Stefan Dąb-Biernacki (7 January 1890 – 9 February 1959) was a

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

of the army during 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 ...

. He served as a major general 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 overall command of strategic reserve Army "Prusy" during the 1939 German

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 ...

Early career

He was a member of the

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 he later fought in the Polish-Soviet War commanding various regiments and the 1st Legions Infantry Division. He became distinguished during the retreat from Ukraine during the

Polish–Ukrainian War The Polish–Ukrainian War, from November 1918 to July 1919, was a conflict between the Second Polish Republic and Ukrainian forces (both the West Ukrainian People's Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic). The conflict had its roots in ...

, and in 1920 during Battle of Warsaw and

Battle of the Niemen River The Battle of the Niemen River was the second-largest battle of the Polish–Soviet War. It took place near the middle Neman River between the cities of Suwałki, Grodno and Białystok. After suffering almost complete defeat in the Battle of ...

, after which he received the

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, ...

medal. He served as commander of 1st Legions Infantry Division until 1926, and worked with GISZ until 1930, thereafter serving as an Inspector general.

World War II

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 ...

in 1939, General Biernacki commanded the Army "Prusy", which was supposed to be the strategic reserve that would be used to launch a concentrated counter-attack as the enemy approached

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 ...

. However, Army "Prusy" was far from concentrated or ready for action on 1 September. He was actually commanded a part of the army consisted of 3 infantry divisions (19, 29, 13) and one cavalry brigade (

Wileńska Cavalry Brigade Wileńska Cavalry Brigade () was a unit of the Polish Army, created on 1 April 1937 out of the 3rd Independent Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were stationed in Wilno (Vilnius), with some regiments garrisoned in the neighboring towns. In late 193 ...

). He made an attempt to stop the German XVI Army Corps who had broken through the front near

Częstochowa Częstochowa ( , ) is a city in southern Poland on the Warta with 214,342 inhabitants, making it the thirteenth-largest city in Poland. It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship. However, Częstochowa is historically part of Lesser Poland, not Si ...

and pushed towards Warsaw. After

Battle of Piotrków 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 ...

and

Battle of Tomaszów Mazowiecki The battle of Tomaszów Mazowiecki () was fought on 6 September 1939 near the town of Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Second Polish Republic, during the invasion of Poland. The area was defended by Polish 13th Infantry Division under Col. Władysław Kal ...

his forces were broken and scattered, and he gave the orders to retreat to the right bank of the

Vistula The Vistula (; ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest in Europe, at in length. Its drainage basin, extending into three other countries apart from Poland, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra i ...

river. On 10 September he become commander of Northern Front, consisted of remaining fragments of Polish Army. After his defeat at

Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski The Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski took place from 18 September to 20 September 1939 near the town of Tomaszów Lubelski. It was the second largest battle

, he managed to evacuate to

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

through

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

, where he was immediately arrested by order of the Commander-in-Chief General Wladyslaw Sikorski for political reasons. In October 1940 he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and demotion to the rank of private for "breaking military discipline and attempting to cause ferment in the ranks of soldiers". In November 1940 he was discharged from the army. When General

Kazimierz Sosnkowski General Kazimierz Sosnkowski (; 19 November 1885 – 11 October 1969) was a Polish independence fighter, general, diplomat, and architect. He was a major political figure and an accomplished commander, notable in particular for his contribu ...

took over the position of Commander-in-Chief in 1943, Dąb-Biernacki was released from prison and went to

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, where he was engaged in beekeeping.

Honours and awards

* Knight's Cross of the Order of

(previously awarded the Gold Cross and Silver Cross) * Commander's Cross 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 ...

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 ...

* Cross of Valour (four times) * Gold Cross of Merit * Chevalier 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) *

Order of Lāčplēsis The Order of Lāčplēsis (also Lāčplēsis Military Order, ), the first and the highest Latvian military award, was established in 1919 on the initiative of Jānis Balodis, the Commander of the Latvian Army during the Latvian War of Independ ...

(Latvia) *

Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) The Order of the White Eagle () was a state order in the Kingdom of Serbia (1883–1918) and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1918–1945). It continues as a dynastic order, with appointments currently made by Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia. ...

* Officer's badge "Parasol"

References

*Janusz Odziemkowski, ''Leksykon Wojny Polsko-Rosyjskiej 1919-1920'', Oficyna Wydawnica RYTM, 2004, , p. 220 1890 births 1959 deaths People from Pułtusk County Clan of Poraj Polish generals of the Second Polish Republic Polish legionnaires (World War I) Polish people of the Polish–Soviet War People of the Polish May Coup (pro-Piłsudski side) Polish military personnel of World War II Polish exiles Knights of the Virtuti Militari Commanders of the Order of Polonia Restituta Recipients of the Cross of Independence Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland) Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland) Knights of the Legion of Honour Recipients of the Order of Lāčplēsis {{Poland-mil-bio-stub