Biography Transcript
Pages 1–3: typed biographical narrative. Pages 4–8: US Army service records (WD AGO Form 53, WD AGO Form 66, DD Form 214). Transcribed verbatim. No editorial additions to the text.
Pages 1–3: Biographical Narrative
Typed document, author not stated. Transcribed verbatim.
Paul Frederick Sapieha, 1900–1987
Paul Sapieha was born on May 17, 1900. the fourth child of five. His parents were Paul Sapieha and Mathilde Windisch-Graetz. The other children were: Elizabeth, Alfred (killed on the Russian Front, 1916), Mary (future Mother Assumpta) Paul, and Matylda known as Tilka.
Schooling: 1) Downside in Somerset from 1909–1914.
2) In 1914, when in the eyes of Britain he became an enemy alien, he was sent to a Jesuit boarding school in Austria.
3) University of Lvov, Agriculture and Forestry, MA 1923
4) University of Grenoble, Economics and Law, MA 1926
First Military: 8th Uhlans, 1920? Wounded in battle in the Polish-Soviet War.
Polish Military Cross
Polish Gold Cross of Merit
Between the Wars:
In 1929, Paul went on Safari to Africa for several months. He returned with a number of stuffed trophies, malaria, and a parrot which he had bought from a Greek Riverboat captain in the Congo. His mother described meeting him at the Railroad station in Lvov: “as yellow as a lemon with a swearing parrot under his overcoat”. The parrot could swear in several languages and learned Polish easily.
From 1930 until the War, he worked for his uncle (?) Henkel von Donnersmark in the coal mining business in Silesia. He also managed the estate at Siedliska, with particular emphasis on forestry and sugar from beets.
In 1933 he married Virgilia Peterson, a neurologist’s daughter from New York City. Their first child, Mary Christine, was born in 1934. Their second child, Frederick Nicholas Peter Paul, known as Nick, was born in 1937.
WWII: 1939: Paul Sapieha was appointed liaison officer between the British observer, Adrian Carton de Wiaart, and Marshal Smigly-Rydz. Carton de Wiaart enabled Virgilia, the children, and their nanny to escape into Romania. Paul escaped to France so as to regroup with Polish forces. He spent the winter of 1939–40 in Paris.
On the 4th of May, 1940, the whole family sailed for New York City from
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Genoa.
1940–1942 Paul had a very unhappy time in the USA, unable to find proper work, he poured lipstick into molds for Alexandra de Markoff, sold ties at a big New York Department store, and suffered terrible anxiety because his mother and sisters were living under the Nazis in Krakow.
1942: as soon as the USA entered the War, Paul enlisted in the intelligence (G2) of the American army.
He rose from Captain to Lt. Colonel.
Military Honors:
Croix de Guerre with Palm, French Gov’t, July 1945
Croix de Guerre with Palm, Luxembourg Gov’t, July 1945
Legion of Merit, GO 241 HQ ETO March 1945
Croix de Guerre with Palm, Belgian Gov’t, May 1946
WWII Victory Medal, AR 600-65
EAME Campaign Medal AR 600-65
Korean Service Medal
UN Service Medal
NDSM
In September 1945, Paul secretly accompanied the Mariacki (Wit Stwosz) altarpiece’s return to Krakow from Nuremberg, where the Nazis had hidden it.
Post War: Paul Sapieha managed Panam Airlines in Paris for about 6 months before returning to New York City late in 1946.
The struggle for work started again and Paul established a commercial business in Brooklyn, creating window displays for shops. It was not a success.
In 1950, he and Virgilia were divorced.
In 1952 he re-entered the US Army as liason with the OAS.
Within 6 months he was transferred to Korea to do work with supplies. He asked to be assigned to active duty and was stationed on an off-shore island where he trained North Korean deserters in guerilla warfare.
In 1955, now retired from military service, he was appointed head of the Intergovernmental Committee on European Migrations (ICEM) in Athens, where he remained for ten years.
In 1965 he moved to Zirndorf, Northern Bavaria, to manage a riding stables where he also gave dressage instruction. It was during this period that he was an extra in the mega film “Mayerling” (Omar Sharif, etc.). Paul played the Captain
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of the Imperial Guard.
After a couple of years, he moved to Munich to manage a Polish Relief Org., headed by Ludwig Lubienski (?).
In 1969, he retired to Il Trebbio, a Medici hunting estate north of Florence in the Mugello, where he pursued his interest in history and long walks with his wire-haired dachshund, Phoebe. He drove to Krakow to see his sisters many times, with Phoebe on the back seat of his Mini. He was very pre-occupied with the restoration of Krasiczyn and with the origin of the Koden Madonna.
He translated Zofia Cossak’s book about the theft of the Madonna from the Pope’s private chapel into French and a portion was published in a French periodical.
He died in Munich on July 21st, 1987.
He was a very charming and cheerful companion. Full of compassion for the disposed of the world. And very brave at all times.
Page 4: WD AGO Form 53 — Certificate of Service
US Army separation document. Key fields transcribed.
Name: SAPIEHA PAUL F
Service Number: O92 4143 [O-924143]
Grade: LTCOL AUS
Organization: 3-2 Division Headquarters, United States Forces European Theater
Date of Separation: 9 MAR 46
Separation Center: FORT DIX NEW JERSEY
Employer (for mailing): Guaranty Trust Co, 50th Street Madison Avenue New York
Date of Birth: 17 MAY 00
Place of Birth: POLAND
Race / Hair / Eyes: Brown / Brown
Height / Weight: 5′7″ / 140
Dependents: 3
Date entered active duty / Place: 16 MAY 43, New York, New York
MOS: Foreign Liaison Intelligence Officer 9303
Campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe
Decorations: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign, Free French Croix de Guerre, Luxembourg Order of Nassau Creme [?]
Wounds: None
Service outside US (1): 30 Dec 43 – 4 Jan 45, EAME
Service outside US (2): 27 Nov 45 – 7 Dec 45, USA [return transit]
Remarks: Luxembourg Croix de Guerre; Polish Military Cross; Polish Gold Cross of Merit; French Legion of Honour Chev; ASR Score [2 Sep 45] 133; Military Intelligence; Lapel Button Issued
Signed: Paul F Sapieha, 1st Lt AC ASST ADJ [countersigned by another officer]
Page 5: Officer Qualification Record — Personal Data and Experience
Permanent Mailing Address: 2600 [?] Washington D.C.
Birth Place: Siedliska, Poland
Marital Status: Divorced
Father’s Country of Birth: Deceased
Mother’s Country of Birth: Poland
Languages — Polish: FL-14 FL-15 FL-13
Languages — German: FL-14 FL-15 FL-11
Languages — French: FL-12 FL-15 FL-11 (Sees it, no. 1)
High School: Downside England, 1918
College: Lvov Univ Poland — Agriculture & Forestry — MA — 1923
University: Grenoble Univ France — Economics and Law — MA — 1926
Civilian Occupation 1 (code 020.010): Mining Engineer — 1930 to 1937 — Administration, production and sales of coal, zinc mines and smelters in Poland, Germany and Austria
Civilian Occupation 2 (code 035.070): Forester — 1934 to 1939 — Administration, production and sales of own forest and agricultural lands in Poland
Sports: Golf (participate); Polo (participate, excel); Hunting (participate)
Avocations: Horsebreaking, Languages
Qualification in Arms: Pistol Cal 45, Fam, 40rds, 21 Apr 54
Awards and Decorations
BSM: GO 12 Hq 12th Army, 15 Mar 45 — Presented: Yes
Croix de Guerre w/Palm: French Govt, Jul 45 — Presented: Yes
Croix de Guerre: Luxembourg, Jul 45 — Presented: Yes
Legion of Merit: GO 241 HQ ETO, 9 Mar 45 — Presented: Yes
Croix de Guerre w/Palm: Belgian Govt, May 46 — Presented: Yes
WWII Victory Medal: AR 600-65 — Presented: Yes
EAME Campaign Medal: AR 600-65 — Presented: Yes
Korean Service Medal: AR 600-65 — Presented: No
UN Service Medal: AR 600-65 — Presented: No
NDSM: AR 600-65 — Presented: No
Page 6: WD AGO Form 66 — Officer’s Qualification Record
Name: SAPIEHA PAUL FREDERICK
Service Number: O 924 143
Citizenship Status: Natur-1945
Religion: Catholic
Height: 5′7″ M [approx]
Weight: 134
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth: 17 May 1900
Home of Record: New York, New York
Chronological Grade Status
Capt AUS: 16 May 43 / 16 May 43
Maj AUS: 15 Sep 44
Lt Col AUS: 26 Sep 45 / 26 Sep 45
Lt Col ORC: Aptd 16 Dec 45
Lt Col AUS: 1 May 51 [?] / 28 Nov 50
Lt Col USAR: Indef Aptd 11 Sep 52
Military Occupational Specialties
Foreign Liaison Intelligence O (9303): GSC w/Trus, 20 Nov 45, Hq ETO
Inf Unit Comdr (1562): FEC/LD(X)8240AU Inf, 14 May 51 [18 Jun 53?], DAAGO Intro
Foreign Service
NATOUSA: 31 Dec 43 – 13 Dec 45 (23 months)
FEC (Japan): 30 Jan 53 – 7 Feb 53
FEC (Korea): 7 Feb 53 – 10 Mar 54 (13 months)
Campaigns
EAME; Korean Winter Cir 9, KCom2 1952 [?]; Korean Sum-Fall 53 TA 00 69, 1953
Page 7: Chronological Record of Military Service
Detailed assignment table — partially legible. Key entries transcribed.
10 May 43 – 7 Dec 43: Intelligence O — OIID Algiers [NATOUSA]
1 Jan 44 – 7 Mar 44: Intelligence O — OIID Algiers
8 Mar 44 – 30 Jun 44: Intelligence O — [ETO/STO]
1 Jul 44 – 30 Jun 44 [sic]: Chief, Liaison Branch — [12th Army Group]
1 Jan 45 – 30 Jul 45: Foreign Liaison Intelligence O — G-2, [ETO]
1 Aug 45 – 23 Nov 45: Foreign Liaison Intelligence O — G-2, ETO
24 Nov 45 – 20 Dec 45: Casual
21 Dec 45 – 28 Feb 46: Casual / separation processing
29 Apr 52 – 30 Jul 52: Foreign Liaison Intel O 9303 — G/66528 AAU, Wash DC [approx]
30 Jul 52 – [?]: Economics Officer [?] — School, A8 PMC [approx]
30 Nov 52 – [?]: Inf Unit Comdr, 1562 — [FEC/Korea]
30 Mar 63 – 30 Dec 63 [?]: Casual
[Further Reserve entries 1955 onward — largely illegible]
Page 8: DD Form 214 — Report of Separation (Korean War)
Korean War era separation. Key fields transcribed.
Name: SAPIEHA PAUL FREDERICK
Service Number: O 024 143 [O-924143]
Date of Report: 4/1/54 [1 April 1954]
Grade/Rate: Lt Col, AUS, Sel Grou 1D
Place of Separation: Fort Myer [Virginia]
Place of Birth: Poland
Home Address: 162 E 95th St, New York 28, New York
Sex / Race / Hair / Eyes: Male / Caucasian / Brown / Brown
Education/Training completed: The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, 17 Nov 52 – 15 Dec 52
Awards (this period): Korean Service Medal; UN Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal
Blood type: A
Previous civilian occupation: Business Executive, Plastic Ind., New York, New York
Mailing address: 1926 35th Street NW, Washington DC