Barbara Sowa, known by her alias “Basia,” passed away on Thursday at the age of 106. Hailing from a family steeped in patriotic traditions, Sowa’s father, Paweł Gettel, was a political activist, while her mother worked at the National Bank of Poland. Barbara was a student at the Warsaw School of Economics and was set to begin her final semester in September 1939.
A Life of Bravery
On January 25, 1940, Barbara joined the Union of Armed Struggle, which later became the Home Army (AK), with her sister Zofia introducing her to the resistance. Assigned to the IV District’s Sanitation Unit, she trained as a nurse under Dr. Janina Bachańska-Kuźniecow. During the Warsaw Uprising, she organized makeshift hospitals and transported wounded soldiers and medical supplies amidst heavy fighting.
After the fall of her district, Barbara was taken to a temporary camp and then to Pruszków. She managed to escape and reach Milanówek, reestablishing contact with her medical unit. By mid-September, she was aiding the wounded at a newly formed field hospital in Łuszczew. She continued her medical service until August 1945, providing care to soldiers of the Kampinos Group.
A Life Well Lived
In a hospital, Barbara met her future husband, Bernard Sowa, an AK officer. They married in 1946 and settled in Wrocław. Barbara worked in various industrial sectors until 1953. Recognized for her bravery, she received several honors, including the Cross of Valor and the Warsaw Uprising Cross. Her passing marks the end of an era of remarkable courage and dedication.