A special meeting with British writer and biographer Clare Mulley, author of the book “The Spy Who Loved” (Polish edition: “Agentka Zo”), took place at the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków. The event, organised jointly with W.A.B. Publishing House, attracted lovers of history and literature interested in the extraordinary life of Elżbieta Zawacka – the legendary courier of the Home Army.
The Saturday evening of 11 October was marked by conversations about unwavering courage and heroic deeds during World War II. The audience gathered at the author’s meeting at the Polish Aviation Museum listened to stories about Elżbieta Zawacka, codename “Zo” – a soldier of the Home Army, an emissary and the only woman among the ranks of the Silent Unseen (Cichociemni).
Thanks to new archival research and conversations with people who knew “Zo”, Clare Mulley brought the memory of Elżbieta Zawacka back to life. This extraordinary woman completed over one hundred dangerous courier missions, repeatedly traversing occupied Europe. One of her most famous journeys took her through Germany, Austria, France and Spain, ending in London, where she delivered microfilms for the Polish Government-in-Exile.
Although Zawacka became one of the most honoured women in Polish history, the post-war communist regime sought to silence her heroic deeds. Moreover, Zawacka’s involvement in the anti-communist underground within the “Freedom and Independence” (WiN) organisation resulted in her years-long imprisonment.
Today, however, her memory is returning. Both through the restoration of her deserved honours and thanks to Clare Mulley’s book, which reveals the unparalleled courage and sacrifice of “Zo”.
The meeting with Clare Mulley perfectly aligns with the mission of the Polish Aviation Museum, which is to rebuild a culture of remembrance, shape local and national identity, combined with the idea of promoting patriotic attitudes. By presenting the book “Agent Zo”, dedicated to the extraordinary figure of Elżbieta Zawacka, the Museum had the honour of contributing to the popularisation of the history of courage, sacrifice and patriotism. We are proud that we could present this inspiring publication to Małopolska readers, reminding them that the legacy of Polish heroes continues to inspire successive generations.
