Karol Ziemski
Encyclopedia
Karol Ziemski was a general of the Polish Army, participant of the Polish September Campaign and the Warsaw Uprising
, officer of the Home Army.
He was born on May 24, 1895 in the village of Nasutow, Lubartów
county. In June 1914, Ziemski graduated from a high school in Lublin
, and next year he was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army and was sent to a cadet school in Kiev
. After graduation, he fought in Ukraine
and Romania
, and in January 1918 he got to Babruysk
, where joined the Polish I Corps in Russia
, under general Jozef Dowbor-Musnicki
.
In June 1918 Ziemski returned to Poland and began studies at the Warsaw Polytechnic. Soon afterwards he quit to volunteer to the freshly created Polish Army. He co-organized the Warsaw Battalion of Academic Legion, and in 1919 was promoted to captain. Ziemski fought in the Polish-Soviet War
, during which he was wounded. In 1923 promoted to captain, he served in the Corps District in Warsaw
. Then he taught at a cadet school in Rembertów
and in the Center of Infantry in Warsaw.
During the Polish September Campaign, he was commandant of the 36th Infantry Regiment in the 28th I.D. of the Łódź Army. Awarded the Virtuti Militari
for defence of Modlin
, during which he was wounded, Ziemski was taken to a German POW camp in Działdowo, from where he was released because of his injuries. After returning to Warsaw, he became engaged in the Polish underground resistance (see: Home Army). During the Warsaw uprising
, Ziemski was commandant of Group North of the Home Army, which covered units fighting in Warsaw's Old Town, Marymont
and Zoliborz
. On September 5, 1944, he was named deputy of Antoni Chrusciel
and participated in talks with the Germans. After the Uprising, he stayed in different German POW camps, in May 1945 was freed by the Allies and settled in London, where was a member of the Polish Government in Exile. He died January 17, 1974 in London.
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...
, officer of the Home Army.
He was born on May 24, 1895 in the village of Nasutow, Lubartów
Lubartów
Lubartów is a town in eastern Poland, with 23,000 inhabitants , situated in Lublin Voivodeship. It is the capital of Lubartów County and the Lubartów Commune.-History:...
county. In June 1914, Ziemski graduated from a high school in 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 next year he was drafted into the Russian Imperial Army and was sent to a cadet school in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. After graduation, he fought in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and in January 1918 he got to Babruysk
Babruysk
Babruysk or Bobruysk is a city in the Mahilyow Voblast of Belarus on the Berezina river. It is a large city in Belarus with a population of approximately 227,000 people . The name Babruysk probably originates from the Belarusian word babyor , many of which used to inhabit the Berezina...
, where joined the Polish I Corps in Russia
Polish I Corps in Russia
Polish I Corps in Russia was a Polish military formation formed in Belarus, in August 1917 in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917, from soldiers of Polish origin serving in the Russian Army...
, under general Jozef Dowbor-Musnicki
Józef Dowbor-Musnicki
Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki was a Polish military officer and commander, serving with the Imperial Russian and then Polish armies...
.
In June 1918 Ziemski returned to Poland and began studies at the Warsaw Polytechnic. Soon afterwards he quit to volunteer to the freshly created Polish Army. He co-organized the Warsaw Battalion of Academic Legion, and in 1919 was promoted to captain. Ziemski fought in 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...
, during which he was wounded. In 1923 promoted to captain, he served in the Corps District 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...
. Then he taught at a cadet school in Rembertów
Rembertów
Rembertów is a district of the city of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. Between 1939 and 1957 Rembertów was a separate town, after which it was incorporated as part of the borough of Praga Południe. Between 1994 and 2002 it formed a separate commune of Warszawa-Rembertów...
and in the Center of Infantry in Warsaw.
During the Polish September Campaign, he was commandant of the 36th Infantry Regiment in the 28th I.D. of the Łódź Army. 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...
for defence of Modlin
Modlin Fortress
Modlin Fortress is one of the biggest 19th century fortresses in Poland. It is located the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki in district Modlin on the Narew river, some 50 kilometres north of Warsaw...
, during which he was wounded, Ziemski was taken to a German POW camp in Działdowo, from where he was released because of his injuries. After returning to Warsaw, he became engaged in the Polish underground resistance (see: Home Army). During 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...
, Ziemski was commandant of Group North of the Home Army, which covered units fighting in Warsaw's Old Town, Marymont
Marymont
Marymont is one of the northern neighbourhoods of Warsaw, Poland, administratively a part of the boroughs of Żoliborz and Bielany . Named after the queen of Poland Maria Kazimiera , wife of king John III Sobieski, it initially housed a small summer manor...
and Zoliborz
Zoliborz
Żoliborz is one of the northern districts of the city of Warsaw. It is located directly to the north of the City Centre, on the left bank of the Vistula river. It has approximately 50,000 inhabitants and is one of the smallest boroughs of Warsaw....
. On September 5, 1944, he was named deputy of Antoni Chrusciel
Antoni Chrusciel
Gen. Antoni Chruściel was a Polish military officer and a general of the Polish Army. He is best known as the de facto commander of all the armed forces of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, as well as Home Army's chief of staff.-Early life:...
and participated in talks with the Germans. After the Uprising, he stayed in different German POW camps, in May 1945 was freed by the Allies and settled in London, where was a member of the Polish Government in Exile. He died January 17, 1974 in London.
Honours and awards
- Cross of Valour, three times (including 1921 and September 28, 1944)
- 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...
(August 28, 1944, "for courage shown in the battle for Warsaw, in particular the heroic defense of the Old Town."); previously awarded the Gold Cross twice (29 September 1939 and 18 August 1944) and the Silver Cross (1921) - Gold Cross of Merit with Swords (1925)
- Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1937)
Source
- Tadeusz Kryska-Karski i Stanisław Zurakowski, Generalowie Polski Niepodleglej, Editions Spotkania, Warszawa 1991, wyd. II uzup. i poprawione.
See also
- Polish contribution to World War IIPolish contribution to World War IIThe European theater of World War II opened with the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. The Polish Army was defeated after over a month of fighting. After Poland had been overrun, a government-in-exile , armed forces, and an intelligence service were established outside of Poland....