for treason and espionage, but her sentence was shortened and she was released in 1955. After her release from prison, she earned a doctorate degree from Gdańsk University. She was a tenured professor at the Institute of Pedagogy at Mikołaj Kopernik University in Toruń, where she established the department of Andragogy. She retired from teaching in 1978 after Służba Bezpieczeństwa closed the department. She was an active member of the World Union of Home Army Soldiers and cooperated with Solidarność in the 1980s. Decorations Decorations awarded to Elżbieta Zawacka include: Order of the White Eagle (1995) Order of Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross, twice Cross of Valour 5 times Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, also awarded the Officer's Cross Gold Cross of Merit with Swords Home Army Cross Army Medal Medal Pro Memoria Gallery See also List of Poles Maria Wittek References External links Polish generals Polish female soldiers Women in European warfare Polish women in war 1909 births 2009 deaths Polish centenarians Home Army members Home Army officers Cichociemni Warsaw Uprising insurgents Academic staff of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń People detained by the Polish Ministry of Public Security Polish Scouts and Guides Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland) Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta Recipients of the Cross of Merit with Swords (Poland) Recipients of the Armia Krajowa Cross Recipients of the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari People from Toruń 20th-century Polish politicians 20th-century Polish women politicians Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland) Women centenarians Women in World War II