Today marks the anniversary of Captain Władysław Raginis’ death, a heroic Polish commander whose bravery during the 1939 Battle of Wizna remains a powerful symbol of resistance. Often compared to Leonidas at Thermopylae, Raginis led a small force of around 720 Polish soldiers against an overwhelming German army of 40,000 to 50,000 men. Despite limited resources and incomplete fortifications, his troops held their ground for three days, delaying the enemy’s advance.
Commanding the crucial 9-kilometre defence line between the Narew and Biebrza rivers, Raginis knew he was facing insurmountable odds. On September 10, after exhausting all ammunition and seeing no further possibility of defence, he ordered his men to surrender in order to save their lives. However, bound by his oath not to surrender alive, Raginis took his own life by throwing himself on a grenade, choosing death over capture.
Eyewitness Seweryn Biegański recalled the moment, describing Raginis’ final farewell to his men before his tragic, yet honourable, suicide. His last words, urging his comrades to tell Poland they fought to the end, reflect the deep sense of duty and sacrifice that defined his leadership.