Józef Kustroń
Encyclopedia
Józef Rudolf Kustroń was a Brigadier General
of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic
, commandant of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division.
, where his family had settled. In high school, he was an active member of youth organizations fighting for Poland’s independence (see Partitions of Poland
), such as the ZET Youth Association. In 1910 he began studying law and philosophy at the Jagiellonian University
in Kraków
, and two years later joined the paramilitary
Riflemen's Association. After the outbreak of World War I
, Kustron joined the Polish Legions
, and was promoted to platoon commander in the Second Infantry Regiment of the Legions. On October 29, 1914, he was wounded during the Battle of Molotkowo and, after recuperating, was promoted to porucznik (lieutenant). Transferred to the 4th Infantry Regiment, he fought against the Russians in the area of Lublin
, and in Volhynia
, and was promoted to captain. After the Oath crisis
, Kustron was demoted by the Austrians, and moved to an infantry regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army
. From 1917, he was an active member of the Polish Military Organisation
, and in late autumn of 1918, he participated in the disarmament of Austrian troops in Kraków.
After Poland regained independence in late 1918, Kustroń worked for the Ministry of Military Affairs. During the Polish-Soviet War
, he oversaw military rail transportation from July 1920 and, three years later, he was awarded the Virtuti Militari
order.
. During the May Coup, he supported Józef Piłsudski, and prevented his regiment from going to Warsaw
to fight for the lawful president. In late 1930s, he commanded the Pomeranian 16th Infantry Division from Grudziądz
and, in 1935, he was appointed commander of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division from Bielsko-Biała
. With this unit, he took part in the annexation of Zaolzie
(Cesky Tesin) in 1938 (see Independent Operational Group Silesia
) and was promoted to brigadier general in March 1939.
, and was engaged in heavy fighting with the advancing Wehrmacht
from the first day of the war. After several battles and skirmishes, the division, retreating east, found itself near the town of Oleszyce
on September 16. Trying to break through German lines and reach Lwów, the Poles fought a battle with Wehrmacht’s 45th Infantry Division. Kustroń was killed at around 2 p.m. He was buried on the battlefield, and in 1953, his remains were moved to Nowy Sącz. He was the first Polish general to die in the invasion, and the second general officer casualty of the campaign overall; the first was Wilhelm Fritz von Roettig
.
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...
of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, commandant of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division.
Early life
Kustroń spent his childhood in the southern town of Nowy SączNowy Sacz
Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
, where his family had settled. In high school, he was an active member of youth organizations fighting for Poland’s independence (see Partitions of 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...
), such as the ZET Youth Association. In 1910 he began studying law and philosophy at the 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 Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, and two years later joined the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
Riflemen's Association. 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...
, Kustron joined 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...
, and was promoted to platoon commander in the Second Infantry Regiment of the Legions. On October 29, 1914, he was wounded during the Battle of Molotkowo and, after recuperating, was promoted to porucznik (lieutenant). Transferred to the 4th Infantry Regiment, he fought against the Russians in the area of Lublin
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...
, and in Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
, and was promoted to captain. After 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...
, Kustron was demoted by the Austrians, and moved to an infantry regiment of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
. From 1917, he was an active member of the 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...
, and in late autumn of 1918, he participated in the disarmament of Austrian troops in Kraków.
After Poland regained independence in late 1918, Kustroń worked for the Ministry of Military Affairs. 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 oversaw military rail transportation from July 1920 and, three years later, he was awarded the Virtuti Militari
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
order.
Between the Wars
In the inter-war period, Kustroń served in several infantry units. He was deputy of the 42nd Infantry Regiment in Białystok, then commander of the 55th Infantry Regiment in LesznoLeszno
Leszno is a town in central Poland with 63,955 inhabitants . Situated in the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously the capital of the Leszno Voivodeship . The town has county status.-History:...
. During the May Coup, he supported Józef Piłsudski, and prevented his regiment from going to 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...
to fight for the lawful president. In late 1930s, he commanded the Pomeranian 16th Infantry Division from Grudziądz
Grudziadz
Grudziądz is a city in northern Poland on the Vistula River, with 96 042 inhabitants . Situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , the city was previously in the Toruń Voivodeship .- History :-Early history:...
and, in 1935, he was appointed commander of the 21st Mountain Infantry Division from Bielsko-Biała
Bielsko-Biała
-Economy and Industry:Nowadays Bielsko-Biała is one of the best-developed parts of Poland. It was ranked 2nd best city for business in that country by Forbes. About 5% of people are unemployed . Bielsko-Biała is famous for its textile, machine-building, and especially automotive industry...
. With this unit, he took part in the annexation of Zaolzie
Zaolzie
Zaolzie is the Polish name for an area now in the Czech Republic which was disputed between interwar Poland and Czechoslovakia. The name means "lands beyond the Olza River"; it is also called Śląsk zaolziański, meaning "trans-Olza Silesia". Equivalent terms in other languages include Zaolší in...
(Cesky Tesin) in 1938 (see Independent Operational Group Silesia
Independent Operational Group Silesia
Independent Operational Group Silesia was an Operational Group of the Polish Army, created in September 1938 to annex Zaolzie from Czechoslovakia.-History:...
) and was promoted to brigadier general in March 1939.
Second World War
During the Polish September Campaign, Kustroń's division was part of the Kraków ArmyKraków Army
Kraków Army was one of the Polish armies to take part in the Polish Defensive War of 1939. It was officially created on March 23, 1939 as the main pivot of Polish defence. It was commanded by Gen...
, and was engaged in heavy fighting with the advancing Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
from the first day of the war. After several battles and skirmishes, the division, retreating east, found itself near the town of Oleszyce
Oleszyce
Oleszyce is a small town in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,089 inhabitants .During World War II, on 16 September 1939 there was a battle near Oleszyce, in which General Józef Kustroń fell, the commander of the Polish 21st Mountain Infantry Division.-References:Notes...
on September 16. Trying to break through German lines and reach Lwów, the Poles fought a battle with Wehrmacht’s 45th Infantry Division. Kustroń was killed at around 2 p.m. He was buried on the battlefield, and in 1953, his remains were moved to Nowy Sącz. He was the first Polish general to die in the invasion, and the second general officer casualty of the campaign overall; the first was Wilhelm Fritz von Roettig
Wilhelm Fritz von Roettig
Wilhelm Fritz von Roettig was a general in the Waffen-SS who participated in the invasion of Poland. He carries the dubious distinction of being the first general to have been killed in World War II...
.
Honours and awards
- Knight's 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...
, previously awarded the Gold Cross and the Silver Cross - Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Cross 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 :...
- Cross of Valour - three times
- Gold Cross of Merit - twice
- Commemorative Medal for War 1918-1921
- Regained Independence Medal of the Decade
- Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of the Crown of Romania
- Order of the White Eagle (Poland)