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 in Moscow, Borchardt gained a place in the history of the Polish Merchant Marine as an officer on Polish transatlantic liners and training sail ships. During World War II, he served on two Polish liners converted into troop transports (the m/v "Piłsudski" and the m/v "Chrobry") and survived the sinkings of both. After the war, he trained two generations of Polish officers. While demanding, he had a reputation as a warm-hearted and understanding teacher, as well as an excellent lecturer. He also became famous as a writer and chronicler of Polish passenger liners. Borchardt was an athletic man and continued to practice sports into his later years. Borchardt died in Gdynia in 1986, where he had lived the vast majority of his life.

Works
Borchardt's books are tributes to his captains, Mamert Stankiewicz and Eustazy Borkowski. 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. His book Znaczy kapitan describes fascinating adventures at sea in a humorous and informative way, mostly connected with Stankiewicz. The book Szaman morski tells the tales about Eustazy Borkowski. The title is a nickname of this extraordinary sea captain, translating as sea shaman.

Achievements and legacy
In his lifetime, Borchardt was awarded: Borchardt's published works include Znaczy kapitan (1960), Krążownik spod Somosierry (1963) and 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)

Kapitan Borchardt, a Polish sail training three-masted gaff schooner, in service since 2011, is named after Karol Olgierd Borchardt. The Karol Olgierd Borchardt Foundation was founded in the same year and has been a Public Benefit Organisation since 2014.