Adam Szperber was a Polish soldier - a second lieutenant in the Polish Army of Jewish origin, decorated with the Order of Virtuti Militari. He was born into an intelligentsia family: his father Waclaw worked as a journalist, and his mother Krystyna (née Naiemska) was a homemaker. Among his close relatives, his uncle Jozef stood out - a participant in the famous charge of the Second Brigade of the Polish Legions at Rokitna, and also a painter. While still young, he developed a passion for photography; in 1939 his photos were published by the Illustrated Daily Courier.
When World War II broke out, Szperber was already serving in the ranks of the Polish Army. In August 1942 he was assigned to the newly formed 2nd Armored Regiment of the Polish Armed Forces, part of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, subordinated to General Stanislaw Maczek's 1st Armored Division. He fell during the fighting for the liberation of Belgium - he was killed in the village of Weelde-Statie, located near the Belgian-Dutch border.
For his valor and attitude on the battlefield, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari. He was originally laid to rest in the Merksplas municipal cemetery, but in 1946 his remains were transferred to the Polish Military Cemetery in Lommel. He was buried in quarters IV.B.4.
Dimensions of the Cross of Valor: 51 x 43 mm.
Included, in addition to the Cross of Valor, documents and photos, including a rare card for the Commemorative Badge of the 16th Armored Brigade "Dragon".
