Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet
Encyclopedia
Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet was a voluntary Polish
paramilitary organization, created by women in Lwów in late fall of 1918. Back then, Lwów was contested by Poles and Ukrainians, and women decided to help Polish soldiers in all ways possible, including fighting on the frontline.
Creation of the Legion, as this was original name of the organization, is attributed to Major Aleksandra Zagorska
, who was the commandant of female couriers during the Polish-Ukrainian conflict. During the fights, Zagorska lost her teenage son, 14-year old Jerzy Bitschan
, who was killed by Ukrainian shells on the Lyczakowski Cemetery, and about whom several songs were later written. Altogether, 66 Polish women died fighting in Lwów in late 1918.
During the Polish-Soviet War
of 1919-1921, Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet, which grew to 2 500 members, helped Polish Army in such places as Warszawa and Wilno (since May 1919). In Wilno, in mid-1920, Polish women under Wanda Gertz
defended the city, facing the Mounted Corps of Gai Khan.
After the war, in 1923, the organization was dissolved. Five years later, activists of OLK created Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet
.
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...
paramilitary organization, created by women in Lwów in late fall of 1918. Back then, Lwów was contested by Poles and Ukrainians, and women decided to help Polish soldiers in all ways possible, including fighting on the frontline.
Creation of the Legion, as this was original name of the organization, is attributed to Major Aleksandra Zagorska
Aleksandra Zagórska
Lt. Col. Aleksandra Zagórska, primo voto Bitschan, secundo voto Zagórska, aka Aleksandra Bednarz – 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...
, who was the commandant of female couriers during the Polish-Ukrainian conflict. During the fights, Zagorska lost her teenage son, 14-year old 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....
, who was killed by Ukrainian shells on the Lyczakowski Cemetery, and about whom several songs were later written. Altogether, 66 Polish women died fighting in Lwów in late 1918.
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...
of 1919-1921, Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet, which grew to 2 500 members, helped Polish Army in such places as Warszawa and Wilno (since May 1919). In Wilno, in mid-1920, Polish women under Wanda Gertz
Wanda Gertz
Wanda Gertz codename: Lena, Kazik was a Polish major and soldier of the Armia Krajowa....
defended the city, facing the Mounted Corps of Gai Khan.
After the war, in 1923, the organization was dissolved. Five years later, activists of OLK created Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet
Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet
Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet was a Polish paramilitary organization for women, which existed in the interbellum period as well as during World War II.-Background:...
.
Sources
- http://www.lwow.home.pl/rocznik/obrona1918.html
- http://w.icm.edu.pl/ak/wystawa-jk.html