Englert was to fly to Smolensk on April 10. He resigned and was replaced at the last minute by another actor

Jan Englert received an invitation from the Chancellery of the President to take part in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre twice. , who played the role of a general in the director’s film “Katyń”, was to read fragments of diaries and lists of deceased officers during the ceremony.

Jan Englert could have flown to Smolensk on April 10, 2010. He had to resign

However, Englert could not fly to Smolensk on April 10 and resigned at the last minute. The Office of the President encouraged Englert to change his mind, but the actor was adamant. – My husband wanted to go there, but ultimately gave up because on the day of this visit “Tango” was to be played at the National Theater – Beata Ścibakówna in 2010 in an interview with “Na Żywo”. – As a director, he felt obliged to be there, and besides, he was held back by preparations for the upcoming premiere of the play he was directing – she added.

Ultimately, the choice fell on another actor. Janusz Zakrzeński, known for many outstanding roles, including Benedykt Korczyński in the film adaptation of “Nad Niemnem” and, above all, for the role of Marshal Józef Piłsudski in the film “Polonia Restituta”, flew to Katyn. He was a member of the program council of the Piłsudski Association, and at the end of his life he was said to be a “full-time marshal”. He often played the role of Piłsudski at anniversary or independence celebrations. Zakrzeński was supposed to get to Katyń by train. He boarded the plane because a seat became available. On April 10, 2010, together with 95 other passengers on board the presidential plane, he died in the Smolensk crash.

Jan Englert does not talk about the Smolensk disaster. He made an exception once. “I didn’t think anyone gave me anything”

Jan Englert only once publicly commented that he could have died in Smolensk. He did this in an interview in 2010. He then revealed that he did not feel that fate had given him a second chance. – Back then, I didn’t even think for a moment that someone had given me something. Because I refused this trip, even though the Chancellery of the President offered it to me twice, he emphasized.