Having lived in Ealing for over 60 years, Danuta Szlachetko no longer goes by the codename 'Wira'.

But in 1944 she joined the Polish underground army in a fight against the Nazi occupation of her nation and the horrors of the Holocaust that would lead to her receiving one of Poland’s highest honours.

Danuta’s son, George Szlachetko, who lives next door to her in Oakley Avenue W5, has documented his mother’s remarkable story in a new book called Wira of Warsaw .

MP for Ealing Central and Acton, Rupa Huq, met Danuta and George, as well as other family members at Ealing Golf Club for the launch of the book in November.

Ms Huq said: "The contribution of the Poles to Ealing is an integral part of what makes it such a great place to live and work.

"Danuta (known in wartime as "Wira") has lived a remarkable life during world war two as Poland was defeated by the Germans and Russians combined in 1939 but they never surrendered.


"Poland was one of the few countries which never contributed any SS divisions with Poles standing against the Nazis throughout, including Wira, before breaking free and fleeing to Ealing where she made a new life with her children and grandchildren.

"It looks like gripping read which I'm looking forward to getting stuck into."

Wira of Warsaw recounts how at only 14, Danuta made the decision to join the Polish resistance without telling her mother.

She dodged bombs and bullets to give refuge to civilians in the maze of underground cellars beneath the city, and with the Polish capital reduced to rubble by the Nazis, she was captured and sent to the prisoner of war camp Stalag VI-C.

Danuta Szlachetko from Ealing was known in WW2 as Wira of Warsaw

She survived there until the camp in north-west Germany was liberated and Danuta met a Polish officer with whom she left for England to begin her new life.

Danuta has been honoured by her country for services during and after the war, notably for her work with charitable organisations such as Medical Air for Poland.

Last summer she was awarded one of Poland’s highest honours, The Order of Polonia Restituta, for extraordinary and distinguished service.

When addressing the 150 people who had attended the launch Danuta, who is now 86, said that she was very proud that her beloved grand-children were there for the launch of the book.

She added: “Of course for me it’s a sad story. After the war I could not return to Poland and I worked hard to build a new life here.”

One audience member noted said that, “when Danuta spoke it was a really emotional moment, we all had tears in our eyes”.

The book, which contains 64 images, is on sale at Pitshanger Bookshop in Ealing and from www.wiraofwarsaw.com .