Lucjan Zeligowski
Encyclopedia
Lucjan Żeligowski (ˈlut͡sjan ʐɛliˈɡɔfskʲi; 1865–1947), was a Polish
general
, and veteran of World War I
, the Polish-Soviet War
and World War II
. He is mostly remembered for his role in Żeligowski's Mutiny
and as head of a short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania
.
) to Gustaw and Władysława née Traczewska. After graduating from military officers' school in Riga
during 1885, he joined the Russian Army
, where he served at various staff and command posts. Married to Tatiana Pietrowna, he had two children.
He fought in the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904-1905. During the First World War he served as a lieutenant colonel
and commanding officer of a Russian rifle regiment.
of 1917, Żeligowski became one of the organizers of the Polish Army in Russia
. Initially commander of an infantry regiment in the ranks of the Polish 1st Corps
, he was quickly promoted and given command over a brigade. In 1918 he started the creation of a Polish unit in the area of Kuban
, which eventually became the 4th Polish Rifle Division. As part of the Polish Army, his unit fought alongside the Denikin's Whites
in the Russian Civil War
. In October of the same year he became the Commander in Chief of all the Polish units fighting in Russia.
After the outbreak of the Polish-Bolshevik War and the defeat of Denikin, Żeligowski's unit was ordered to retreat to Romania
n Bessarabia
, where it took part in defence of the border against Bolshevik raids. Finally, in April 1919, the division was withdrawn to Poland, where it was incorporated into the Polish Army and renamed to Polish 10th Infantry Division.
During the war against the Bolshevist Russia, Żeligowski, a personal friend of Polish C-i-C Józef Piłsudski, was quickly promoted to general and given the command over an operational group
of his name, composed of his 10th division and additional units, mostly of partisan origin. As such, he soon became the commanding officer of the entire Lithuanian-Belarusian Front, operating in the area of Polesie and the Pinsk Marshes
. During the Battle of Warsaw
his unit was attached to the 3rd Polish Army and took part in the pursuit of fleeing Red forces and the Battle of the Niemen.
, was chosen to command the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
, composed mainly of P.O.W. members, volunteers and partisans from the territory of modern Belarus and Lithuania. On October 8, 1920, after a staged coup, he defected with his unit and took control over the city of Wilno (modern Vilnius, Lithuania) and its area. The coup, named after him, would be remembered as the defining moments of his life. On October 12 he proclaimed independence of the said area as Republic of Central Lithuania
, with Wilno as its capital. Initially a de facto military dictator, after the parliamentary elections he passed his powers to the newly-elected parliament
, which in turn decided to submit the area to Poland
.
. In 1925 he also became the Polish Minister of Military Affairs. Ousted by Piłsudski's coup d'état
(the May Coup), he was soon returned to the post. He retired the following year and settled in his family manor in Andrzejewo near Wilno.
In 1930 he published a book containing his memoirs of the Polish-Bolshevik War named War of 1920: Memories and thoughts (Wojna w roku 1920. Wspomnienia i rozważania). He also wrote numerous articles on the conflicts of early 20th century for a variety of Polish newspapers. In 1935 he was elected a member of parliament
and remained in the Sejm
until 1939.
in 1939, Żeligowski volunteered for the Polish Army, but was not accepted due to his old age (he was 74 at that time) and poor health. Nevertheless, he served as an advisor to the command of the Polish southern front. After the Polish defeat, he evaded being captured by the Germans and the Soviets and managed to reach France, where he joined the Polish Government in Exile
. An active member of the Polish National Council, an advisory body, he escaped to London
after the French defeat
in 1940.
After the end of Second World War he declared he would return to Poland, but he suddenly died on July 9, 1947, in London. His body was returned to Poland, and Żeligowski was buried in the Powązki Military Cemetery
in Warsaw
. He is a honorary citizen of Warsaw
.
|year=2007}}) |page=1 |publisher=Robotnik
|date= }}) |publisher=Gryf |location= |year=1993 |oclc=32178695}}) |work=Jeszcze w sprawie gen. broni L. Żeligowskiego |issue=no.124 (nr.2/1988) |pages=319–335 |publisher=Wojskowy Przegląd Historyczny |location= |year=1988}}) |last2=Żurakowski |first2=Stanisław |authorlink2=Stanisław_Żurakowski |publisher=Editions Spotkania |location=Warszawa
|year=1991 |origyear=London, Nakładem autorów, 1976 |isbn= |oclc=24935744}}) |last2=Stolarski |first2=Rafal E. |authorlink2=Rafal_E_Stolarski |publisher=Oficyna Wydawnicza Audiutor |location=Warszawa
|year=1994 |isbn=8-39000-850-5 }}) |publisher=Książka i Wiedza |location=Warszawa
|year=1995 |isbn=8-30512-769-9}}) |work=Generał broni Lucjan Żeligowski |issue=no.122 (nr.4/1987) |pages=44–53 |publisher=Wojskowy Przegląd Historyczny |location= |year=1987}}) |publisher=Orbis |location=London
|year=1959}}) |edition=I |editor1-last=Rzepniewski |editor1-first=Andrzej |editor1-link= |page=72 |publisher=Wydawnictwo MON |location=Warszawa
|year=1988 |origyear=London 1943 |isbn=8-31107-627-8}}
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
, and veteran of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is mostly remembered for his role in Żeligowski's Mutiny
Zeligowski's Mutiny
Żeligowski's Mutiny was a sham mutiny led by Polish General Lucjan Żeligowski in October 1920, which resulted in the creation of the short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania. Polish Chief of State Józef Piłsudski had surreptitiously ordered Żeligowski to carry out the operation, and revealed the...
and as head of a short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania
Republic of Central Lithuania
The Republic of Central Lithuania or Middle Lithuania , or simply Central Lithuania , was a short-lived political entity, which did not gain international recognition...
.
Biography
Lucjan Żeligowski was born October 17, 1865, in Oszmiana (modern Ashmiany in BelarusBelarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
) to Gustaw and Władysława née Traczewska. After graduating from military officers' school in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
during 1885, he joined the Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
, where he served at various staff and command posts. Married to Tatiana Pietrowna, he had two children.
He fought in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904-1905. During the First World War he served as a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and commanding officer of a Russian rifle regiment.
Fighting against the Bolsheviks
After the February RevolutionFebruary Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
of 1917, Żeligowski became one of the organizers of the Polish Army in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Initially commander of an infantry regiment in the ranks of the Polish 1st Corps
Polish I Corps in Russia
Polish I Corps in Russia was a Polish military formation formed in Belarus, in August 1917 in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917, from soldiers of Polish origin serving in the Russian Army...
, he was quickly promoted and given command over a brigade. In 1918 he started the creation of a Polish unit in the area of Kuban
Kuban
Kuban is a geographic region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Don Steppe, Volga Delta and the Caucasus...
, which eventually became the 4th Polish Rifle Division. As part of the Polish Army, his unit fought alongside the Denikin's Whites
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
in the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
. In October of the same year he became the Commander in Chief of all the Polish units fighting in Russia.
After the outbreak of the Polish-Bolshevik War and the defeat of Denikin, Żeligowski's unit was ordered to retreat to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
, where it took part in defence of the border against Bolshevik raids. Finally, in April 1919, the division was withdrawn to Poland, where it was incorporated into the Polish Army and renamed to Polish 10th Infantry Division.
During the war against the Bolshevist Russia, Żeligowski, a personal friend of Polish C-i-C Józef Piłsudski, was quickly promoted to general and given the command over an operational group
Operational Group
Operational Group was the highest level of tactical division of the Polish Army before and during World War II and the Invasion of Poland. It was corps-sized, although various Operational Groups varied in size....
of his name, composed of his 10th division and additional units, mostly of partisan origin. As such, he soon became the commanding officer of the entire Lithuanian-Belarusian Front, operating in the area of Polesie and the Pinsk Marshes
Pinsk Marshes
The Pinsk Marshes or Pripyat Marshes are a vast territory of wetlands along the Pripyat River and its tributaries from Brest, Belarus to Mogilev and Kiev ....
. During the Battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
his unit was attached to the 3rd Polish Army and took part in the pursuit of fleeing Red forces and the Battle of the Niemen.
Republic of Central Lithuania
In October 1920, Żeligowski, a native of historical lands of LithuaniaLithuania proper
Lithuania proper refers to a region which existed within Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and spoke Lithuanian language. The primary meaning is identical to the Duchy of Lithuania, a land around which Grand Duchy of Lithuania evolved...
, was chosen to command the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
The 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division was a volunteer unit of the Polish Army formed around December 1918 and January 1919 during the Polish–Soviet War...
, composed mainly of P.O.W. members, volunteers and partisans from the territory of modern Belarus and Lithuania. On October 8, 1920, after a staged coup, he defected with his unit and took control over the city of Wilno (modern Vilnius, Lithuania) and its area. The coup, named after him, would be remembered as the defining moments of his life. On October 12 he proclaimed independence of the said area as Republic of Central Lithuania
Republic of Central Lithuania
The Republic of Central Lithuania or Middle Lithuania , or simply Central Lithuania , was a short-lived political entity, which did not gain international recognition...
, with Wilno as its capital. Initially a de facto military dictator, after the parliamentary elections he passed his powers to the newly-elected parliament
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
, which in turn decided to submit the area to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
Later life
After the annexation of Central Lithuania to Poland, Żeligowski continued his service in the Polish Army. Promoted to three star general in 1923, he served as an army inspector, or a commander of a military district of WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. In 1925 he also became the Polish Minister of Military Affairs. Ousted by Piłsudski's coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
(the May Coup), he was soon returned to the post. He retired the following year and settled in his family manor in Andrzejewo near Wilno.
In 1930 he published a book containing his memoirs of the Polish-Bolshevik War named War of 1920: Memories and thoughts (Wojna w roku 1920. Wspomnienia i rozważania). He also wrote numerous articles on the conflicts of early 20th century for a variety of Polish newspapers. In 1935 he was elected a member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and remained in the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
until 1939.
World War II
During the Invasion of PolandInvasion 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...
in 1939, Żeligowski volunteered for the Polish Army, but was not accepted due to his old age (he was 74 at that time) and poor health. Nevertheless, he served as an advisor to the command of the Polish southern front. After the Polish defeat, he evaded being captured by the Germans and the Soviets and managed to reach France, where he joined the Polish Government in Exile
Polish government in Exile
The Polish government-in-exile, formally known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile , was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which...
. An active member of the Polish National Council, an advisory body, he escaped to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
after the French defeat
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
in 1940.
After the end of Second World War he declared he would return to Poland, but he suddenly died on July 9, 1947, in London. His body was returned to Poland, and Żeligowski was buried in the Powązki Military Cemetery
Powązki Military Cemetery
Powązki Military Cemetery is an old military cemetery located in the Wola district, western part of Warsaw, Poland. The cemetery is often confused with the older Powązki Cemetery, known colloquially as "Old Powązki"...
in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. He is a honorary citizen of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
Honours and awards
- Commander's Cross of the 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...
, also awarded the Silver Cross - Grand Cross of the 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...
- Cross of Independence with SwordsCross of IndependenceCross of Independence was one of the highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had "fought heroically for the independence of Poland," and was released in three versions.- History :...
(25 February 1932) - Cross of Valour - four times
- Merit Forces Central Lithuania
- Commemorative Medal for War 1918-1921
- Decade's Regained Independence Medal
- Order of St. GeorgeOrder of St. GeorgeThe Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
IV class (Russian Empire) - Order of St. VladimirOrder of St. VladimirThe Cross of Saint Vladimir was an Imperial Russian Order established in 1782 by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptizer of the Kievan Rus....
with Swords class IV (Russian Empire) - Order of St. AnnaOrder of St. AnnaThe Order of St. Anna ) is a Holstein and then Russian Imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp on 14 February 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia...
, class II and III (Russian Empire) - Order of St. Stanislaus, II class (Russian Empire)
- Commander's Cross of the Legion of Honour (France)
- Croix de guerreCroix de guerreThe Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
(France) - Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Academic Literature
Published works
- Lucjan Żeligowski, Wojna w roku 1920: Wspomnienia I Rozwazania, Warszawa: Wydawn. Ministerstwa * Obrony Narodowej, 1990.
- Lucjan Żeligowski,O ideę słowiańską. London: F. Mildner & Sons, 1941.
- Lucjan Żeligowski, Zapomniane prawdy. London: F. Mildner & Sons, 1941.
Polish
) |publisher=DiG |location=WarszawaWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
|year=2007}}) |page=1 |publisher=Robotnik
Robotnik (1894–1939)
Robotnik was the bibuła newspaper published by the Polish Socialist Party , and distributed in most major cities and towns in Poland under Partitions.....
|date= }}) |publisher=Gryf |location= |year=1993 |oclc=32178695}}) |work=Jeszcze w sprawie gen. broni L. Żeligowskiego |issue=no.124 (nr.2/1988) |pages=319–335 |publisher=Wojskowy Przegląd Historyczny |location= |year=1988}}) |last2=Żurakowski |first2=Stanisław |authorlink2=Stanisław_Żurakowski |publisher=Editions Spotkania |location=Warszawa
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
|year=1991 |origyear=London, Nakładem autorów, 1976 |isbn= |oclc=24935744}}) |last2=Stolarski |first2=Rafal E. |authorlink2=Rafal_E_Stolarski |publisher=Oficyna Wydawnicza Audiutor |location=Warszawa
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
|year=1994 |isbn=8-39000-850-5 }}) |publisher=Książka i Wiedza |location=Warszawa
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
|year=1995 |isbn=8-30512-769-9}}) |work=Generał broni Lucjan Żeligowski |issue=no.122 (nr.4/1987) |pages=44–53 |publisher=Wojskowy Przegląd Historyczny |location= |year=1987}}) |publisher=Orbis |location=London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
|year=1959}}) |edition=I |editor1-last=Rzepniewski |editor1-first=Andrzej |editor1-link= |page=72 |publisher=Wydawnictwo MON |location=Warszawa
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
|year=1988 |origyear=London 1943 |isbn=8-31107-627-8}}