96- Rafal Gan-Ganowicz. Polish Hero Of Yemen

South Yemen attacked North Yemen, trying to annex it by force (following the example ofKorea where this was not successful or of Vietnam where, unfortunately, this wassuccessful). The invasion broke down. Coup d’états. The country is far from “the models ofdemocracy”. But it is free. And it has the future. And in this, there is a little credit of mine”.In the later period, Gan Ganowicz worked as a driver, electrician, translator and journalist; hewas an active member of the organisations of Polish veterans; he was also a correspondent of RadioFree Europe, acting under the pseudonym Jerzy Rawicz. He was involved in the support of mujahedsin Afghanistan and after the introduction of martial law in Poland (December 12, 1981), he becameinvolved in the help for the Polish “Solidarity” opposition. He wrote the book Kondotierzy. Hereturned to Poland permanently in February 1997. On November 22, 2002, at the age of 70, he diedfrom lung cancer. In 2007 he was posthumously conferred with Officer Cross 3 of the Order PoloniaRestituta (the second Polish civilian order after the Order of White Eagle).Rafał Gan Ganowicz is an ambiguous figure, arousing in Poland much controversy. Thedocumentary film devoted to this person was broadcast by the public television only after theintervention of the group of the members of parliament. His figure is played in a big “fight for thehistorical memory of the nation” fought by various trends of Polish political life. Despite all thevarious doubts, it is difficult to accuse Ganowicz of betraying the accepted system of values even ifone does not fully accept this system.83 The Order of Polonia Restituta is the second Polish civilian order, after the Order of White Eagle. The order has fiveclasses:: Knight's Cross, Officer's Cross, Commander's Cross, Commander's Cross with Star, Grand Cross.