Wladyslaw Wejtko
Encyclopedia
Władysław Wejtko was an Imperial Russian Army
general of Polish
descent. He fought on the side of the Second Polish Republic
as a major-general in Józef Piłsudski's forces during the Polish-Soviet War
of 1919-1921.
, (Russian Empire
), his family soon moved to the provinces surrounding the Black Sea
, possibly as part of the repercussions facing Poles in the aftermath of the failed January Uprising
.
He joined the Russian Army
, becoming an officer in 1882 with a specialization in engineering
. In 1898 he was promoted to the rank of captain. He fought in the Russo-Japanese War
of 1905 and served in Siberia
, where he took part in the construction of many roads and bridges. In 1914, soon after the First World War began, he was found guilty of violating the censorship
laws, and was sent to the Russian-German front. There he took part in the negotiations for prisoner exchanges with Austro-Hungary, after which he served in units tasked with logistics
and fortification
s. In 1915 he was promoted to lieutenant general
, but did not receive an independent command usually associated with the promotion in rank.
In 1917, during the Russian February Revolution
, he found himself in St. Petersburg where he became one of the leaders of the Polish War Commission, and then one of the commanders of the Polish 1st Corps in Russia. In 1918 he organized the Lithuanian and Belarusian Self-Defence
force and the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division. On 8 December, he was officially accepted into the newly forming Polish Army by the order of Józef Piłsudski at the rank of major general
. In 1919 he was sent for training in France
, and in spring 1920 he became the Chief Inspector of Technical Forces (Generalny Inspektor Wojsk Technicznych). During the Polish-Soviet War
, he worked with the French Military Mission to Poland
and took part in the Battle of Warsaw
, where he helped prepare Polish fortifications and defensive lines.
He retired in 1921. Until his death in 1933, he was an activist in many Polish organizations, including the Polish Red Cross
, and was the author of many articles and several books. He died on 16 November 1933 and was buried in Nałęczów.
, Cross of Valour (Krzyż Walecznych) (twice), and the French Order of the Légion d'honneur
, Officier class.
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
general of Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
descent. He fought on the side of 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...
as a major-general in Józef Piłsudski's forces 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.
Biography
Born on February 1 to Polish family, 1859 in LivoniaLivonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
, (Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
), his family soon moved to the provinces surrounding the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
, possibly as part of the repercussions facing Poles in the aftermath of the failed January Uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
.
He joined the Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
, becoming an officer in 1882 with a specialization in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
. In 1898 he was promoted to the rank of captain. He fought in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1905 and served in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, where he took part in the construction of many roads and bridges. In 1914, soon after the First World War began, he was found guilty of violating the censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
laws, and was sent to the Russian-German front. There he took part in the negotiations for prisoner exchanges with Austro-Hungary, after which he served in units tasked with logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
and fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
s. In 1915 he was promoted to lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, but did not receive an independent command usually associated with the promotion in rank.
In 1917, during the Russian February Revolution
February Revolution
The February Revolution of 1917 was the first of two revolutions in Russia in 1917. Centered around the then capital Petrograd in March . Its immediate result was the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, the end of the Romanov dynasty, and the end of the Russian Empire...
, he found himself in St. Petersburg where he became one of the leaders of the Polish War Commission, and then one of the commanders of the Polish 1st Corps in Russia. In 1918 he organized the Lithuanian and Belarusian Self-Defence
Lithuanian and Belarusian Self-Defence
Lithuanian and Belarusian Self-Defence was a voluntary military formation composed primarily of Poles that was created in the aftermath of First World War during the formation of Second Polish Republic in the Kresy Polish-Russian borderlands....
force and the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Division. On 8 December, he was officially accepted into the newly forming Polish Army by the order of Józef Piłsudski at the rank of major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. In 1919 he was sent for training in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and in spring 1920 he became the Chief Inspector of Technical Forces (Generalny Inspektor Wojsk Technicznych). 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 worked with the French Military Mission to Poland
French Military Mission to Poland
The French Military Mission to Poland was an effort by France to aid the nascent Second Polish Republic after it achieved its independence in November, 1918, at the end of the First World War. The aim was to provide aid during the Polish-Soviet War , and to create a strong Polish military to serve...
and took part in the Battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
, where he helped prepare Polish fortifications and defensive lines.
He retired in 1921. Until his death in 1933, he was an activist in many Polish organizations, including the Polish Red Cross
Polish Red Cross
Polish Red Cross is the Polish member of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It was founded in 1919 by Dr. Benjamin Reschovsky of Warsaw City Hospital and recognized by the Red Cross on July 24th 1919, and its first president was Paweł Sapieha....
, and was the author of many articles and several books. He died on 16 November 1933 and was buried in Nałęczów.
Decorations
During his service he received the Commander's Cross of the Polonia RestitutaPolonia Restituta
The Order of Polonia Restituta is one of Poland's highest Orders. The Order can be conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of education, science, sport, culture, art, economics, defense of the country, social work, civil service, or for furthering good relations between countries...
, Cross of Valour (Krzyż Walecznych) (twice), and the French Order of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, Officier class.