Karol Olgierd Borchardt

Karol Olgierd Borchardt (25 March 1905 – 20 May 1986) was a Polish writer and captain of the Polish Merchant Marine.

Born to Polish parents 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 an training sail ships. During the World War II he served i/a on two of Polish liners converted into troop transports (the m/v PIłSUDSKI and the m/v CHROBRY), and survived 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.