Włodzimierz Potasiński

Włodzimierz Potasiński ( born July 31, 1956 in Czeladź, Poland, † 10 April 2010 Smolensk, Russia) was a Polish major general.

He began his military career at the high school officer, which he completed in 1980. Then Potasiński served as a platoon commander in the 6th Fallschirmjägerbattalion the Polish Air Force. 1988 was followed by the formation of the General Staff. He knew thereafter in various units of its service. 1993-94 he took part in the course of the Polish contingent in a peace mission of the United Nations. Throughout his career, General Potasiński participated in various training courses, among others at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and the NATO School in Oberammergau. In 2004 he was appointed commander of a brigade, and served with this major unit in the Iraq war. In August 2007 he was promoted to major general (OF -7) and commander of the Polish Special Forces.

Włodzimierz Potasiński died in the plane crash near Smolensk on April 10, 2010 on his way to a memorial service for the victims of the Katyn massacre.

Awards

• Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
• Meritorious Service Medal