Janusz Bokszczanin
Encyclopedia
Janusz Bokszczanin was a colonel of the Polish Army and one of the first Polish commanders of motorized troops.
He joined the Russian imperial army in 1914, after the outbreak of World War I
. In 1917 he was allowed to join the Polish 3rd Corps being formed in Russia. With it he reached Poland in 1918 and joined the Polish Army the following year. After receiving extensive military training, in 1935 he became the chief of staff of the Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade. After that he became the commanding officer of Polish 10th Mounted Rifle Regiment. He led that unit during its reorganization from standard horse-mounted cavalry
into motorized infantry. During the Polish Defensive War
of 1939 he led his unit in the ranks of Col. Stanisław Maczek's Polish 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade
, however he did not cross the border with Hungary and avoided being captured by the Germans and Soviets.
As one of the most experienced Polish specialists in war of manoeuvre, in 1940 he joined the ZWZ
resistance organization, later to be reformed into the Home Army. Until 1943 he served as the cief of department of fast warfare within the headquarters of that organization. In 1944, prior to Operation Tempest
, he became the chief of operations and deputy chief of staff of the entire Home Army (AK). After the failure of the Warsaw Uprising
, he became the last chief of staff of AK (October 1944 - January 1945). After the Soviet takeover of Poland the Polish underground army was disbanded and Bokszczanin joined the Polish Government Delegate's Office at Home and became the deputy delegate of the Polish government in exile
. He then joined the Wolność i Niezawisłość organization created to disarm the former Armia Krajowa units and help them find their place in communist-ruled post-war Poland. He served briefly as the deputy managing director of that organization, after which in October 1945 he left the country as an emissary.
He joined the Russian imperial army in 1914, after the outbreak 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...
. In 1917 he was allowed to join the Polish 3rd Corps being formed in Russia. With it he reached Poland in 1918 and joined the Polish Army the following year. After receiving extensive military training, in 1935 he became the chief of staff of the Wołyńska Cavalry Brigade. After that he became the commanding officer of Polish 10th Mounted Rifle Regiment. He led that unit during its reorganization from standard horse-mounted cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
into motorized infantry. During the Polish Defensive War
Invasion 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...
of 1939 he led his unit in the ranks of Col. Stanisław Maczek's Polish 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade
Polish 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade
The 10th Cavalry Brigade was a Polish military unit, the only fully operational Polish motorized infantry unit during the Invasion of Poland of 1939, at the onset of World War II. Commanded by Col...
, however he did not cross the border with Hungary and avoided being captured by the Germans and Soviets.
As one of the most experienced Polish specialists in war of manoeuvre, in 1940 he joined the ZWZ
Zwiazek Walki Zbrojnej
Związek Walki Zbrojnej was an underground army formed in Poland following its invasion in September 1939 by Germany and the Soviet Union that opened World War II.The precursor to the ZWZ was the Service...
resistance organization, later to be reformed into the Home Army. Until 1943 he served as the cief of department of fast warfare within the headquarters of that organization. In 1944, prior to Operation Tempest
Operation Tempest
Operation Tempest was a series of uprisings conducted during World War II by the Polish Home Army , the dominant force in the Polish resistance....
, he became the chief of operations and deputy chief of staff of the entire Home Army (AK). After the failure of the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
, he became the last chief of staff of AK (October 1944 - January 1945). After the Soviet takeover of Poland the Polish underground army was disbanded and Bokszczanin joined the Polish Government Delegate's Office at Home and became the deputy delegate of 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...
. He then joined the Wolność i Niezawisłość organization created to disarm the former Armia Krajowa units and help them find their place in communist-ruled post-war Poland. He served briefly as the deputy managing director of that organization, after which in October 1945 he left the country as an emissary.