POLISH LEGINES — EXCEPTION WAR
Polish Legions – troops of the Polish army, which was the beginning of which was created by Józef Piłsudski in Kraków.
To regain independence. The Legion had 2 places of recruitment: east – in Lviv and western – in Krakow. The first was rapidly liquidated due to the fact that the Russian army occupied the area. Polish legions were subject to the Austrian-Hungarian army.
But there were Polish commands and Polish uniforms. The legions included 3 brigades:
– I Brigade – formed in December 1914 by Józef Pilusudzki.
– 2nd Brigade – formed in May 1915 commanded by F. Kttner.
– III Brigade – formed in May 1915 by W. Grzesicki or Z. Zieliński.
The collapse of the Legions was caused by a dispute that existed all the time as they operated. It was a conflict between Józef Piłsudski and the Chief Military Committee, representing Władysław Sikorski. After this, most officers and privates of the 1st and 3rd Brigades, as a consequence of refusing to sign an oath of allegiance to the German and Austro-Hungarian emperors, were disarmed and interned in camps in Beniamin and Chispierna. The others who signed were incorporated into the Polish Emergency Corps. Józef Piłsudski was arrested and taken to Magdeburg.
Military-independence organisations in Galicia:
formed after 1907 mainly on Piłsudski's initiative, which established cooperation in Galicia with independent youth.
After the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria (1908), supporters of Piłsudski (led by Kazimierz Sosnkowski) established a secret Active Combat Union (ZWC), which was to trigger an anti-Russian uprising in the Kingdom of Poland at the time of the war.
In 1910, on the basis of the ZWC, the Pilsudskis established legal paramilitary organizations: “Shot” in Krakow (under the command of Piłsudski) and “Sagittarius Union” in Lviv (under the command of Władysław Sikorski). Their goal was to adopt military youths, who were to make Polish army staff in the future.
Similar associations were besides founded by Secessionists from the Endetics, who in 1910 called “Polish firearm Teams” and popularists who founded “Bartoszowe teams” and “Podhalan teams”. In turn, the Galician Endecides established the alleged "field divisions" in the gymnasium societies.
March from Kraków Oleanders 1 staff company of Józef Piłsudski shooters towards the border with the Kingdom of Poland in Kielce.
Piłsudski, who had said goodbye to the squad, had over him the proclamation of the non-existent secret National Government in Warsaw, which in his opinion was the declaration of the 3rd Russia War and the appointment of him as Chief of the Polish Army. With this document, he intended to strengthen the position of his independency action against both Polish parties in Galicia and Austrian authorities.
LEGION FIGHT PLACE
under the woods close Dęblin (I Brigade)
under Molotkov (II Brigade)
near Tarnow (I Brigade)
under the Konarami (I Brigade)
under Rokitna (grass of Uranians)
under Rarancza (II Brigade)
under Kostyuchnówka (I, II, III Brigade)
over the Stochod River (II Brigade)
SWEDEN CRISIS
The oath crisis, the name of the solstice caused by Piłsudski's refusal, and following his example of most soldiers of the 1st and 3rd Polish Legions Brigade, took an oath of allegiance to the German and Austro emperors in July 1917. As a consequence of Piłsudski's crisis, they were imprisoned in Magdeburg, and the legionnaires were mostly interned in camps in Beniaminów and Szczepiorna.
Documents, sources, quotations:
http://sciaga.pl/text/106267-107-Polish legions
LIVES IN LEGION
“By my blood that floweth upon this land, I get to it eternal law..." – Legionary Samuel Reich
Soldiers of German origin, Lithuanians, Armenians and Ukrainians served in the Polish Legions, created after the outbreak of planet War I. There were besides over 100 Hungarians who thus returned the debt to Poles, who fought in 1848 under General Joseph Bem in defence of Hungarian independence. But, of course, outside Poles, there were about 650 volunteers of judaic origin; much more than legionaries of all another nationalities combined.
“Who does not want to rot under the Moscow yoke...”
In the first days of August 1914, on the news of the outbreak of planet War I, Filip Śmiłowski, from the merchant judaic household from Łódź, a associate of the Kraków Rifleman and later an officer of the First Brigade, wrote: “We all took each another on our feet, held hands... any made out. Crazy luck blew our breasts. I wanted to scream and cry. Finally. We thought we would pass it on to our grandchildren, and we ourselves will be Polish insurgents. Kordian has appointed platoons to go to Krakow today... All my concerns and concerns about whether I'm going to be strong enough, broke, disintegrated. I decided... And by the way – the order of Piłsudski, and by the way – will rise, will emergence Polish”.
The war between the invaders allowed Józef Piłsudski's shooters to go to the Kingdom to fight Russia. In December 1914, the shooting battalions were converted into the First Brigade. After her return from the Kingdom, she fought in Podhale and Tarnowski, then again in the Kingdom.
Two another regiments made up of legionaries, which had been fighting on the Carpathian Front since October that year and later in Besarabia and Bukovina, formed the 2nd Brigade in May 1915. At the same time the 3rd Brigade was formed on the liberated part of the Russian partition. These 3 brigades formed Polish Legions – volunteer units fighting for Poland's independence. All were served by soldiers of judaic origin, with no peculiar preferences assigned to different legion regiments (mainly for infantry, but besides for cavalry and artillery) or extrafrontal formations – intent or verbal service (which active volunteers of older age). They came from different social backgrounds – usually poorer layers of Polish Jews, sometimes from intelligence. Among them were craftsmen, mainly tailors, shoemakers and carpenters, besides bakers, bakers, confectionaries, butchers, tinsmiths and painters, mercenaries, traders and store vendors. Among the representatives of intelligence were advanced school students, students and lower officials, mainly law firms, as well as doctors, teachers, journalists. Among them were artist artist Leopold Gottlieb, documentaryist of the regular life of legionaries, author of hundreds of genre scenes and portraits, and actor Henryk Hertz-Barwiński, both not the first youth.
Almost everyone referred to themselves as “Moses Confession Poles”. Although they knew the Polish language, they mostly came from unsiminished families. They were usually besides very young – the majority did not exceed 20 years of age. To this group, the judaic legionaries besides addressed their call: “The judaic youth under the Russian partition, who has escaped the successful collection, should stand under the banners of the Polish Legions. Remember that Poland will belong to those who fight for it. Who loves freedom and wants to be a free citizen, who does not want to be a slave to the Tsar, who does not want to rot, vegetate under the yoke of Moscow, who wants to live and thrive in the sun of freedom, let him come with us... judaic youth!
Show that regular care for existence has not suppressed in the souls of your pursuits of freedom, that in specified a large and serious minute of past you will separate justice from lawlessness. We hope that our voice will not stay without an echo, and that the jaws of weapons in your hands will rise respect even for your enemies. Follow Berk Joselevich's footsteps! Guns! To the freedom of Poland! To the freedom of all its citizens! Guns! To the Polish ranks!’
“With full designation of the regiment and colleagues for their bravery and dedication...”
Jews volunteered to join the Legions for the same reasons as Poles – to fight armedly for independence, but there were no indications that identifying with socialist ideas would play a decisive role, as it might seem. The main influence on their attitude was most likely the school and the Polish environment, especially in the Austrian partition, where Legions were created. The independency ideas thus decided on the choice made, even if not everyone could express it as Edmund Szalit, 1 of the devoted defenders of Stanisław Brzozowski in the celebrated Krakow process and the unfulfilled love of Zofia Nałkowska: “Inner voice, my “daimonium”, told me constantly: “Your place where there is simply a fight to the death and life, there you have and you should service and not leave the station for a moment” [...]. If Poles do not say to themselves, “It is better not to live than to live in captivity”, then Poland will never be! Those who say so are in the Legions.”
Let us remember these brave people, that being a Polish patriot was not equivalent to giving up the judaic religion and tradition
In the fall of 1915, all legion brigades were transferred to Volyn, where they participated in dense fighting, including at Kuklady and Bielgow. The legions suffered considerable losses. Among the fallen were many officers, including Jews: Józef Blauer “Kratowicz”, Bronisław Mansperl “Chaber” and the already mentioned Edmund Szalit – all considered excellent commanders. Shalit has repeatedly marked himself with valor, “not giving up on the hardships and superhuman almost the efforts of soldiering life and gaining full designation of the regiment and colleagues for his valor and sacrifice.” Adolf Sternschuss, a well-known collector and patron of Krakow culture, who had previously abandoned his officer service in the back of the Austrian army, passed to the Legions, choosing the service of Private Soldier. The climax of the Volyn run was the biggest conflict of the Polish Legions, which took place on 4–6 July 1916 under Kostiuchenówka. Unbeaten by the Russians Legions, as a consequence of the retreat of German and Austro-Hungarian troops, departed after her over Styr. Slowly, the end of the front era of those who "throwed their lives to the stake." In October 1916 the Legions were sent to Baranovich, and were subsequently withdrawn to the Kingdom.
Polish and judaic legionaries usually shared common respect and kindness. This was influenced by the common intent and the hardships of war. The judaic legionaries conscientiously carried out their duties and showed courage in the field of combat. In this way, they denied stereotypical opinions about their expected fearlessness and disdain for military service. There is mostly no information in available sources about behaviour incompatible with military duties. On the contrary, they contain many messages of full sacrifice and demonstrated valor, as in the case of Leon Holzer, who, in the fight under the Modliborites, as stated in the award proposal, “with 1 soldier came upon the wings of an enemy patrol, ran into them, throwing hand grenades, killing three, 2 wounded, eleven taken prisoner.” Doctors and paramedics – Emanuel Buxbaum, Edmund Gross, Berisch Joffe, Isaac Jungerman, Mieczysław Kapellner (Kaplicki), Władysław Finkelstein (Medyński) and Baruch Neuman, who died under Jastkowo, besides distinguished themselves.
A crucial evidence to the courageous attitude of judaic legionaries is simply a list of the fallen, which includes almost 10% of all established soldiers of the Legions of judaic origin and many awards of Virtuti Militari and the conflict Cross in independent Poland.
After the oath crisis and the liquidation of the Legions, the Jews of the 1st and 3rd Brigades shared the destiny of another legionaries, interned in camps in Beniaminów and Szczepiorno. Servants in the Second Brigade after the Treaty of Brest participated in an armed protest against detachment Chełmszczyzna from the Polish lands, i.e. to the Russian side of the front of Rarancza on the night from 15 to 16 February 1918. Many were then taken prisoner and interned in Hungary, including in Huszt and Marmarosz Sziget. They were then incorporated into the Austrian army.
When the Polish state was reborn in November 1918, most of the erstwhile judaic legionaries joined the Polish Army. They participated in fights for the borders of the Republic, starting with the defence of Lviv and the war with Ukrainians, through the Polish-bolshevik war, and ending with the 3rd Silesian uprising. After these struggles, most of them lived in Poland. Only a fewer played a more serious function in public life: Henryk Gruber became president of PKO, Gen. Jakub Krzemieński – president of NIK (he besides worked closely with Marshal Piłsudski), Mieczysław Kaplicki – president of Krakow. The destiny of others, however, was frequently a denial of stereotypical opinions, established by PRL-owska's publications and historiography, that legionaries in the Second Republic were a socially and politically privileged layer, especially after 1926.
For the vast majority of erstwhile Legion soldiers, the consequence of the realization of dreams of independent Poland was not only the sacrifice of own blood, but besides the cessation of education or work in a trained profession. Many erstwhile legionnaires, usually dependent on family, lived under hard material conditions. In the early 1930s, as a consequence of the economical crisis, their situation deteriorated, any of which brought poorness to the bottom.
The Union of Polish Legionnaires of Bratnia aid has tried to support them, primarily mediated in obtaining aid and work. David Strykowski, despite his good opinions and hard efforts by the Sister of Aid, was incapable to find employment, resulting in his wife and children being thrown out of his occupied apartment. Asking for any position, he wrote: “I fought for Poland’s Independence, joining the Legions as a seventeen-year-old boy, I was interned in Szczypiorno, twice wounded on the front.” Isaac Tempeldinier, who worked as a watchman on Polish Radio, lived under specified dense material conditions that he could not buy the awarded independency award. Pinkus Dawidowicz, employed at the infirmary morgue in Purge, was “assigned to a very hard work, both day and night (carrying the corpse) which had a very negative effect on his wellness controlled in the battles for Independence. He is an invalid, wounded under the Curves. due to his b. good opinion and mediocre material condition (he has a tuberculosis-stricken wife) he deserves full aid to transfer him to another permanent position." These efforts failed.
Relationships between erstwhile judaic legionaries and Poles in the interwar usually worked well. However, in the second half of the 1930s, respective accidents occurred, indicating adverse changes in the position of judaic legionary veterans. In an excuse for a very good service assessment of Major Ignacy Schrage in 1936, it was written: “He is not ashamed of being Jewish, feeling sincerely Polish. Very helpful to colleagues and legion poverty." A year later, without changing Schrag's very good assessment as an officer, however, it was stated:
"Although he feels undoubtedly Polish, he is simply a good and loyal citizen and soldier, but as a Jew, as he always admits, he finds himself in the current general attitude to any difficulties in the liner service, and so I think it would be more beneficial to usage him in military or state administration, where he could besides show his usefulness."
ERROR
In September 1939, erstwhile judaic legionaries who served in the WP took part in defending Poland. After losing, they were in German or russian captivity. any managed to scope the Polish army in France. Lt. Leon Holzer, interned in Braile, Romania, at the proposal of the head of the local Zionist organization to go to Palestine, replied in a negative, stating that "as a Polish officer, he must go where the Polish army is located". He reached France and became an officer of the 1st Division of Grenadiers of the Polish Army.
Most of the erstwhile legionnaire Jews remained in the country in both occupations, after June 1941 entirely occupied by the Germans. Almost everyone died with their families in German extermination camps. Those who were captured in russian captivity – as brave commanders of Lvov's defence artillery 1939 Colonel Maximilian Landau and Major Ignacy Schrage – or were arrested by the NKVD, were mostly murdered in Katyn, Kharkiv, and elsewhere. Only a fewer survivors. These were those who stayed in the UK, in the mediate East or outside Europe, e.g. Marek Pipes, father of prominent sovetologist Richard Pipes. Together with his wife and son, he managed to leave Warsaw in October 1939 and not without large difficulty to get to the US. In the country, the war survived by Poles hidden from Germany, among others, Colonel Henryk Eile (father of the editor of Marian Eile's “cross section”, outstanding scientists – biochemist Józef Heller and mathematician Hugo Steinhaus and at least a twelve others.
Also survivors were WP officers who were imprisoned in German POW camps. Among them was Captain Henryk Wereszycki, captured on 6 October 1939 – after the last Polish conflict of September. Almost all his relatives – mother, sister, sister-in-law and children – died at the hands of the Germans, Brother Tadeusz was murdered by the NKVD. After the war, Vereszycki, a professional historian, returned to an interrupted technological work. He was 1 of the most prominent post-war Polish historians, the author of valued and current technological works. Throughout the postwar period, the communist authorities, supported, especially until 1956, by a large part of the historians' community, persecuted him. The prof. remained faithful to the ideas of independency which he raised from the Marshal's school. He had no illusions about Poland’s political situation: “The slavery we live in now is far more dangerous than the 19th century. This 1 has partially hardened, this 1 has more debilitating." The communists considered it a “band of criminals”, “a camera that does not want and will never want any change. And he will most likely conquer until he is stabbed.” He died on 27 February 1990 in Kraków. The condolence telegram sent by the Holy Father John Paul II was read at his funeral. A prominent historian, prof. of the oldest Polish university, was most likely the last surviving soldier of the Polish Legions of judaic descent and the only 1 to experience 3rd independence.
In mentioning Bronisław Mansperl, Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski wrote: “What is Mansperl’s real, individual interest in his concern for fighting for Homeland? Mansperl was Jewish.
Indeed, he had 1 great, real, individual interest in the fight for Poland: erstwhile he poured blood behind her, he wanted to gain a right to her, which no 1 would dare to deny him. So he had the same business that we had toward each other, in the hr of sacrifice and sacrifice. But this is how it happens in life: erstwhile we call our own business heroism, the heroism of a different kind of human being we would gladly fishy of a business." Let us remember these brave people, that being a Polish patriot was not tantamount to giving up judaic religion and tradition, and the thought of the Republic surviving in accord of nations was not a complete illusion. For, as Samuel Reich said shortly before his death in the legionary battle, "By my blood which floweth upon this land, I gain eternal right unto it." — Marek Gałęzowski
The author is simply a doctor of history, an worker of the Public Education Office of the Institute of National Memory. He published, among others, books “Like Berk Joselewicz. Silhouettes of soldiers and officers of judaic origin in the Legions of Poland, “Model of Pilsudczyk. Wacław Lipiński 1896–1949. Soldier, historian, political activist”, “Faithful of Poland. People of the Pilsudczyk conspiracy 1939–1947′′, for which he received a peculiar Minister award. Culture and National Heritage.
David Monet (1895–1916). Born in Działoszyce. He graduated from commercial school in Bedzin. He crossed the full conflict way of the Brigade. He died under Kostyuchnonka. “There was only 1 wounded and 1 killed in our company [...], Corporal Monet David. If the lieutenant hadn't called me, I would have shared my destiny with him due to the fact that we were lying together. I'm lucky, but he's a good death. He didn't even move, and he died. It was a pity for him, due to the fact that he was a very brave boy," said Colonel Jan Kruk-Smigler.
Zygmunt Bronisław Goldschlag (1896–1920). Born in Kolomya. He was Leopold Gottlieb's nephew. He served in the 1st Brigade and the 1st Ulan Regiment. He utilized a nickname called Negro. Since November 1918 in the WP, he has decorated himself in defence of Lviv. He was severely wounded in combat with Ukrainians at the Czartowska stone and was then transferred to outside service. During the Bolshevik offensive, he returned to active service at his own request. He fell under Suraz. He was posthumously appointed captain and decorated with Virtuti Militari.
Henry Beatus (1896–1939). Born in Kalisz. A student of the Lviv University of Technology, he was a soldier of the 3rd Brigade and a telephone branch of the Legion Command. In November 1918, he participated in the demolition of the Germans and then in the artillery of the WP participated in the war with the Bolsheviks, for which he received the War Cross. After the war, he graduated from the Warsaw University of Technology with the title of mechanical engineer. In September 1939 he died in defence of Warsaw. A fewer weeks later, his father Edward, a well-deserved Kaliski doctor, was murdered by the Germans.
POLSSY LIVES IN THE LEGIONS OF JOSEPH PILLS
During planet War I, Jews surviving under captivity were incarnated into fighting armies. It is estimated that only in the Austro-Hungarian army there were about 320 1000 Jews, coming from different corners of the empire. Many of them fell in conflict and rested in war and judaic cemeteries.
Jews fought, among others, in Legions – an individual who played a very crucial function in Poland's regaining independence. By name and surname we know about 650 Jews who served in the Legions. They were mainly representatives of intelligence, including lawyers, doctors, artists, although there were besides students and workers.
Today, let us look at the silhouettes of any of the best known legionaries.
Leopold Gottlieb, the youngest brother of the artist Maurice Gottlieb, fought in Legions.
He was an artist, too. He studied painting in Krakow, Munich and Paris, his works were exhibited in Warsaw's Zachęta. In 1914, as a volunteer, he joined the Legions, where he was assigned to the staff.
During the service Leopold Gottlieb made about a 1000 drawings, immortalizing the conflict scenes, the regular lives of soldiers. He besides drew portraits, including Józef Piłsudski, Józef Haller, Kazimierz Sosnkowski. Leopold Gottlieb's works of art are present in the collections of the National Museum in Krakow.
Leon Loria was an highly interesting figure – before the war, a lawyer, a skier and a taternik. He enlisted in the Legions in August 1914, and was transferred to the Legion Ski Company in late 1915. On November 10, 1918, he was appointed the chief chief officer of Józef Piłsudski. A year later, this skier and Ulan decided to become an airman. fresh skills were excellent during the Polish-Bolshevik War. He conducted air battles against enemy aircraft, and in April 1920 – weakened by typhus – he bombarded infantry and Bolshevik artillery at the conflict of the Shałki.
The Legions were besides enlisted by the Steinhaus: Hugo, who passed into past as a prominent mathematician and his uncle Władysław Steinhaus. The latter—as an 18-year-old—was 1 of the youngest legion soldiers. Władysław Steinhaus denouncing himself in battles in Polesia. On October 24, 1915, he was severely wounded in the conflict of Kukladi and died a week later in Kowl. His body was transported to Krakow and buried in the judaic cemetery. He was posthumously awarded the Virtuti Military Order. Władysław Steinhaus left the Legionary Diary, published in print in 1916.
Virtuti Militari was besides posthumously given to Natan Motel Lewinson, who was introduced as 1 of the Legion's most warrior soldiers.
Other well-known judaic legionaries included Bronisław Mansperl, the nickname “Chaber” – a medical student, the organizer of youth independency organizations in France. From October 1914, he served as commander of the 1st Company of the 1st Company of the 1st Company of the Legions, and from May 1915 – as lieutenant – as company commander. Bronisław Mansperl fought, among others, at Laski, Marcinkowice and Hunting. He died overnight from 25 to 26 October 1915 in a clash with the Russian cavalry under Kukladi. After a fewer months, Bronisław Mansperl's body was exhumed and deposited in the judaic cemetery in Warsaw.
His ceremony turned into a patriotic manifestation.
The participation of Jews in the fight for regaining independency by Poland has received a number of publications. In 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the war, a monumental work “Jews Fighters for Polish Independence” was published.
The book by Marek Gałęzowski “Like Berk Joselewicz deserves peculiar attention from modern sources. Soldiers and officers of judaic origin in Polish Legions". It contains 648 biographies fighting in Legions.
Another large interest was the temporary exhibition “Jews, Poles, legionnaires. 1914 – 1920” prepared by the POLIN Museum of past of Polish Jews in 2014.
Documents, sources, quotations:
http://www.history.uwajamrze.pl/article/942199//5
http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/cms/wiedza/4930,Polish-Jewish-in-Legions/
