Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet
Encyclopedia
Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet (Female Military Training) was a Polish
paramilitary organization for women, which existed in the interbellum period as well as during World War II.
. Soon afterwards, numerous conflicts with several neighbors started, and Polish women in many cases actively participated in them, helping the Polish Army. The most famous example is Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet
(Voluntary Legion of Women), created some time in late 1918 or early 1919 in Lwów, for which Poles fought with Ukrainians. First commandant of Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet, Colonel Aleksandra Zagorska
, lost in this conflict a son, 15-year old Jerzy Bitschan
, about whom a song was written years later.
Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet also actively participated in the Polish-Soviet War
of 1919-1921, it had some 2 500 members and after the Peace of Riga
it was dissolved, in 1923. But several women, with Maria Wittek
as their leader, did not want to give up. They wanted equality, also concerning military service, which, in their opinion, should also be available to females.
in Pomerania
, Istebna
by the Olza River
in Cieszyn Silesia
, Charzykowo near Poznań
, Spała by Tomaszów Mazowiecki
, but also Koszewniki near Grodno, now located in Belarus
.
, whose activities helped the Polish Army Headquarters in London to give women of the organization same rights and privileges as those exercised by male soldiers. Females actively took part in the Home Army actions.
Women soldiers were numerous in the Warsaw Uprising
, after its collapse, the Germans treated them as regular soldiers, according to the Geneva Convention. Unlike civilians from Warsaw, they were not sent to the concentration camps such as Ravensbrück
and Stutthof
, but to special POW camps, operated by the Wehrmacht
, mainly Stalag VI-C
in Oberlangen
and Oflag IX-C
in Molsdorf. In the Stalag VI-C there were almost 2,000 women-soldiers, they were freed by the 1st Armoured Division (Poland) of General Stanisław Maczek. Oflag IX-C was freed by the Americans of the Third Army (General George S. Patton
).
After the war, all Polish women-soldiers were gathered in Burg
, Hessen, where they received English uniforms with "Poland" sign on sleeves.
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 for women, which existed in the interbellum period as well as during World War II.
Background
In the autumn of 1918 Poland regained independence, which had been lost as a result of the Partitions of PolandPartitions 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...
. Soon afterwards, numerous conflicts with several neighbors started, and Polish women in many cases actively participated in them, helping the Polish Army. The most famous example is Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet
Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet
Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet was a voluntary Polish paramilitary organization, created by women in Lwów in late fall of 1918...
(Voluntary Legion of Women), created some time in late 1918 or early 1919 in Lwów, for which Poles fought with Ukrainians. First commandant of Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet, Colonel 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...
, lost in this conflict a son, 15-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....
, about whom a song was written years later.
Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet also actively participated 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...
of 1919-1921, it had some 2 500 members and after the Peace of Riga
Peace of Riga
The Peace of Riga, also known as the Treaty of Riga; was signed in Riga on 18 March 1921, between Poland, Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine. The treaty ended the Polish-Soviet War....
it was dissolved, in 1923. But several women, with Maria Wittek
Maria Wittek
Maria Wittek codename: Mira, Pani Maria was the first Polish woman to be promoted to Brigadier-General, in 1991 after she had retired. She served in the Polish Army and associated organizations since she was 18 years old...
as their leader, did not want to give up. They wanted equality, also concerning military service, which, in their opinion, should also be available to females.
Creation
Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet was created in 1928 and its members were volunteers, women and girls over 15 who wanted to prepare themselves for future military service. Enjoying support of the government and the army, the organization had several facilities, in which summer and winter camps took place. Many of camps that were built and used by Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet, are now popular places of vacationing - Garczyn by KościerzynaKoscierzyna
Kościerzyna is a town in Kashubia in Gdańsk Pomerania region, northern Poland, with some 24,000 inhabitants. It has been the capital of Kościerzyna County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999; previously it was in Gdańsk Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998...
in Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
, Istebna
Istebna
is a large village and the seat of Gmina Istebna, Cieszyn County in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. The village is situated in the Silesian Beskids mountain range, near to the borders with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia...
by the Olza River
Olza River
is a river in Poland and the Czech Republic, the right tributary of the Oder River. It flows from the Silesian Beskids through southern Cieszyn Silesia in Poland and Frýdek-Místek and Karviná districts of the Czech Republic, often forming the border with Poland. It flows into the Oder River north...
in Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia
Cieszyn Silesia or Těšín Silesia or Teschen Silesia is a historical region in south-eastern Silesia, centered around the towns of Cieszyn and Český Těšín and bisected by the Olza River. Since 1920 it has been divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic...
, Charzykowo near Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, Spała by Tomaszów Mazowiecki
Tomaszów Mazowiecki
Tomaszów Mazowiecki is a town in central Poland with 67,159 inhabitants . Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , it was previously part of Piotrków Trybunalski Voivodeship...
, but also Koszewniki near Grodno, now located in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
.
World War II and aftermath
During Polish September Campaign, members of the organization distinguished themselves and the most famous personality associated with Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet is undoubtedly Elżbieta ZawackaElzbieta Zawacka
Elżbieta Zawacka , known also by her war-time nom de guerre Zo, was a Polish university professor, scouting instructor, SOE agent and a freedom fighter during World War II. She was also a Brigadier General of the Polish Army , promoted by President Lech Kaczyński on May 3, 2006...
, whose activities helped the Polish Army Headquarters in London to give women of the organization same rights and privileges as those exercised by male soldiers. Females actively took part in the Home Army actions.
Women soldiers were numerous in 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...
, after its collapse, the Germans treated them as regular soldiers, according to the Geneva Convention. Unlike civilians from Warsaw, they were not sent to the concentration camps such as Ravensbrück
Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück was a notorious women's concentration camp during World War II, located in northern Germany, 90 km north of Berlin at a site near the village of Ravensbrück ....
and Stutthof
Stutthof
Stutthof can refer to:*Sztutowo in Poland*Stutthof concentration camp built near Sztutowo...
, but to special POW camps, operated by the 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:...
, mainly Stalag VI-C
Stalag VI-C
Stalag VI-C - Oberlangen was a World War II German POW camp located 6 km west of the village Oberlangen in Emsland in north-western Germany. It was originally built with five others in the same marshland area as a prison camp for Germans...
in Oberlangen
Oberlangen
Oberlangen is a municipality in district Emsland, Lower Saxony , north-western Germany. Population 916 in 2005....
and Oflag IX-C
Oflag IX-C
Oflag IX-C Molsdorf was a prisoner of war camp specifically created to house women officers from the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. It was the worst of all Oflags operated by the German Army during World War II. It consisted of 7 huts used by workers building the Autobahn near Erfurt in 1938 and an...
in Molsdorf. In the Stalag VI-C there were almost 2,000 women-soldiers, they were freed by the 1st Armoured Division (Poland) of General Stanisław Maczek. Oflag IX-C was freed by the Americans of the Third Army (General George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
).
After the war, all Polish women-soldiers were gathered in Burg
Burg
Burg is the word for castle in various Germanic languages.Burg or Bürg or Buerg may refer to:*Burg bei Magdeburg, a city in Germany*Den Burg, a town in the Netherlands* Burg, former name of Melber, Kentucky...
, Hessen, where they received English uniforms with "Poland" sign on sleeves.
Sources (all in Polish)
- http://w.icm.edu.pl/ak/wystawa-jk.html
- http://pluton.um.torun.pl/~archAK/koniecznie-przeczytaj/jk/jk-12sesja.html
- http://www.mon.gov.pl/pl/artykul/2900