Karol Olgierd Borchardt
Karol Olgierd Borchardt (25 March 1905 – 20 May 1986) was a Polish writer and captain of the Polish Merchant Marine.
Biography
Born to Polish parents of German blood descent in Moscow, he spent the vast majority of his life and died in Gdynia. Borchardt gained a place in history of the Polish Merchant Marine as an officer on Polish transatlantic liners and training sail ships. During the World War II he served i/a on two Polish liners converted into troop transports (the m/v PIłSUDSKI and the m/v CHROBRY), and survived the loss of both. After the war he trained two generations of Polish officers. While demanding, he was also a warm-hearted and understanding teacher and an excellent lecturer. He also became famous as the writer and chronicler of i/a Polish passenger liners.
Works
His books are tribute to his captains – Mamert Stankiewicz and Eustazy Borkowski, and they are valuable additions to the record of Polish maritime history. Along with two volumes dedicated to two of his captains, he also wrote a book on two 'cradles' of Polish seadogs, the two sail-training vessels, "Lwów" and the "Dar Pomorza". There are many schools named after him, which is an irrefutable proof that Karol Olgierd Borchardt is still remembered as a hero of Gdynia. He was extremely strong-willed, set goals for himself on a regular basis and, what is more, he was open-minded, caring and inquiring as well. His book Znaczy kapitan describes fascinating adventures at sea in a humorous and informative way, mostly connected with Mamert Stankiewicz. The book Szaman morski tells the tales about Eustazy Borkowski. The title is a nickname of this extraordinary sea captain (eng. sea shaman). The titles of his books are very difficult to translate into English. Karol Olgierd Borchardt was a very tall and strong man. Moreover, even in his elderly years, he still continued practicing sports.
- Achievements
- Books: Znaczy kapitan (1960), Krążownik spod Somosierry (1963), Szaman Morski (1968)
- Cross of Valour (1920 and 1941)
- Cross of Merit (1957)
- Medal of Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Poland (1970)
- Gdynia's President Prize (1974)
- The "Kapitan Borchardt", a Polish sail training three-masted gaff schooner, in service since 2011, is named after Karol Olgierd Borchardt.
