Franciszek Kleeberg
Encyclopedia
Franciszek Kleeberg was a Polish general. He served in the Austro-Hungarian Army
before joining the Polish Legions in World War I
and later the Polish Army. During the German Invasion of Poland he commanded Independent Operational Group Polesie
. He never lost a battle in the Invasion of Poland
, although he was eventually forced to surrender after his forces ran out of ammunition.
Imprisoned in Oflag IV-B Koenigstein
, he died in hospital in Dresden on 5 April 1941 and was buried there.
In 1969 his remains were exhumated, brought to Poland and re-buried in Kock among the fallen soldiers of Independent Operational Group Polesie.
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
before joining the Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army...
and later the Polish Army. During the German Invasion of Poland he commanded Independent Operational Group Polesie
Independent Operational Group Polesie
Independent Operational Group Polesie was one of the Polish Army Corps that defended Poland during the Invasion of Poland in 1939. It was created on 11 September 1939 and was commanded by general Franciszek Kleeberg...
. He never lost a battle in the Invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
, although he was eventually forced to surrender after his forces ran out of ammunition.
Imprisoned in Oflag IV-B Koenigstein
Oflag IV-B Koenigstein
Oflag IV-B Koenigstein was a Nazi POW camp for Allied officers during World War II. It was located in Königstein Fortress near the town of Königstein in Saxony....
, he died in hospital in Dresden on 5 April 1941 and was buried there.
In 1969 his remains were exhumated, brought to Poland and re-buried in Kock among the fallen soldiers of Independent Operational Group Polesie.
Promotions
- podporucznik (Lieutenant) – August 1908
- porucznik (First Lieutenant) – May 1913
- kapitan (Captain) – November 1915
- major (Major) – August 1917
- podpułkownik (Lieutenant Colonel) – December 1918
- pułkownik (Colonel) – April 1920
- generał brygady (Brigadier General) – January 1928
- generał dywizji (Major General) – January 1943 (post-mortem)
Military awards
- Virtuti MilitariVirtuti MilitariThe Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
, Commander's Cross, (previously awarded Knight's Cross, Golden Cross and Silver Cross - Polonia RestitutaPolonia RestitutaThe Order of Polonia Restituta is one of Poland's highest Orders. The Order can be conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, science, sport, culture, art, economics, defense of the country, social work, civil service, or for furthering good relations between countries...
, Grand Cross awarded posthumously on 4 October 2009; previously awarded Officer's Cross) - Cross of Valour 4 times
- Military Merit Medal(Signum Laudis) (Austria-Hungary)
- Commander of the Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(France) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
, 2nd Class (Germany) - Order of LāčplēsisOrder of LacplesisThe Order of Lāčplēsis, the first and the highest Latvian military award, was established in 1919 on the initiative of the Commander of Latvian Army, during the Latvian War of Independence, Jānis Balodis. The Lāčplēsis Order is awarded in the first, second and third class. Initially, a holder of...
, 3rd Class (Latvia)