Aleksandra Zagórska
Encyclopedia
Lt. Col. Aleksandra Zagórska, primo voto Bitschan, secundo voto Zagórska, aka Aleksandra Bednarz (born 24 April 1884 in Lublin
, died 14 April 1965 in Warsaw
) – Lieutenant Colonel
of Polish Armed Forces
, soldier of Legions
, organizer and commandant of Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet
, independence activist.
In 1904 she enrolled at Jagiellonian University
. In the same year she joined Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party
. In 1906 she, together with Czesław Świrski established secret manufactory, where they produced explosives for Combat Organization. Later she joined Union of Armed Struggle and Riflemen's Association. She organized women's squads within Polish Military Organisation
. In World War I she organized and commanded women's intelligence service within Brigade I of the Polish Legions. With the rank
of major she took part in Battle of Lwów
in which she lost her son Jerzy Bitschan
. On 4 November 1918 she formed women's paramilitary organization Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet. The organization took active role in Polish–Ukrainian War and Polish–Soviet War. She eventually reached rank of Lieutenant Colonel
.
With her first husband she had son Jerzy Bitschan
. Her second husband was a physician
. They lived in Lwów. In Interwar period
she lived in Warsaw. After World War II, to avoid communist repressions because of her history she adopted name Aleksandra Bednarz for a some time. She died on 14 April 1965 at age of 79. She is buried at Bródno Cemetery
(alley 71B, row III, grave 11).
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, died 14 April 1965 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...
) – 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...
of Polish Armed Forces
Polish Armed Forces
Siły Zbrojne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej are the national defense forces of Poland...
, soldier of Legions
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...
, organizer and commandant of Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet
Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet
Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet was a voluntary Polish paramilitary organization, created by women in Lwów in late fall of 1918...
, independence activist.
In 1904 she enrolled at Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
. In the same year she joined Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party
Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party
The Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party , also translated as Fighting Organization of the Polish Socialist Party; also known as bojówki ; Organizacja Spiskowo-Bojowa PPS ; Koła Bojowe Samoobrony Robotniczej and Koła Techniczno-Bojowe The Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist...
. In 1906 she, together with Czesław Świrski established secret manufactory, where they produced explosives for Combat Organization. Later she joined Union of Armed Struggle and Riflemen's Association. She organized women's squads within Polish Military Organisation
Polish Military Organisation
Polish Military Organisation, PMO was a secret military organization created by Józef Piłsudski in August 1914, and officially named in November 1914, during World War I. Its tasks were to gather intelligence and sabotage the enemies of the Polish people...
. In World War I she organized and commanded women's intelligence service within Brigade I of the Polish Legions. With the rank
Polish Armed Forces rank insignia
- Origins :Present Polish system of rank insignia is a direct descendant of various systems used in the past in the Polish Army. Some of the grades trace their name back to Middle Ages, for instance the rank of chorąży literally means a flag bearer...
of major she took part in Battle of Lwów
Battle of Lwów (1918)
Battle of Lviv begun on 1 November 1918 and lasted till May 1919 and was a six months long conflict between the forces of the West Ukrainian People's Republic and local Polish civilian population assisted later by regular Polish Army forces for the control...
in which she lost her son Jerzy Bitschan
Jerzy Bitschan
Jerzy Bitschan was one of the youngest Polish defenders of Lwów, over which in late 1918 a Polish-Ukrainian conflict ensued....
. On 4 November 1918 she formed women's paramilitary organization Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet. The organization took active role in Polish–Ukrainian War and Polish–Soviet War. She eventually reached rank of 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...
.
With her first husband she had son Jerzy Bitschan
Jerzy Bitschan
Jerzy Bitschan was one of the youngest Polish defenders of Lwów, over which in late 1918 a Polish-Ukrainian conflict ensued....
. Her second husband was a physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. They lived in Lwów. In Interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
she lived in Warsaw. After World War II, to avoid communist repressions because of her history she adopted name Aleksandra Bednarz for a some time. She died on 14 April 1965 at age of 79. She is buried at Bródno Cemetery
Bródno Cemetery
Bródno Cemetery is an old cemetery in the Targówek district, in the eastern part of Warsaw, Poland. Occupying an area of , it is the largest cemetery in Warsaw...
(alley 71B, row III, grave 11).
Military and civilian decorations
- Knight's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta
- 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 :...
- Gold Cross of Valour (twice)
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Cross of Defence of Lwów
- Commemorative Medal for War 1918–1921
- Medal "Orlęta"