On January 4, 1943, Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz, a Polish scout, sportsman, and agent of the British secret service, was executed by the Germans in Athens. Despite his heroic role in the Greek Resistance during World War II, he remains a largely forgotten figure. Posthumously, he was awarded the prestigious Order of Virtuti Militari for his bravery and sacrifice.
“He was a man I would describe as ‘supernatural,’ fearless and an exceptional spy,” recalled Gabriela Milonopoulou, a member of the Greek Resistance. “When he escaped from prison, I witnessed him remove his handcuffs with serpentine movements, using only Vaseline. He didn’t concern himself with politics like many other partisans; his sole focus was on fighting for freedom and victory over the occupiers.”
A Remarkable Life
Born in Warsaw in 1911 to a Polish mother and a Tsarist officer, Iwanow-Szajnowicz’s life trajectory was far from ordinary. As a young child, he moved with his mother to Thessaloniki after her remarriage to a Greek man. There, he developed a passion for sports, excelling in football, water polo, and sailing. He became a standout swimmer, regularly competing in Greek national swimming competitions during the 1930s.
Iwanow-Szajnowicz was also highly educated, attending the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, where he graduated in 1938. That same year, he became a Polish citizen, a move that allowed him to play for the Polish national water polo team. His proficiency in languages and his exceptional physical fitness would later prove invaluable in his underground operations.
During a visit to Warsaw in 1935, he joined the Warsaw Academic Sports Association and helped lead the water polo team to victory in the 1937 Polish championship. His dedication to his country was clear, and he continued to represent Poland in international water polo tournaments.
Commitment to Poland
When World War II broke out, Iwanow-Szajnowicz quickly took action. In Thessaloniki, he aided Polish soldiers escaping from Romanian and Hungarian camps through Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. By 1940, he was recruited by the Polish military intelligence agency, “A” Branch of Branch II of the Supreme Commander’s Staff, in Athens.
In 1941, while in Palestine, Iwanow-Szajnowicz sought to join the Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade preparing for the campaign in Tobruk. However, he was redirected by the British to serve as an agent for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). After completing specialized training in Alexandria, he was sent to Greece in the autumn of 1941, where he quickly earned a reputation as a resistance hero. The Germans placed a significant bounty on his head.
A Hero in the Shadows
Iwanow-Szajnowicz was instrumental in organizing numerous sabotage operations against the German war effort. With the help of Greek workers, he targeted armament factories supporting the occupiers. He also provided valuable intelligence to the British, including information on German supply convoys and naval movements.
Despite the constant danger, Iwanow-Szajnowicz evaded capture for several months, even managing to escape the Gestapo twice. However, his luck eventually ran out. He was captured by the Germans, along with several of his closest associates, and executed on January 4, 1943.