Kordian Józef Zamorski ( Rzepiennik, near

Gorlice Gorlice () is a town and an urban municipality ("gmina") in south-eastern Poland with around 29,500 inhabitants (2008). It is situated south east of Kraków and south of Tarnów between Jasło and Nowy Sącz in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (sinc ...

, 1 April 1890 – 19 December 1983, London) was a Polish military officer and (1935–39) chief of the Polish State Police. In his latter capacity, he was regarded by critics as a repressor of

political dissent Political dissent is a dissatisfaction with or opposition to the policies of a governing body. Expressions of dissent may take forms from vocal disagreement to civil disobedience to the use of violence.Polish Legions in 1914–17, and as chief of staff of the Headquarters of the

Polish Military Organisation The Polish Military Organisation, PMO (, POW) was a secret military organization that was formed during World War I (1914–1918). Józef Piłsudski founded the group in August 1914. It adopted the name ''POW'' in November 1914 and aimed to gathe ...

. After the 1917

oath crisis The Oath crisis (; German language, German: ''Eidkrise'') was a World War I political conflict between the Imperial German Army command and the Józef Piłsudski-led Polish Legions in World War I, Polish Legions. Initially supporting the Central P ...

, he served in the Austrian Army, and after November 1918 in the

Polish Army The Land Forces () are the Army, land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 110,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military histor ...

. In 1920, he was chief of staff of the Army of the

Republic of Central Lithuania The Republic of Central Lithuania (, ), commonly known as the Central Lithuania, and the Middle Lithuania (, , ), was an unrecognized short-lived puppet state of Poland, that existed from 1920 to 1922. It was founded on 12 October 1920, after ...

, and then chief of staff of the Headquarters of

Military District Military districts (also called military regions) are formations of a state's armed forces (often of the Army) which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters ...

(''Okręg Korpusu'') III in

Grodno Grodno, or Hrodna, is a city in western Belarus. It is one of the oldest cities in Belarus. The city is located on the Neman, Neman River, from Minsk, about from the Belarus–Poland border, border with Poland, and from the Belarus–Lithua ...

(1923–24), assistant director of the

General Staff of the Polish Army Polish General Staff, formally known as the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (Polish language, Polish: ''Sztab Generalny Wojska Polskiego'') is the highest professional body within the Polish Armed Forces. Organizationally, it is an integra ...

(1928–35), and chief of the Polish State Police (1935–39). In 1966 he was promoted to the military rank of ''

generał dywizji Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an Division (military), army division. The rank originates from the General officer#French Revolutionary system, French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The ran ...

''. Zamorski died in London, England, on 19 December 1983.

Early life

Kordian Józef Zamorski was born on 1 April 1890, in the real estate of Kolkowka, which belonged to the Roman Catholic parish of Rzepiennik Biskupi, County of

Austrian Galicia The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, also known as Austrian Galicia or colloquially Austrian Poland, was a constituent possession of the Habsburg monarchy in the historical region of Galicia in Eastern Europe. The crown land was established ...

. He attended the 6th High School in

Lwów Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...

, after which he briefly studied teaching. In 1910, Zamorski entered the

Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (, usually abbreviated to ''ASP''), is a public higher education, institution of higher education located in the centre of Kraków, Poland. It is the oldest Polish fine art academy, established in 1 ...

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

, where he studied painting under

Józef Mehoffer Józef Mehoffer (19 March 1869 – 8 July 1946) was a Polish painter and decorative artist, one of the leading artists of the Young Poland movement and one of the most revered Polish artists of his time. Life Mehoffer was born in Ropczyce ...

(he spent two years there, 1910–11, and 1917–18). Zamorski married Leokadia Karpusowa, and had two sons Jacek (born 1923) and Rafal (born 1928).

World War I

In the early 1910s, Zamorski joined the

Riflemen's Association The Polish Riflemen's Association, known as ''Związek Strzelecki'' (in the plural, ''Związki Strzeleckie''), was an organization formed in great numbers prior to World War I. One of the better known associations, ''Strzelec'' (Rifleman), was a ...

and the

Union of Active Struggle The Union of Active Struggle (; ZWC), also translated as Union for Active Struggle and Union for Active Resistance,Thus rendered in Richard M. Watt, ''Bitter Glory: Poland and Its Fate, 1918 to 1939'', p. 37. Watt writes: "Soon after Piłsudski' ...

, Polish patriotic organizations, active in Galicia and commanded by

Józef Piłsudski Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Chief of State (Poland), Chief of State (1918–1922) and first Marshal of Poland (from 1920). In the aftermath of World War I, he beca ...

. In 1912, he graduated from unofficial military academy, and was awarded Officer Badge "Parasol", by Piłsudski. In August 1914, he joined

Polish Legions in World War I The Polish Legions () was a name of the Polish military force (the first active Polish army in generations) established in August 1914 in Galicia (Central Europe), Galicia soon after World War I erupted between the opposing alliances of the Trip ...

, and until July, 1917, served in the 1st Brigade, Polish Legions. He was company commandant, instructor at a NCOs' academy at Jablonna, battalion commandant (5th Legions Infantry Regiment), staff officer at the 1st Brigade, and

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...

at the 1st Legions Infantry Regiment. After the

Oath crisis The Oath crisis (; German language, German: ''Eidkrise'') was a World War I political conflict between the Imperial German Army command and the Józef Piłsudski-led Polish Legions in World War I, Polish Legions. Initially supporting the Central P ...

, Zamorski was forcibly drafted into the

Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army, also known as the Imperial and Royal Army,; was the principal ground force of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. It consisted of three organisations: the Common Army (, recruited from all parts of Austria-Hungary), ...

, from which he deserted. Some time in either late 1917 or early 1918, he joined

(POW), and became commandant of Kraków District.

Polish Army

In November 1918, following the regaining of independence by Poland and the establishment of the

Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 7 October 1918 and 6 October 1939. The state was established in the final stage of World War I ...

, Zamorski joined the 5th Legions Infantry Regiment, in which he commanded the 2nd Battalion of the newly formed

Polish Armed Forces The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland (, ; abbreviated SZ RP), also called the Polish Armed Forces and popularly called in Poland (, roughly "the Polish Military"—abbreviated ''WP''), are the national Military, armed forces of the Poland, ...

. Together with his unit, he fought against the Ukrainians in the Battle of Przemyśl (1918), and the

Battle of Lemberg (1918) The Battle of Lemberg (Lviv, Lwów) (in Polish historiography called ', the Defense of Lwów) took place from November 1918 to May 1919 in the region of Galicia following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The battle, for control ...

. In January 1919, he was named commander of Reserve Battalion of the 32nd Infantry Regiment, stationed in

Ciechanów Ciechanów is a city in north-central Poland, seat of the Ciechanów County in the Masovian Voivodeship. As of December 2021, it has a population of 43,495. A city with almost a thousand years of history, recorded in 1065, Ciechanów is one of ...

. On 2 January 1920 Zamorski entered the Military Academy of Polish Army Headquarters in

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

. On April 16, he was sent to the Second Army, in which he became a

Quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land army, armies, a quartermaster is an officer who supervises military logistics, logistics and requisitions, manages stores or barracks, and distri ...

. After one month, on 20 May 1920, Zamorski was named chief of First Unit of Polish Military Mission in

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

. After fighting in the

Battle of Warsaw (1920) The Battle of Warsaw (; , ), also known as the Miracle on the Vistula (), was a series of battles that resulted in a decisive Polish victory and complete disintegration of the Red Army in August 1920 during the Polish–Soviet War. After the ...

, he became deputy chief of staff of Colonel

Tadeusz Piskor Tadeusz Ludwik Piskor (1889–1951) was a Polish Army general. Life and career Piskor was born on 1 February 1889 in Bór Kunowski. Before World War I, he was a member of Polish pro-independence organizations. During World War I he served in th ...

. After the

Polish–Soviet War The Polish–Soviet War (14 February 1919 – 18 March 1921) was fought primarily between the Second Polish Republic and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, following World War I and the Russian Revolution. After the collapse ...

, Zamorski returned to

Wyższa Szkoła Wojenna Higher War School (, WSWoj) was a higher military school of the Armed Forces of the Second Polish Republic, training and educating staff officers. In the years 1923–1939, the school was located in Warsaw at Koszykowa street 79. It was the most im ...

, graduating on 6 September 1921. Promoted to the officer of

Polish General Staff Polish General Staff, formally known as the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces ( Polish: ''Sztab Generalny Wojska Polskiego'') is the highest professional body within the Polish Armed Forces. Organizationally, it is an integral part of the M ...

, he was sent to

Operational Group Operational Group (, GO) was the highest level type of tactical division of the Polish Army at various points in the 20th century, mainly during the Second World War. Polish-Bolshevik War (1919-1921) Operational groups first appeared in the Polis ...

Bieniakonie. From late 1921 until 1923, Zamorski was battalion commander at the 35th Infantry Regiment in Brzesc nad Bugiem. In 1923–1924, he was chief of staff of the

Third Military District The Third Military District of the U.S. Army was one of five temporary administrative units of the U.S. War Department that existed in the American South. The district was stipulated by the Reconstruction Acts during the Reconstruction period fo ...

. After serving briefly as commandant of the 76th Infantry Regiment (Grodno), in October, 1925, he was sent to the Army Inspectorate as staff officer. In 1925 – 27, Zamorski was chief of Infantry Department of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and in 1928–1935, he served in the Polish General Staff. On 1 January 1935, Kordian Zamorski was promoted to the rank of

General brygady A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED Onlin ...

. On 25 January 1935 Zamorski was released from the Army and appointed chief of the Polish State Police. He remained in this post until the 1939

Invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak R ...

World War II

During the 1939 Campaign, he was evacuated to

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

and interned by Romanian authorities at the camp Baeile Herculane. After escaping from the camp, Zamorski went to Turkey and then to

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

(November 1940). He was appointed chief of Reserve Unit of the

Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade (Polish ''Samodzielna Brygada Strzelców Karpackich'', SBSK) was a Polish military unit formed in 1940 in French Syria composed of Polish soldiers exiled after the invasion of Poland in 1939 as part of t ...

, and retired from active service in 1941. After the war, Zamorski settled in London. On 11 November 1966, Polish president-in-exile, August Zaleski, promoted Kordian Zamorski to the rank of

Divisional general Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...

Legacy

When Kordian Zamorski was chief of the Polish State Police (1935–39), critics often referred to him by the

play-on-words Word play or wordplay (also: play-on-words) is a literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. Examples of word play include puns, phone ...

, "''Zamordian''"—a

conflation Conflation is the merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, or opinions into one, often in error. Conflation is defined as 'fusing blending', but is often used colloquially as 'being equal to' - treating two similar but disparate c ...

of the first two

syllable A syllable is a basic unit of organization within a sequence of speech sounds, such as within a word, typically defined by linguists as a ''nucleus'' (most often a vowel) with optional sounds before or after that nucleus (''margins'', which are ...

s of his

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

, "Zamorski", with the second, final syllable of his

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

, "Kordian." This whimsical alternative name for Zamorski played on the Polish

colloquialism Colloquialism (also called ''colloquial language'', ''colloquial speech'', ''everyday language'', or ''general parlance'') is the linguistic style used for casual and informal communication. It is the most common form of speech in conversation amo ...

, "''zamordyzm''"—itself formed from "''za''" ("by") and "''morda''" ("muzzle")—which means "muzzling of dissent". Thus, to his critics, Zamorski was "Muzzler of Dissent".

Promotions

Porucznik Legionów Polskich (

First lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...

of Polish Legions) - 29 September 1914 * PL Epolet kpt

Kapitan (

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

) - 1918 * PL Epolet mjr

Major (

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

) - 1918 * PL Epolet pplk

Podpułkownik ( Lieutenant colonel) - 1920 * PL Epolet plk

Pułkownik (

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

) - 31 March 1924 * PL Epolet gen bryg

Generał brygady ( Brigadier general) - 1 January 1931 * PL policja 1936-39 gen insp

Inspektor Generalny Policji (Inspector General of Police) - 25 January 1935 * PL Epolet gen dyw

Generał dywizji ( Major general) - 11 November 1966

Awards and decorations

* Polish: ** POL Virtuti Militari Srebrny BAR

Silver Cross of

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', ) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland Stanislaus II of Poland, ...

Grand Cordon of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...

(11 November 1966) ** POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski BAR

Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta (11 November 1936) **

Cross of Independence Cross of Independence () was the second highest Polish military decoration between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had fought actively for the independence of Poland, and was released in three classes. History The Cr ...

(20 January 1931) ** POL Polonia Restituta Oficerski BAR

Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (10 November 1927) ** Cross of Valour (four times) ** Gold Cross of Merit (18 March 1932) ** Cross of Merit for Bravery (7 August 1939) ** Krzyz Zaslugi Wojsk Litwy Srodkowej Ribbon

Krzyz Zaslugi Wojsk Litwy Srodkowej Ribbon

Cross of Merit of the Army of Central Lithuania (1926) ** Commemorative Medal for the War of 1918–1921 ** Medal of the 10th Anniversary of Regained Independence * From other countries: ** EST - Order of the White Star - 1st Class BAR

EST - Order of the White Star - 1st Class BAR

Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star (; ) was instituted in 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonian citizens and foreigners to give recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state. Design Classes The Order of the White Star ...

, 1st Class (Estonia, 1938) ** EST Order of the Cross of the Eagle 2nd Class BAR

Order of the Cross of the Eagle The Order of the Cross of the Eagle (; ) was instituted in 1928 by the Estonian Defence League to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Estonian independence. It was adopted as a state order in 1936. The Order of the Cross of the Eagle is bestowe ...

, 2nd Class (Estonia, 1933) ** Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Three Stars Order of the Three Stars () is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is ''Per aspera ad astra'', meaning "Through hardships towards the ...

(Latvija, 1936) ** Grand Officer

(Latvija, 1934) ** ROM Order of the Star of Romania 1877 Comm BAR

Commander of the

Order of the Star of Romania The Order of the Star of Romania (Romanian: ''Ordinul Steaua României'') is Romania's highest civil Order and second highest State decoration after the Order of Michael the Brave. It is the oldest Order of Romania. It is awarded by the Preside ...

(Romania, 1929) ** ROM Order of the Crown of Romania 1881 GOfficer BAR

Grand Officer of the

Order of the Crown of Romania The Order of the Crown of Romania is a chivalric order set up on 14 March 1881 by King Carol I of Romania to commemorate the establishment of the Kingdom of Romania. It was awarded as a state order until the end of the Romanian monarchy in 1947. ...

(Romania, 1931) ** Grand Officer of the

Order of the White Lion The Order of the White Lion () is the highest order of the Czech Republic. It continues a Czechoslovak order of the same name created in 1922 as an award for foreigners (Czechoslovakia having no civilian decoration for its citizens in the 192 ...

(Czechoslovakia, 1932) ** SRB-SHS-YUG Orden Belog Orla Komandir BAR

Commander's Cross of the Order of the White Eagle (Yugoslavia, 1929) ** Grand Officer of the Order of the Yugoslav Crown (Yugoslavia, 1933) ** SRB-SHS-YUG Orden Svetog Save Komandir BAR

SRB-SHS-YUG Orden Svetog Save Komandir BAR

Commander of the Order of St. Sava Yugoslavia) **

Hungarian Order of Merit The Hungarian Order of Merit () is the fourth highest State Order of Hungary. Founded in 1991, the order is a revival of an original order founded in 1946 and abolished in 1949. Its origins, however, can be traced to the Order of Merit of the K ...

, 3rd Class (Hungary) ** Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon

Commander of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

(France)

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zamorski, Kordian Jozef 1890 births 1983 deaths People from Tarnów County Polish generals of the Second Polish Republic Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 1st Class