Jan Wasiewicz

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Jan Wasiewicz (6 January 1911 in Lwow - 9 November 1976 in Quilmes (a district of Buenos Aires), Argentina) was an interwar Polish soccer player. Wasiewicz was a midfielder both in Pogon Lwow (one of the best teams of interwar Poland), and the Polish National Team.

His career started in 1926 in another Lwow team - RKS. Then he moved to Lechia Lwow and in 1933 to Pogon. In the last team, he played in the Polish Soccer League in the years 1933-1939, representing Pogon in 102 games and scoring 3 goals. In the Polish National Team, Wasiewicz took part in 11 games, scoring 3 goals. He was a reserve team player during the 1938 FIFA World Cup, but did not go to France. Most probably, he would have played in the legendary game Poland - Brazil 5-6 (June 5, 1938, Strasburg,France), had it not been for an injury. At the last minute, Wasiewicz was replaced by Ewald Dytko.

Wasiewicz fought in the Invasion of Poland. After Poland's defeat, escaped to Hungary. From there, moved to France and then to England, where fought in General Stanislaw Maczek's First Polish Armoured Division. In late 1944 and early 1945, he fought in France, Belgium and Netherlands, in a famous 1st Polish Infantry Battalion "Bloody Shirts". In recognition of extraordinary service, Wasiewicz was honored with highest orders, including the Belgian Order of Léopold.

Until 1946, served in the occupational forces in Germany. Then moved to England, and in 1949 to Argentina, where died.

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