The first gender reassignment operation in Poland took place on 21 April 1937 at the Infant Jesus Hospital, which is still located on Starynkiewicza Square in Warsaw. The operation was performed by the surgeon Henryk Beck, whilst Dr Stanisław Luxenburg oversaw the endocrinological aspects of the transition.

The Polish javelin thrower and table tennis player, Zofia Smętek, had announced her transition and his new name, Witold Smentek, in the newspapers beforehead – for the residents of Warsaw could address him appropriately after the operation and legal proceedings.

The fast consequence of the change was that Witold, like every other man of his age, was soon called up into the Polish Army (soon discharged to the sport duties as a National Champion).

Pinging whomever #TransDayOfVisibility got into my mastofeed today, to let em know that there were places and times that let #trans persons live in peace:

@samir @MeaningfulBits @literalgrill @Artemis201 @RinaVolpina @funcrunch @MeaningfulBits @earwigplanet @blogdiva @robin @janetlogan @AimeeMaroux

Witold Smentek is first to the left: