is one of the most popular actors in Polish theatre. He gained nationwide recognition for his roles on screen in such cult productions as “Człowiek z żelaza”, “Rozmowy Zarządu” or the hit series “Na dobre i na złe”. However, before he achieved success, his life was not without difficult and painful moments. One of them was the death of his father, who died fighting for freedom.
Marian Opania grew up without a father. Julian Opania died in the Warsaw Uprising
It is no secret that his older brother was raised only by his mother, while his father was present only in stories. Julian Opania was an officer of the Polish Army and during the campaign he commanded the 15th Infantry Regiment “Wolves”, taking the pseudonym “Zych”. His task was to defend the base in Dęblin, from where after being captured by the Germans he was sent to the Oflag camp. From there he escaped by trickery, risking his life. “After two months he escaped, disguised himself as a nurse, went out through the gate and returned to Puławy,” recalled Marian Opania in one of his interviews, adding that despite this he did not remain passive to the fate of his homeland and countrymen. “He worked as a secretary of the commune and was active in the AK district. Meetings were held in our living room. Mom said that something dangerous was kept in the wardrobe,” he recalled.
Not everyone, however, was as devoted to their mission as the artist’s father. “Unfortunately, things went south and my father had to flee to Warsaw, where he hid with his family in Żoliborz,” he related. When the Warsaw Uprising broke out on August 1, 1944, Julian Opania also took up arms and went into battle, opposing German oppression, but he did not survive until the capitulation. On September 25, 1944, he died from a gunshot wound, at the age of just 39. He was buried in a mass grave in Dreszera Park, from where his body was later moved to the headquarters of the Baszta Home Army Regiment, located at the Powązki Military Cemetery.
Opani’s father was dying for 3 hours. This made him see him differently
Marian Opania never hid the fact that his story, although sad, did not stir any particular emotions in him. In an interview with Polish Radio, he confessed that he had failed to build any bond with him, after all, he was an infant when he saw him for the last time, and he did not have any shared memories. It was for this reason that, listening to the story of his achievements, he had the impression that it was the story of a completely stranger to him. “I was three months old when he saw me for the last time. I honestly admit that I was completely unrelated to him. I even went to the symbolic grave at Powązki and I did not know whether it was my father or another hero of the Warsaw Uprising,” he said openly.
Everything changed when he learned the exact story of Julian’s death. It turns out that after being shot, the actor’s father was still conscious for 3 hours, but he lost too much blood to be saved. “My father was hit and died from loss of blood for 3 hours. They couldn’t get to him,” he said. It was this awareness that made him start to feel feelings for him. “When I heard that, I felt a terrible bond with this man. I used to hold a grudge against him because he left two sons orphaned, but at some point I understood everything,” he said, moved. If you’d like, please vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
