. With that invasion, the life of Wladyslaw (Wally) Pieszka was never the same. From being required to work at Auschwitz and being drafted into the German Army, to surviving the battle for Stalingrad in 1942 and escaping to England in 1943, his reasons for survival were either the Grace of God, pure luck, or the mere desire to live. His story is almost unbelievable but for the rare photographs and documents he and his mother were able to maintain. Being forced into manhood while still a boy is not something one foresees when growing up. This is the history of one man who wore the uniforms of both Nazi Germany and the Allied Forces in World War II; a man forced to work at Auschwitz during its years of horror; a soldier who fought in the bloodiest battle in the history of warfare, Stalingrad. After having escaped from the German Army and completing his service for the Allied Forces, only then did he learn that his family home had been burned to the ground by the invading Russian forces. He could not go back home. He remained in Scotland until 1956. After working in coal mines, farms, and later becoming a painter with his own company, Wally decided it was time to try a new country and came to Chicago, barely missing sailing on the ship destined not to arrive in this new country. Wally Pieszka is a Polish man but yet an American man, with more lives than the proverbial cat. His life in America found permanent employment as a right-hand assistant to the President of the Wrigley Company in Chicago and that led to his meeting and marrying the love of his life, Mary. While some of Wally's memories have gaps, this book is being completed as Wally approaches his 95th year. While some of these names and events have faded, no stories here were embellished. If he didn't remember, it does not appear. This is Wally's story.

J. Dennis Marek has been a trial lawyer for the last 47 years. He was educated at DePauw University, Durham, University, England, and did his law work at Northwestern University. He formerly worked for the CIA and was an officer in the United States Air Force. He has been a columnist for the Daily Journal in Kankakee, Illinois for the last eight years. He was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1991. He lives on a farm near Chebanse, Illinois, with his wife, Cathy.