105 years of life for Poland – the jubilee of Colonel Urszula Tauer

A remarkable jubilee is being celebrated by a resident of our region—Colonel Urszula Tauer, a soldier of the Home Army and a participant in the Warsaw Uprising. The Bydgoszcz resident has turned 105. The celebration had a special character—alongside the jubilee, she received a promotion to the rank of colonel.

“During World War II, you saved others by serving as a courier and liaison officer of the Home Army Headquarters—taking enormous risks every day, fully aware of the consequences. (…) Thank you for your unwavering attitude—you are a great authority and a source of pride for our region. (…) May your life wisdom and experience continue to be a guiding light for younger generations, and may health and optimism never leave you,” wrote Marshal Piotr Całbecki in a congratulatory letter.

Born on 24 April 1921 in Lviv and connected with Bydgoszcz from an early age, Urszula Tauer experienced the traumatic events of war as a young girl. Her grandfather was executed by the Germans in September 1939—an event that permanently shaped her patriotic outlook.

During the occupation, she was active in the underground as a liaison officer and courier of the Union of Armed Struggle, and later the Home Army. Using the codename “Ala,” and thanks to her excellent command of German, she carried out extremely dangerous missions—reaching even Berlin as a courier.

During the Warsaw Uprising, she was wounded on the second day of fighting. She survived bombings and moved through the city’s sewers to maintain communication with other groups. After the uprising, she was sent to a camp in Pruszków. As she later emphasized, the source of her choices lay in the values instilled in her at home.

“I was not afraid of death. I was only afraid that I might betray our people. How much can a person endure? I carried cyanide in my handbag so I could take it if things became too dangerous,” she recalled in an interview given years ago to the Bydgoszcz edition of Gazeta Wyborcza.

After the war, she returned to civilian life, raised three children, and for many years ran a chemical laboratory. Despite her dramatic experiences, she retained extraordinary energy and a positive outlook, becoming a symbol of strength, courage, and fidelity to values.

Today’s jubilee is not only an opportunity to celebrate an impressive age, but above all a tribute to a life devoted to the homeland. The promotion to the rank of colonel, granted by the Minister of National Defence, is an expression of the highest recognition of her achievements and steadfast attitude. On behalf of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Regional authorities, congratulations were presented by board member Marek Wojtkowski.

The story of Urszula Tauer is a living testimony to the fate of the generation that fought for Poland’s freedom. Her 105th birthday is not only a personal celebration, but also an important event for the entire regional and national community.

In 2021, at the Civil Registry Office in Bydgoszcz, Urszula Tauer received from Deputy Marshal Zbigniew Ostrowski the Medal of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis, from a special edition minted on the occasion of the centenary of Poland regaining independence.

Since 2018, the regional government has been honoring centenarians from the region. More than five hundred people have received the Unitas Durat medal so far. Families of residents approaching their 100th birthday—or older—are encouraged to get in touch by phone (+48 56 62 18 344) or email (stulatkowie@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl).

Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson for the Marshal’s Office

24 April 2026