Ludwik Czyżewski was a Polish General during the
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 ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. He commanded the
2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment during the
Battle of Borowa Góra but was defeated in the battle. He was also a member of the
Border Protection Corps as well as the
Home Army
The Home Army (, ; abbreviated AK) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) established in the ...
before being posthumously promoted to Brigadier General in 1972 by the President-in-Exile,
Stanisław Ostrowski.
Biography
In 1911, he passed his secondary school examination at the . He then studied medicine in
Lviv
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 ...
, where he was active in the Active Combat Association and the
Riflemen's Association. In 1914, he was conscripted 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), ...
. He fought on the
Eastern and
Italian fronts as a company commander. Its parent unit was the
100th Infantry Regiment. During his service in 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), ...
, he was promoted to second lieutenant on September 1, 1915, and lieutenant on November 1, 1917. In October 1918, he created the village of The Polish branch in
Ljubljana
{{Infobox settlement
, name = Ljubljana
, official_name =
, settlement_type = Capital city
, image_skyline = {{multiple image
, border = infobox
, perrow = 1/2/2/1
, total_widt ...
, headed by a return to Poland.
From November 1918 in the
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, ...
, he co-founded the 9th Infantry Regiment (later the 26th Infantry Regiment), a company commander, and then battalion commander and was promoted to captain on June 1, 1919. He then participated in the
Silesian Uprisings and then in the
Polish-Soviet War. In the period October 1920 – 1922 in the
Ministry of Military Affairs. In 1922, he was in a course for staff officers at the Infantry Training Center and from 1923 to 1924, he was a battalion commander in the 25th Infantry Regiment. Czyżewski was promoted to Major on August 15, 1924, and in 1928, he was quartermaster of the 25th Infantry Regiment. On March 31, 1930, he was transferred to the
Border Protection Corps to the position of the commander of the . He was then promoted to lieutenant colonel with seniority on January 1, 1931, in the corps of infantry officers. On March 23, 1932, he was transferred to the
2nd Legions' Infantry Regiment in
Sandomierz
Sandomierz (pronounced: ; , ) is a historic town in south-eastern Poland with 23,863 inhabitants (), situated on the Vistula River near its confluence with the San, in the Sandomierz Basin. It has been part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy ...
to the position of deputy regiment commander. In 1935, he took command of this regiment and commanded it during the
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 ...
. He was promoted to colonel with seniority on January 1, 1937, in the corps of infantry officers.
After the
Third Reich
Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictat ...
's invasion of Poland, on September 5, 1939, he commanded the Polish forces at the
Battle of Borowa Góra. He fought until September 28 after he surrendered during the
Battle of Modlin
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
.
During the German occupation, he did not go into captivity and was an active member of the
SZP,
ZWZ and the
Home Army
The Home Army (, ; abbreviated AK) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) established in the ...
. He was the commandant of the Home Army Łódź District and the commandant of the Home Army Lviv District.
After the war, he initially worked as a teacher at a school in Adamki in the Kalisz poviat. In 1946, he came out of hiding and returned to his family. He moved to
Wrocław
Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...
, where he worked on the reconstruction of the town hall, then at in Wrocław, before retiring in 1968 as the director of the institution.
He was buried in the Old Cemetery in
Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski (; also known by #Etymology, alternative names), often simplified to Piotrków, is a city in central Poland with 71,252 inhabitants (2021). It is the capital of Piotrków County and the second-largest city in the Łódź Voi ...
.
Czyżewski was also an author of memoirs about the defense of Modlin as well as the brother of
Julian Czyżewski.
The
President of the Republic of Poland
The president of Poland ( ), officially the president of the Republic of Poland (), is the head of state of Poland. His or her prerogatives and duties are determined in the Constitution of Poland. The president jointly exercises the executiv ...
in exile appointed a brigadier general with seniority on May 3, 1972, in the corps of generals.
Awards
*
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, ...
, Gold Cross
*Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross (No. 11821)
*
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 ...
, Knight's Cross
*
Cross of Valour (Awarded twice, first cross awarded in 1921
*
Cross of Merit, Golden Cross
*
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 ...
(January 9, 1932, "for work in the work of regaining independence")
[.]
Foreign Awards
*:
Military Merit Medal, Bronze Medal of Military Merit with swords on the ribbon
*:
Medal for Bravery, Gold Cross
*: Medal for Bravery, Silver Cross
*: Medal for Bravery, Bronze Cross
*:
Karl Troop Cross
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Ludwik Czyżewski, ''Od Gór Borowskich do Zakroczymia'', Wydawnictwo MON, Warszawa 1982,
* Ludwik Czyżewski, ''Wspomnienia dowódcy obrony Zakroczymia w 1939 r.'', Mazowiecki Ośrodek Badań Naukowych - Biblioteczka Mazowiecka Nr 3, Książka i Wiedza, Warszawa 1973.
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Czyżewski, Ludwik
1892 births
1985 deaths
People from Hrubieszów County
Polish military personnel of World War II
Polish people of the Polish–Soviet War
Recipients of the Cross of Independence
Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland)
Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I
Polish people of World War I