Stanislaw Szostak
Encyclopedia
Stanislaw Szostak was a colonel
of the Polish Armoured Corps.
He was born in Berazino
, today's Belarus
, the son of Władysław and Maria Nieciejowska of Hrynica. He was injured in a car accident and died in 1961. He is buried at Brompton Cemetery
in London
.
Following the unsuccessful counter-revolutionary Junker mutiny
of 29 October 1917 he was imprisoned in the Fortress of Peter and Paul
in Petrograd. On 18 December 1917, after his release was negotiated by the Polish Military Committee in Petrograd, Stanislaw Szostak joined the Junkers company of the 1st Knights Legion of the 1st Polish Corps. Later, he served with the Officer Cadet Legion within the 1st Corps until 6 June 1918. At the beginning of his tour of service, in January 1918 he took part in the capture of the Bobrujsk fortress occupied by the Bolshevik forces.
After the dissolution of the 1st Corps was admitted to study at the Politechnika Warzawska
. He, nonetheless, chose to interrupt the studies on 18 December 1918, volunteering to serve with the Bialystok Rifle Regiment of the 1st Lithuanian-Belorusian Division commanded by General Jan Rzadkowski
– first as a private he commanding a section, subsequently as a corporal in charge of a platoon. During the Polish-Soviet war of 1919–21 he fought on the Lithuanian-Belarusian Front in the regimental technical support company and remained with the regiment until 20 May 1920.
From 25 May to 18 August 1920 he was an officer cadet at Infantry Officers School in Warsaw
. After completing the course he was assigned to serve with the reserve battalion of the 56 Wielkopolski Infantry Regiment as a platoon commander
. On 15 December 1920 Stanislaw Szostak was promoted to the rank of a second lieutenant. On 3 May 1922 he was verified as a lieutenant with seniority from 1 June 1919 in the corps of Infantry Officers. In June of that year he was appointed to be the adjutant of the Second Battalion of 56 Wielkopolski Infantry Regiment.
Early in 1924 Lt Szostak joined the Central Tank School of the 1st Tank Regiment equipped with Renault FT-17 tanks, and from August 1925 he commanded a platoon of the 7th Tank Company. From 1928 to 1931 he commanded 6th, 7th, and then 4th company of tanks. On 19 March 1928 h was promoted to the rank of a captain (seniority from 1 January 1928). From June 1931 to April 1938 he took up training responsibilities. First, from June 1931 to April 1934 he lectured at the Training Centre of Tanks and Armoured Cars in Warsaw. Then, in the years 1935 to 1938 he was the head of the Training Department at the headquarters of the Armoured Corps attached to the Ministry of Military Affairs in Warsaw.
On 19 March 1937 he was promoted to the rank of major in the Corps of armoured Officers. From April 1938 Major Szostak was a deputy commander of the 7th Armoured Battalion in Grodno . Shortly before the invasion of Poland by Germany, in August 1939 Major Szostak became the commander 0f the mobilised 32nd Reconnaissance Armoured Unit
consisting of 3 squadrons with 13 TKS tankettes
and 8 type 34-II armoured cars
took part in the battles of Grajewo
and Szczuczyn
. The unit covered the withdrawal of the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade
. On 12 September he took part in the battle for Kita. By 16 September he lost all his armour but fought the invading Soviets in Grodno and organised defence of the town of Giby. On 24 September, with the reminder of his men Major Szostak crossed the Lithuanian border and was interned.
Until July 1940 he was in the internment camps of Calvary, Kurszany and Fort V in Kaunas
. After the invasion of Lithuania by the Soviet Union he was transferred to Kozielsk II, and later to the camp in Griazowiec. He was released pursuant to the signature to the Sikorski-majski Pact of 30 July, and on 25 August he joined the Polish Army
that was being organised in the Soviet Union.
On 7 September 1941 Major Szostak was appointed to be a commanding officer of the 5th Tank Battalion of the 5th Wilno Infantry Division. He was given the command of the Polish Armoured Forces in the Soviet Union on 20 September and remained in this post until the evacuation to Iran on 28 March 1942. Until 23 January 1942 Major Szostak was also in charge of the Army Transport Service. From 3 April to 14 May he was in charge of the Armoured Forces and Transport Service on the staff of gen. Boruta Spiechowicz (troops evacuated to Iran.) On 15 May he moved from Teheran to Palestine, and on 1 June, arrived at the Polish Army camp in Gedera. Here he became a deputy commander of a tank battalion at the Organisation Centre of the Tank Forces of the Polish Army in the Middle East. In August he commanded the 4th tank Battalion. From November 1942 Major Szostak was put in charge of the Tank Training Centre
and then Training Centre for Transport and Armoured Units. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from 3 May 1943. From April 1944 he commanded the Reserve Armoured Troops Centre of the 2nd Polish Corps.
Colonel Zebrowski on page 491 of his monograph writes:
From 15 September 1944 Lt Col. Szostak commanded 7th Armoured Regiment. From January 1945 to January 1946 he was commander of the Armoured Forces Training Centre
, then the Inspector of Motor Transport Training of the Base of the 2nd Corps. In Summer of 1946 he came to Britain. In May 1947 he joined the Polish Resettlement Corps
. During the two-year contract he was in command of Foxley I, and then Barons Cross camp near Leominster. After his release from the army, he settled with his family in London. In 1954 he remained faithful to President Zaleski
, of the Polish government-in-exile. He was a member of the Polish Combatants Association, and Circle No 120 (2nd Corps Headquarters).
British:
French:
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the Polish Armoured Corps.
He was born in Berazino
Berazino
Berazino , or Berezino , also known as Biarezan , is a town on the River Berezina in the Minsk Province of Belarus. The population is 13,300 .-History:...
, today's Belarus
Belarus
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 ,...
, the son of Władysław and Maria Nieciejowska of Hrynica. He was injured in a car accident and died in 1961. He is buried at Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
in 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...
.
The Second Republic
In 1917, having graduated with distinction (Gold Medal), Stanislaw Szostak was enrolled as an officer cadet (junker) in the Nikolayevskoye School of Engineers in Petrograd, Russia.Following the unsuccessful counter-revolutionary Junker mutiny
Junker mutiny
Junker mutiny was a counterrevolutionary mutiny of students of junker schools against the Bolsheviks in Petrograd in October 1917.On October 29 of 1917, students of junker schools in Petrograd rose up against the Bolsheviks under the leadership of the Committee for Salvation of Motherland and...
of 29 October 1917 he was imprisoned in the Fortress of Peter and Paul
Peter and Paul Fortress
The Peter and Paul Fortress is the original citadel of St. Petersburg, Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and built to Domenico Trezzini's designs from 1706-1740.-History:...
in Petrograd. On 18 December 1917, after his release was negotiated by the Polish Military Committee in Petrograd, Stanislaw Szostak joined the Junkers company of the 1st Knights Legion of the 1st Polish Corps. Later, he served with the Officer Cadet Legion within the 1st Corps until 6 June 1918. At the beginning of his tour of service, in January 1918 he took part in the capture of the Bobrujsk fortress occupied by the Bolshevik forces.
After the dissolution of the 1st Corps was admitted to study at the Politechnika Warzawska
Warsaw University of Technology
The Warsaw University of Technology is one of the leading institutes of technology in Poland, and one of the largest in Central Europe. It employs 2,453 teaching faculty, with 357 professors . The student body numbers 36,156 , mostly full-time. There are 17 faculties covering almost all fields of...
. He, nonetheless, chose to interrupt the studies on 18 December 1918, volunteering to serve with the Bialystok Rifle Regiment of the 1st Lithuanian-Belorusian Division commanded by General Jan Rzadkowski
Jan Rzadkowski
Jan Rządkowski was a Polish military officer and a General of the Polish Army. He is best known as the commanding officer of the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division during the Polish-Bolshevik War and then the commander of the armed forces of the Republic of Central Lithuania.Jan Piotr Rządkowski...
– first as a private he commanding a section, subsequently as a corporal in charge of a platoon. During the Polish-Soviet war of 1919–21 he fought on the Lithuanian-Belarusian Front in the regimental technical support company and remained with the regiment until 20 May 1920.
From 25 May to 18 August 1920 he was an officer cadet at Infantry Officers School 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...
. After completing the course he was assigned to serve with the reserve battalion of the 56 Wielkopolski Infantry Regiment as a platoon commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
. On 15 December 1920 Stanislaw Szostak was promoted to the rank of a second lieutenant. On 3 May 1922 he was verified as a lieutenant with seniority from 1 June 1919 in the corps of Infantry Officers. In June of that year he was appointed to be the adjutant of the Second Battalion of 56 Wielkopolski Infantry Regiment.
Early in 1924 Lt Szostak joined the Central Tank School of the 1st Tank Regiment equipped with Renault FT-17 tanks, and from August 1925 he commanded a platoon of the 7th Tank Company. From 1928 to 1931 he commanded 6th, 7th, and then 4th company of tanks. On 19 March 1928 h was promoted to the rank of a captain (seniority from 1 January 1928). From June 1931 to April 1938 he took up training responsibilities. First, from June 1931 to April 1934 he lectured at the Training Centre of Tanks and Armoured Cars in Warsaw. Then, in the years 1935 to 1938 he was the head of the Training Department at the headquarters of the Armoured Corps attached to the Ministry of Military Affairs in Warsaw.
On 19 March 1937 he was promoted to the rank of major in the Corps of armoured Officers. From April 1938 Major Szostak was a deputy commander of the 7th Armoured Battalion in Grodno . Shortly before the invasion of Poland by Germany, in August 1939 Major Szostak became the commander 0f the mobilised 32nd Reconnaissance Armoured Unit
32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group
32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group - polish reconnaissance unit in the Polish September Campaign.The 32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group was mobilised in August 1939 by the 7th Armoured Battalion stationed in Grodno, for the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. Mjr Stanislaw Szostak was given the command...
consisting of 3 squadrons with 13 TKS tankettes
TKS
The TK and TKS were Polish tankettes during the Second World War.-Design and development:The TK tankette was a Polish design produced from 1931 that was based upon an improved chassis of the British Carden Loyd tankette. The TKS was an improved model with a new hull and a more powerful engine...
and 8 type 34-II armoured cars
Samochód pancerny wz. 34
Samochód pancerny wz. 34 , was a standard light armored car used by the Polish Army during the September Campaign of 1939.The vehicle was based on the earlier half track samochód pancerny wz. 28, which entered service in 1928...
took part in the battles of Grajewo
Grajewo
Grajewo , is a town in north-eastern Poland with 23,302 inhabitants .It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Łomża Voivodeship...
and Szczuczyn
Szczuczyn
Szczuczyn is a town in Podlaskie Voivodeship in north-eastern Poland.Szczuczyn may also refer to:* Szczuczyn, Greater Poland Voivodeship * Szczuczyn Litewski, Polish name for Shchuchyn in modern Belarus...
. The unit covered the withdrawal of the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade
Podlaska Cavalry Brigade
The Podlaska Cavalry Brigade was a military unit of the Polish Army, created on April 1, 1937. Its headquarters were located in Białystok, it was based on the Cavalry Brigade "Białystok", existing between February 1929, and March 30, 1937.- History :In February 1929, the Polish Army created the...
. On 12 September he took part in the battle for Kita. By 16 September he lost all his armour but fought the invading Soviets in Grodno and organised defence of the town of Giby. On 24 September, with the reminder of his men Major Szostak crossed the Lithuanian border and was interned.
Until July 1940 he was in the internment camps of Calvary, Kurszany and Fort V in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
. After the invasion of Lithuania by the Soviet Union he was transferred to Kozielsk II, and later to the camp in Griazowiec. He was released pursuant to the signature to the Sikorski-majski Pact of 30 July, and on 25 August he joined the Polish Army
Anders Army
The Anders Army was the informal yet common name of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in the period 1941-1942, in recognition of its commander Władysław Anders...
that was being organised in the Soviet Union.
The Polish Armed Forces
]On 7 September 1941 Major Szostak was appointed to be a commanding officer of the 5th Tank Battalion of the 5th Wilno Infantry Division. He was given the command of the Polish Armoured Forces in the Soviet Union on 20 September and remained in this post until the evacuation to Iran on 28 March 1942. Until 23 January 1942 Major Szostak was also in charge of the Army Transport Service. From 3 April to 14 May he was in charge of the Armoured Forces and Transport Service on the staff of gen. Boruta Spiechowicz (troops evacuated to Iran.) On 15 May he moved from Teheran to Palestine, and on 1 June, arrived at the Polish Army camp in Gedera. Here he became a deputy commander of a tank battalion at the Organisation Centre of the Tank Forces of the Polish Army in the Middle East. In August he commanded the 4th tank Battalion. From November 1942 Major Szostak was put in charge of the Tank Training Centre
Tank Training Centre
Polish Army Tank Training Centre- training unit of the Polish Tank Units in the Soviet Union, the Middle East and Italy.-Formation:On 20 September 1941 Major Szostak, Commander of the Polish Armoured Forces in the Soviet Union submitted a wide ranging training plan for the Polish Units by proposing...
and then Training Centre for Transport and Armoured Units. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from 3 May 1943. From April 1944 he commanded the Reserve Armoured Troops Centre of the 2nd Polish Corps.
Colonel Zebrowski on page 491 of his monograph writes:
From 15 September 1944 Lt Col. Szostak commanded 7th Armoured Regiment. From January 1945 to January 1946 he was commander of the Armoured Forces Training Centre
Armoured Forces Training Centre
Armoured Forces Training Centre - Armoured Forces Training Centre of the Polish Forces in the West.In December 1944 Gen Anders ordered formation of the Armoured Forces Training Centre in Italy. The Centre was to be commanded by Lt Col Szostak and administered by the base of the 2nd Corps...
, then the Inspector of Motor Transport Training of the Base of the 2nd Corps. In Summer of 1946 he came to Britain. In May 1947 he joined the Polish Resettlement Corps
Polish Resettlement Corps
The Polish Resettlement Corps was an organisation formed by the British Government in 1946 as a holding unit for members of the Polish Armed Forces who had been serving with the British Armed Forces and did not wish to return to a Communist Poland after the end of the Second World War...
. During the two-year contract he was in command of Foxley I, and then Barons Cross camp near Leominster. After his release from the army, he settled with his family in London. In 1954 he remained faithful to President Zaleski
August Zaleski
August Zaleski was a Polish economist, politician, and diplomat. Twice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, he served as the President of Poland within the Polish Government in Exile.- Biography :...
, of the Polish government-in-exile. He was a member of the Polish Combatants Association, and Circle No 120 (2nd Corps Headquarters).
Promotions
- 2nd Lieutenant – 15 December 1920
- Lieutenant – 3 May 1922 seniority from 1 June 1919
- Captain – 19 March 1928 seniority from 1 January 1928
- Major – 19 March 1937
- Lieutenant Colonel – 3 May 1943
- Colonel – 19 March 1961 seniority January 1961
Decorations
Polish:- Gold Cross of Merit with Swords
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Silver Cross of Merit
- Medal of IndependenceCross 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 :...
- Army Medal twice
British:
- 1939–1945 Star
- Africa Star
- Italy Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal 1939–1945
French:
- Inter-Alliee Medaille de la Victoire 1914–1918