Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer
Encyclopedia
Gustaw Konstanty Orlicz-Dreszer (October 2, 1889 - July 16, 1936) was a Polish
general, and a political and social activist.
Before World War I
, Orlicz-Dreszer was involved in pro-independence activities in partitioned Poland
. In 1914-17 he served in the 1st Brigade
of the Polish Legions
. He was arrested during the Oath Crisis
. From 1918 he served in the Polish Army.
During the Polish-Soviet War
he commanded the 4th Cavalry Brigade and the 2nd Cavalry Division. From 1921-23 he was Cavalry Inspector. In 1923 he was promoted to Brigadier General
. In 1924-26 he commanded the 2nd and then the 3rd Cavalry Division. During the May 1926 Coup d'État he supported Józef Piłsudski.
In 1930 Orlicz-Dreszer became a member of ZG Liga Morska i Kolonialna (Maritime and Colonial League
). He created and promoted a development program for the Polish merchant marine. From 1930-36 he served as Inspector of the Polish Army and in 1936 as Inspector of Air Defense.
Orlicz-Dreszer died in a plane accident, crashing in a RWD-9
plane into the Baltic Sea
near Gdynia
while flying excessively low.
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, and a political and social activist.
Before 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...
, Orlicz-Dreszer was involved in pro-independence activities in partitioned Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
. In 1914-17 he served in the 1st Brigade
I Brigade of the Polish Legions
Brigade I of the Polish Legions was a unit of Austro-Hungarian Army, manned by Austrian Poles, part of the Polish Legions in World War I, existing from 1914 to 1917.-History:...
of the Polish 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...
. He was arrested during the Oath Crisis
Oath crisis
The Oath crisis was a World War I political conflict between the Imperial German Army command and the Józef Piłsudski-led Polish Legions.Initially supporting the Central Powers against Imperial Russia, Piłsudski wanted to defeat one of the partitioning powers with the hands of the two remaining...
. From 1918 he served in the Polish Army.
During 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...
he commanded the 4th Cavalry Brigade and the 2nd Cavalry Division. From 1921-23 he was Cavalry Inspector. In 1923 he was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. In 1924-26 he commanded the 2nd and then the 3rd Cavalry Division. During the May 1926 Coup d'État he supported Józef Piłsudski.
In 1930 Orlicz-Dreszer became a member of ZG Liga Morska i Kolonialna (Maritime and Colonial League
Maritime and Colonial League
The Maritime and Colonial League was a mass Polish social organization, created in 1930 out of the Maritime and River League . In the late 1930s it was directed by general Mariusz Zaruski and its purpose was to educate the Polish nation about maritime issues...
). He created and promoted a development program for the Polish merchant marine. From 1930-36 he served as Inspector of the Polish Army and in 1936 as Inspector of Air Defense.
Orlicz-Dreszer died in a plane accident, crashing in a RWD-9
RWD-9
The RWD 9 was a Polish sports plane of 1934, constructed by the RWD team.-Development:The aircraft was a further development of the RWD 6 - the winner of the IIIrd Challenge de Tourisme International Challenge 1932 international tourist aircraft contest...
plane into the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
near Gdynia
Gdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
while flying excessively low.
Awards
- Silver 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...
. - Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (previously awarded the Commander's Cross
- Cross of Independence with Swords
- Cross of Valour (Krzyż Walecznych), four times
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Commander of the Legion of Honour (France)