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Home , Brest Fortress, Bzura, Centrolew, Dunajec, General (Poland), Gustaw Morcinek

2019 Special edition

PISMO CODZIENNE Independence Day, November 11, 2019 FREE AGAIN! THEY FOUGHT FOR INDEPENDENT Dear Readers, The day of November 11 – the National Independence Day – is not accidentally associated with the Polish military uni- form, its symbolism and traditions. Polish soldiers on almost all fronts “threw on the pyre their lives’ fate.” When the Polish occupiers were drown- ing in disasters and revolutions, white- and-red flags were fluttering on Polish streets to mark Poland’s independence. The Republic of Poland was back on the map of , although this was only the beginning of the battle for its bor- ders. Józef Piłsudski in his first order to the united Polish Army shared his feeling of joy with his soldiers: “I’m taking com- mand of you, Soldiers, at the time when the heart of every Pole is beating stron- O God! Thou who from on high ger and faster, when the children of our land have seen the sun of freedom in all its Hurls thine arrows at the defenders of the nation, glory.” He never promised them any bat- We beseech Thee, through this heap of bones! tle laurels or well-merited rest, though. On the contrary – he appealed to them Let the sun shine on us, at least in death! for even greater effort in their service May the daylight shine forth from heaven’s bright portals! for Poland. And they never let him down Let us be seen - as we die! when in 1920 Poland had to defend not only its own sovereignty, but also entire Europe against flooding bolshevism. For Piotr Korczyński their Independent Poland, Polish soldiers would later fight many a time in uneven his last verse of Juliusz Słowac- was the poet whose words were supposed dering in the nation would finally ignite battles with two totalitarianisms, which ki’s poem “The Funeral of to encourage reflection and emotion over a pile of freedom despite so many disas- started World War II. We should keep Meyzner” became an the collective grave of the legionaries. For ters. He often quoted words from another that in mind when celebrating our Polish epitaph for the legionaries of Józef Piłsudski, Słowacki poem of this poet, “Angels Stand on Na- National Independence Day. Tthe First Brigade of Polish Legions who was the first among the national bards. It tive Fields...”: died in November 1914 at the Battle of was thanks to Słowacki, as he repeatedly My heart breaks, but my eye sheds no Mariusz Błaszczak Krzywopłoty. It was no coincidence this stressed, that he believed the spark smol- tear. Polish Minister of National Defense Special edition Independence Day, November 11, 2019 2

former commander of the Cadre Company spot. Meanwhile, Grudzińs- became the commander of the 6th Battal- ki-Pększyc set off for the battle of Żarni- ion after Lieutenant Marian Kukiel, and ki, and there on May 23 he was injured by then the 5th Battalion after Captain Witold a shrapnel piece. Brought to a hospital, he Rylski. On October 9, in Jakubowice on the fled with an unhealed wound and on May River, Piątek was promoted to cap- 28 he again took command of his company. tain, joining the lucky group of 134 soldiers There, he found the book which he had lent Captain who received the first Polish ’s patents to Szyszłowski. On June 3, leading a patrol Kazimierz since the from the hands near Modliborzyce, Lieutenant Franciszek Herwink of the Commandant. Grudziński-Pększyc was seriously wounded loved Słowacki’s in the head. Not wanting to be taken pris- poetry so much Blood-Stained Poetry Book oner, he shot himself with his own gun. His that the poetry Soldier’s fortune did not leave Captain friends buried him in the parish cemetery in book was always Piątek in the first legionary battles. He neighboring Baćkowice. Together with him, with him, even fought under Ucisków and Stróżyska, in they buried the volume of poetry by Juliusz in the greatest the fork of the Vistula and rivers, Słowacki, dirty with blood of three officers battle fire. and near Laski. On November 17, near of the Polish Legions. Its title was not re- Krzywopłoty, he took over the command corded. of the 1st Battalion after Mieczysław Ryś-Trojanowski. It was only on December The Legions’ “Wołodyjowski” The horse drew sparks on the marble graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy of the 23 near Łowczówek that he was seriously in- In the Battle of Łowczówek, in which grave Jagiellonian University, and a conservator jured, commanding the 2nd Battalion. After Captain Herwin got his first wound, Lieu- And the vengeful sword was drawn of monuments at the National Museum in convalescence he returned to the front, took tenant Stanisław Król-Kaszubski suffered a From the shagreen scabbard. Cracow, also proved to be one of Piłsudski’s over the 5th Battalion of the 1st Brigade, heroic death. He was killed in the same way Piłsudski was also a preacher of a claim, most talented officers. He joined the Rifle- and led it, as it turned out, to his last battle of as many companions of his father, Fran- unpopular in the era of positivism, that men’s Association in 1912 and completed Konary. On May 19, 1915, the 5th Battalion ciszek, from the insurgent “party” of 1863. the January Uprising was not a fruitless an officer’s course there. He was quickly was ordered to hit the Kozinek-Płaczko- Lieutenant Kaszubski was hanged by Rus- defeat which deprived Congress Poland of promoted to commander of the Kraków- wice hill, heavily manned by Russians. This sian soldiers for “betraying the tsar.” the remnants of autonomy. According to Podgórze unit. The Commandant also ap- attack, poorly supported by the Austrians, him, it showed that under extremely unfa- pointed “Herwin,” which was his rifleman’s broke down in the hurricane of Russian ar- vorable conditions of enslavement, without pseudonym, to be the commander of the tillery, and the legionaries retreated to the much help from outside, were able First Cadre Company. However, he could region of Kozinkowski Forest, where they “Herwin” and to organize themselves and challenge one not take this function on the memorable Au- were ordered to take position. Unfortunate- of the greatest military powers in Europe. gust 3, 1914 at the Cracow’s Oleandry Street, ly, their commander was seriously wounded “Król” – two For Piłsudski, the creation and functioning because as an Austro-Hungarian citizen he in the head and taken to the rear. Captain extremely ta- of the National Government in 1863 was a was subject to recruitment to the Imperial Kazimierz Herwin-Piątek died the next day miracle, the experience of which he decided and Royal Army. In order not to be “con- in a field hospital. He was buried in the cem- lented officers to make use of in 1914. spicuous” he became the head of the first etery in the village of Pęcławice near Konary. liked by their platoon, and Tadeusz Zbigniew-Kasprzy- While he was still in the hospital, Lieu- With Słowacki in His Backpack cki, native to Congress Poland, took com- tenant Franciszek Grudziński-Pększyc, subordinates – Many of his soldiers shared the Com- mand of the Company. On August 8, when the commander of the 4th Company of the were killed at mander’s views on both Słowacki’s poetry the First Cadre Company entered Miech- 6th Battalion, took over his blood-covered and the January Uprising, but there were ów, Kasprzycki gave the command to Piątek volume of Słowacki’s poetry. On the same the beginning of two officers in the 1st Brigade who gave an (Modest Słoń-Słoniowski was appointed day in the evening he lent this volume to exceptional testimony of their attachment the commander of the 1st Platoon). Herwin lieutenant Mikołaj Sarmat-Szyszłowski, the path to in- to Słowacki’s poetry and the insurgent tra- was the first to enter at the head of the commander of the 2nd Company of dependence set dition of 1863. the Cadre Company and manned the local the 5th Battalion. On May 21, Sarmat met Captain Kazimierz Herwin-Piątek (born railway station with his soldiers. Soon af- the same fate as the recently deceased com- by Commander March 2, 1886) loved Słowacki’s poetry so terwards, the Austrian Supreme Command mander. Leading the attack on the village of Piłsudski. much that the poetry book was always with renamed Józef Piłsudski’s group the 1st Kozinek, he was hit directly in the face with him, even in the greatest battle fire. This Infantry Regiment. On September 26, the a series from a Russian rifle and died on the

UNKNOWN CROSS The Cross of Polish Soldiers from America was one of the first Polish awards designed for Polish soldiers fighting for the shape of the borders of the independent Republic of Poland; unusual soldiers, because they came from another continent and countries distant from Poland – the of America and .

Krzysztof Filipow

ts origins date back to the beginning of 1920s, thus it Haller’s Army – To Her Soldiers from America – Reborn is connected with the period of the fiercest fights on Poland.” Later, in the mid-1920s, the following names were Ithe front line of the Polish-Bolshevik war. This orig- used interchangeably: The Cross of the Polish Volunteers inal military distinction was known under various names, from America, or the Commemorative Cross of Volunteers which remained in the memory of soldiers and later vet- from America. erans. Initially it was known as the “Cross of Demobi- The problem is the classification of this distinction. If it lized Haller Soldiers,” then as the “Medal of the former were to be perceived as a state decoration, then de facto it Special edition Independence Day, November 11, 2019 3

This man, older than most legionnaires his fresh grave. Horse hooves were to blur (born on October 10, 1888 in ), be- all traces of the legionary. On the walls of fore joining the Riflemen’s Association, had Tarnów and the surrounding towns there been a member of the Social Democracy of appeared announcements of the Russian the Kingdom of Poland and (SD- authorities, saying that “following a court KPiL), in which he assumed the pseudonym order, a Russian subject, a Pole, an inhab- “Król” [King], and took part in the revolu- 2nd Lieutenant itant of Warsaw, Stanisław Kaszubski, was tion of 1905. Arrested then, he was sentenced Stanisław sentenced to death by hanging for treason. to to Arkhangelsk. Due to the efforts of Król-Kaszubski, (...) Raising weapons against us and thus his family, by means of bribes, the sentence although born and committing an attack on the well-being of was changed to extradition from . bred in Warsaw, his Homeland, Kaszubski was a traitor and The recent revolutionary settled in Cracow, and being of an apostate from his compatriots – Poles.” where he began studies at the Jagiellonian a rather modest It didn’t serve its purpose, though. Poles University. Changing his faculties several bodily structure, knew well what 2nd Lieutenant Kaszubski times, he finally decided to study medicine. won the hearts died for. When the Russians were driven Having met Józef Piłsudski, he left the of the mountain out of the area, the inhabitants of Pilzno SDKPiL without hesitation and, keeping people in his unit. found the grave of the . The ceremonial only his conspiratorial pseudonym, joined burial of 2nd Lieutenant Stanisław Król- the Riflemen’s Association. In the summer Kaszubski, with the military ritual, took of 1913, he completed an officer course at the place on November 2, 1915 at the cemetery officer school in Stróża. He was assigned to wouldn’t let him be “taken away by any oth- Kaszubski entered the building of the com- in Pilzno. The funeral was attended by rep- the 4th Platoon, where he was at the same er unit.” mand.” After the interrogation, Kaszubski resentatives of the Supreme National Com- time a lecturer, a cook and a doctor. After joined a group of prisoners. He stood next to mittee, its president Leopold Jaworski and the outbreak of the war he took command The “Insurgent Death” Eichler and said, “»I’m finished.«; »Why?«, vice-president Ignacy Daszyński, and a del- of a platoon in the 1st Battalion of the 1st In- of the Legionary I asked him. »I admitted that I was from the egation of legionaries led by Marian Kukiel fantry Regiment. It was no ordinary platoon, In November 1914, Kaszubski was pro- Kingdom of Poland,« he said. »Why did you and Alojzy Wir-Konas. The coffin, escorted as the highlanders from Nowy Targ served moted to second lieutenant, and a month do it?« I asked resentfully. »Why should I by the honor-guard company of the First there. Król, was not only a native of War- later, in a bloody battle of Łowczówek, he keep it a secret?« he said with pride. »And Brigade, was placed in the grave by members saw by birth and upbringing, but also had a proved how worthy he was of an officer rank where do you come from?« he asked me. of the local fire brigade. Kaszubski was the very inconspicuous figure. This is how one in the Polish Legions. On Christmas Day »From Little Poland,« I replied, as if with only officer of the Polish Legions who died of the platoon’s soldiers, Feliks Gwiżdż, re- he went out with his unit on patrol, and he regret. »Well, then you’re not in danger of in this way during the Great War. Already in called his meeting with the new commander: was unexpectedly surrounded by Russians dying,« he said comfortingly. »I know...« – I independent Poland, he was posthumously “This little man immediately sensed our an- in thick fog. Finding himself in a hopeless answered drily.” decorated with the Cross of the Order ticipatory disposition towards him. He stood situation, he tried to commit suicide, but his Kaszubski bravely testified to the officers of on May 17, 1922. in front of us, embraced us with wide open revolver failed him – it didn’t fire... After the who questioned him that he was a citizen “Herwin” and “Król” – two extremely eyes, leaned on the saber, curled up his loose first interrogations he was taken to the pris- of the Kingdom and that he joined the Le- talented officers liked by their subordinates mustache and said, »My name is Król. They on in Pilzno near Tarnów. Stefan Eichler, gions to fight against the greatest oppressor – were killed at the beginning of the path to know me in the Riflemen’s Association. I am another POW taken prisoner near Łow- of Poland – the tsarist Russia. At the same independence set by Commander Piłsudski. proud to be in charge of a platoon made up czówek, witnessed that moment: “I noticed time, he did not want to hear about the es- Both of them were filled with ideals found of Highlanders only. And you will be satis- two Cossacks on horses, leading between cape offered by his fellow prisoners. He only in the verses of the bards and memories of fied with me. In service I demand absolute them a marching legionary. He was in fact applied for changing the death penalty by insurgents. discipline and obedience. Out of service we a short man. He marched on crooked legs, hanging to a soldier’s death – by shooting. are equal – citizens.« (...) During our casu- carrying a full backpack. He was led into a In the morning of February 7, 1915 in Pilz- al march through the borderline forests, we building in front of which we stood, a few no, before entering the scaffold, Kaszubski started talking with Król. We liked him more dozen steps away. (...) When he was passing was read a decree from the tsar, who gave Piotr Korczyński and more. We started to nudge one another us, I read the inscription written in capital him his life on condition that he joined the istorian, publicist, journalist of and whisper that the commander »is a nice letters on his backpack: »KASZUBSKI« – Russian Army. He rejected this proposal de- HPolska Zbrojna. Historia quar- fellow after all.« A bit like Wołodyjowski. it was his surname. The Cossacks informed cisively, and just before his death he shouted terly, author of books, e.g. Dla oj- We called him that right away. He liked it.” others in dialect: »An officer.« »So tiny and “Long live Poland!” The officer’s corpse czyzny ratowania: szubienica, pal i The Highlanders liked their Wołodyjowski an officer!« others laughed, »ha-ha-ha!« was buried outside the cemetery, in the open kula (2019). so much that they promised themselves they – one could hear when Lt. Stanisław Król- field, and a Cossack sotnia galloped across

would be the first decoration of the Second Republic, af- sudski. It was awarded on behalf of the Republic of Poland, end of the warfare, they were transferred to Poland in ter the Military Order of Virtuti Militari. Or should it be and signed personally by Józef Piłsudski as the Head of State compact units from April 1919. They fought in treated as a commemorative badge? Officially, in the 1920s and Commander-in-Chief. The diploma confirming the and in Eastern Little Poland against the Ukrainians, and and 1930s, the Cross of Polish Soldiers from America did not award was stamped with a seal reading: Republic of Poland later started regular fights in the Polish-Bolshevik war. appear on any list of seniority of Polish orders and medals. – Head of State. Some of the volunteers found themselves together with What is more, it was omitted by the regulations on wear- The very idea of decorating soldiers from America was their troops in , creating a front against the ing orders and medals, as well as the 1931 decision on the se- born at the beginning of 1920, probably at the turn of Feb- Germans. quence of wearing medals. Officially, it appears on the list ruary and March. This is supported by the fact that on The demobilization of the majority of American vol- only in 1939 in the Order Code. March 14, 1920, a contract was signed to produce the badges unteers started soon after that, i.e. at the beginning of There is no doubt, however, that the cross had the features of the cross. And the first diplomas were signed by Józef Pił- 1920. They returned to the United States of America, of a decoration, which is supported by irrefutable facts. It sudski four days later – on March 18, 1920. Canada, a few of them also to the South American coun- was established personally by the Head of State Józef Pił- tries. Therefore, the idea of honoring their war effort for Polish Volunteers from America the benefit of independent Poland was born. The cross honored the heroism and war effort of volun- Haller’s Swords, teers of Polish origin from North America who joined the Design and Construction of the Cross a commemorative deco- ranks of Józef Haller’s army as part of the recruit- The author of the cross design is unknown. Perhaps ration awarded to sol- ment campaign. The Polish Army in needed recruits it was designed by Stanisław Łoza, who had already de- diers of the Polish to strengthen its ranks. Originally, the campaign was to be signed various variants of orders in 1919/1920, such as the Army by the Associa- carried out mainly in the United States, but the recruitment unrealized order of St. Stanislaus, the order of Benemer- tion of Haller’s Sol- effort also fell on the Polish community in Canada. In total, enti, etc. The cross for the volunteers from America was diers, and later by about 26,000-27,000 volunteers joined the Polish Army led to be embossed in bronze sheet metal and had to be made the Polish Army Vete- by General Józef Haller. In 1918, they took part in the fights quickly and in large quantities. rans’ Association in on the French front, and after the army’s arrival in Poland in The design assumed that it would be a cross with fill- America – for service 1919 on the Polish fronts. ings in the form of rays between the arms. This gave it under the command of The volunteers’ war route led through training camps an oval shape with a diameter of 55 mm. In the centre of General Józef Haller in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Camp Borden, and Toronto in the cross is the eagle of the state according to the 1919 between 1918–1920 Canada, to the Champagne battlefields in France. After the model. The arms of the cross were inscribed with the Special edition Independence Day, November 11, 2019 4 Chaplains of the Polish Legions – Józef Panaś (on ) and Henryk Ciepichałł (1916) CHAPLAIN WITH A DEVILISH SOUL About Lieutenant – Józef Panaś

Piotr Korczyński

egions is one of the key words gade of the Legions shows well what kind of in the , still man Father Panaś was. Soldiers of the First holding a huge emotional Brigade wore the “maciejówka” soft cap, charge. The Polish Legions, while those of the Second Brigade wore the from the period of the Great “rogatywka” cap [a four-pointed cap], which LWar, formed the military and political elite often led to various “political” disputes and of the re-emerging state. Heroic deeds were humorous digs. Father Panaś came from the accomplished in their ranks, but also ideo- Second Brigade, so he wore a rogatywka on Lieutenant Colonel logical and political conflicts were born, his head. One day, as the chaplain recollect- Józef Panaś: influencing the history of the entire Sec- ed, “when I was busy cleaning up cemeteries ond Polish Republic. These two poles – of in the former positions of the 2nd Infantry soldierly sacrifice and of the unruly legion- Regiment, some soldier of the 1st Infantry “One can learn to pray well not only at sea, but ary – were in constant conflict in the soul of Regiment came up to me and, admiring also at the close rattle of an enemy machine gun, Father Józef Panaś, a chaplain of the Polish my rogatywka, he said [pretending not to which is more annoying than an explosion of heavy Legions,. see that he was dealing with a priest], »Say, grenades.” A small episode linked to separate uni- why does the devil have only two horns and form traditions in the First and Second Bri- you have four?« »It is very simple,« I said.

words: SWOIM/ŻOŁNIERZOM/Z/AMERYKI State Treasury, and Józef Chyliński, residing at 25 Ogro- the second tranche after the delivery of the crosses and the [TO/HER/SOLDIERS/FROM/AMERICA] (ver- dowa Street. The contract was very precise and detailed, matrix. The medal ribbons were ordered separately. Anoth- tically) and OSWOBODZONA POLSKA [FREED which is surprising given the war conditions. Chyliński un- er well-known engraving plant of Józef Michrowski from POLAND] (horizontally). On the rays in the four cor- dertook to make 12,000 crosses, which was subject to certain Warsaw competed with Józef Chyliński’s company. Howev- ners of the cross and around: SZAMPANIA/LWÓW/ restrictions. The medalist was to prepare a matrix according er, his offer was rejected due to higher prices. POMORZE/WOŁYŃ [CHAMPAGNE// to the description provided by the military authorities, as It soon turned out that the ordered batch of crosses was POMERANIA/VOLHYNIA] (vertically). Of course, well as one model of the cross for the approval of the Pres- not enough. The first order from Chyliński was enough for the names were connected with the combat route of the idential Bureau of the Ministry of Military Affairs. If the only 40% of demobilized soldiers and the general number of American volunteers. military authorities did not accept the design, the ministry volunteers from America. Therefore, in the autumn of 1920, The cross was to be hung on a white and red ribbon. had the right to terminate the contract without any financial another batch of 7,000 Crosses of Polish Soldiers from The novelty was to thread the ribbon (25 mm) parallel obligations. The crosses were to be made exactly according America was ordered with another wave of demobilization. through two clearances in the places where the cross is to the delivered design. After the order was completed, the The decoration was also to be awarded posthumously, and joined and then through the hole in the vertical part of die for the cross was to be returned to the army without the crosses were to be sent to the families. the cross. It was not the best arrangement, and the ribbon charge. Moreover, Chyliński was obliged not to make any Thanks to archival records, we know that a total of 19,000 quickly got destroyed. Over the years, the white and red more similar crosses. crosses were made upon the order of the military authori- ribbon was simply threaded through the hole in the upper The first batch of as many as 3,000 crosses was to be made ties. However, not all of them were given, due to the death part of the cross. by April 1, 1920 at the latest. The next and last batch, 9,000 of volunteers and lack of information about the family. The Thanks to the preserved contract, we know the contrac- pieces, was to be delivered within the next two weeks! The remaining crosses, including 980 unfinished copies, were tor and the details related to the production of the Cross deadline set for the producer was April 14, 1920. This proves handed over to the newly created Museum of the Polish of Polish Volunteers from America. The production of that the military authorities wanted to decorate the Ameri- Army in Warsaw, to its director, Colonel Bronislaw Gem- the crosses was entrusted to the medalist and the owner can volunteers as quickly as possible. barzewski. Together with the crosses, the matrix created by of the famous Warsaw plant, Józef Chyliński. He ran a Each batch was to be accepted by the military office. De- Józef Chyliński was also handed over. medal-making plant, founded by his father, Zygmunt, fective crosses were to be exchanged, the payment for the At the same time, people who needed to be distinguished and was known for producing many patriotic medals. The work was to be made after the transaction was completed. were still being found, or the families of fallen soldiers asked contract for the execution of the crosses was concluded on The total cost was set at 144,000 Polish marks, a single cross for posthumous decoration. This situation lasted for a few March 14, 1920 between the head of the executive office was valued at 12 marks. The payment was divided into in- more years. The Association of Haller’s Soldiers took the of the Ministry of Military Affairs, acting on behalf of the stallments: 36,000 marks in the first tranche and the rest in initiative in this respect in 1925, acting on behalf of the Pol- Special edition Independence Day, November 11, 2019 5

»I have nothing to do with the devil, and two cavalry squadrons. It was also then that with less risk by infantry after proper artil- hynia during the Russian offensive and took I do not want to look like a donkey that has Father Panaś was appointed chaplain of the lery preparation.” part in the bloody battle of Kukle on Octo- no horns at all, just like you.«” 2nd Infantry Regiment. However, he did After the battle, a ceremonial funeral ber 21, 1915. This is what he wrote about it The future chaplain of the legionaries was not enjoy this position for long, because due was held in the cemetery in Barańcza for in his diary: “The battlefield in Kukle looks born on November 23, 1887 in Odrzykoń to the refusal of some soldiers to swear an the fallen on June 15. Coffins were terrible, for the first time in my life I have CHAPLAIN near Krosno, into a farmer family of Szy- oath of allegiance to the Austrian Emperor, placed in a row, and the coffin with the body seen such a lot of corpses (...). The whole mon and Tekla nee Guzek. Despite the fact on September 21 the Legion was dissolved. of Cavalry Captain Dunin-Wąsowicz, field was covered with Prussian pickelhaubes that they were one of the poorer farmers in Father Panaś was in the group of about 800 wrapped in a Polish flag, was placed at the (...). There were also many fallen legionaries, the village, and the father had to addition- legionaries who decided to take the oath. He front. Father Panaś celebrated the funeral about one hundred. Burying the dead was ally work as a lumberjack in the forest to was even one of the speakers at the soldiers’ mass, after which he gave a short speech to difficult. There was no one to dig graves, earn a living, they spared no money for the rally in Rabka, emphasizing the need for the legionaries: “Let us pray for the souls so I had to put the stole in my pocket, and WITH education of their son. In 1907, Józef grad- Polish troops to exist at all costs. instead take a spade in my hand and imitate uated with honors from the k. k. secondary the biblical Tobias.” school in Przemyśl. Then he entered the lo- Second Brigade During one of the Russian attacks near cal Higher Seminary, and he was ordained of the Legions The priest’s Polska Góra, on November 10, 1915, he a priest in 1911. In the following years, he After taking the oath, the 3rd Infantry was lightly wounded. The funeral of sever- worked as a vicar in Dublany and as a cate- Regiment was formed, in which Father greatest ene- al fallen legionaries was taking place when chist in Dobromil. At that time, he became Panaś became a chaplain. Thus, the fate of mies, including Russian fire started, so the chaplain had to A DEVILISH interested in the People’s Movement and the priest from Odrzykoń was then tied, for jump into the grave every now and then to joined the Polish People’s Party. Simulta- a long time to come, with the 2nd Brigade of find shelter from shrapnel under the bod- neously, he was active in the “Sokół” Polish the Polish Legions, which later also includ- Piłsudski, ies of the dead. Finally, one of the shrapnel Gymnastic Society and in Bartosz Teams. ed the 3rd Regiment. Father Panaś accom- fragments wounded him slightly on the side, panied his soldiers throughout the whole always stressed which, as he admitted, made him happy, be- Eastern Legion extremely hard campaign in the Carpathi- his impeccable cause he thought: “Yes, I’ll finally get to go When the First World War broke out, ans, Bukovina and Bessarabia. He especially on vacation.” After his return from the leave SOUL he was in , where he led a pastoral remembered the heroic, but in his opinion honesty and at the beginning of December, the front in ministry among Polish workers. After many pointless charge at Rokitna on June 13, 1915. Volhynia stood still until June 1916, that is troubles, he was arrested by the German “The ,” he noted in his diary, “rode civil . until the time of a new Russian offensive. police on suspicion of espionage, and later calmly along the valley through a field of After the fighting resumed, Father Panaś returned to Poland and joined the Eastern golden, lush wheat, reaching as high as the became a substitute chaplain for the 5th In- Legion of Major General Adam Pietrasz- horses’ backs. The air was completely still. fantry Regiment and took part in the battle kiewicz on August 30, 1914, with a group The squadron (...) reached the edge of the of Kostiuchnówka. Here, the chaplain, un- of peasants from the Bartosz Team. In the village. There was a hill on top of which of our brothers and sisters, who proved that der the murderous fire of Russian artillery, unit, however, it turned out that they already there were three windmills. Suddenly, the a Polish soldier can carry out any order, even noted in his diary, “Fountains of mud, earth had a chaplain employed – Father Dami- squadron started up from the foot of the hill, if he has to face certain death, and let us ask and sand created during grenade explosions an Węgiel. However, Panaś did not give up. like a herd of frightened birds, and rushed God not to let their blood be shed for noth- reach a huge height of several dozen meters. “I declared that I did not care so much about at full speed towards the windmills.” The ing.” In the face of the power and horror of these my position as a chaplain, and I was healthy chaplain stared at the hell that suddenly un- In August 1915, Panaś became the head envoys of death, not only a man seems to and not yet old, so I would be happy to per- leashed on the hill, as if he were enchanted. of the pastoral affairs department of the be tiny, but even mighty hundred-year-old form every assigned service.” In this way, “It was a beautiful sight of raging riders and Legions’ Headquarters. There, with the pine trees, dozens of which burst into splin- Fr. Panaś began his service in the Legions horses, but at the same time a terrible storm consent of Commander Józef Piłsudski, he ters.” However, he would not be himself if as a victualing officer of the 4th Battalion of artillery, machine guns and handguns ordered, i.a., the records of the fallen legion- he had not found a positive side of this diffi- under Lieutenant Józef Szczepan. “Every broke out. A hail of fire and iron fell on the aries, and created regulations for military cult situation. “One can learn to pray well priest,” recalled Fr. Panaś, “has some quali- wretched squadron, not only from Russian chaplains. Throughout his service in the not only at sea, but also at the close rattle fications as a collector, and since we were in but also from Austrian artillery, which was Legions, he tirelessly conducted, often still of an enemy machine gun, which is more my homeland, where I knew all the parish notified too late about the charge.” Panaś during front fights, exhumations of fallen annoying than an explosion of heavy gre- priests and many manors, my boys did not do concludes the description of the hecatomb legionaries from temporary cemeteries, and nades.” so badly.” Legionaries long remembered the of the Uhlans led by Cavalry Captain Zbig- made sure that they rested in specially pre- On December 1, 1916, Father Panaś was “priest feasts,” especially when they fought niew Dunin-Wąsowicz as follows: “This pared war cemeteries. At the same time, he in the ranks of the Legions’ troops that hungry and cold in the Carpathian passes. charge was a beautiful and heroic, but in any served as chaplain to the 4th Infantry Reg- solemnly entered Warsaw. Here, due to In September 1914, the Eastern Legion case unnecessary mistake, because the same iment of the 3rd Brigade of the Polish Le- his efforts, the Polish Legions regained was divided into two infantry regiments and task could have been performed better and gions, with which he found himself in Vol- the former garrison church at Długa

ish community in America. This 25,000.” The conclusion of the future Minister of For- was in line with the initiative of the The Cross eign Affairs of the Second Republic of Poland was also of the Polish Association, which at the Second interesting: “I believe that due to the importance these Soldiers from General Assembly in February 1924 badges enjoy, they should absolutely be maintained and America (1920) established its veteran decoration, recognized as official.” “Haller’s Swords,” which was in part These suggestions were taken into account in 1938, an extended continuation of the Cross when the hierarchy in the Polish system of medals and of Polish Soldiers from America. mander-in-Chief” in two verses. The state seal decorations was determined again. The Cross of Pol- The Ministry of Military Affairs in- was placed in the lower left corner. Diplomas ish Soldiers from America was officially recognized and formed the Association that the crosses sized 330 x 200 mm were numbered in the placed in the hierarchy right below the Cross on the Sile- were at the disposal of the Branch Office upper left corner. sian Ribbon of Valor and Merit, and above the Medal for of the Polish Army Veterans’ Associa- Saving the Dying. This was the official interpretation ap- tion in America. The interested par- Status of the Award proved by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry ties were thus sent to Lieutenant J. For many years, the cross was of Military Affairs in 1939. Roskosz, who was then holding an treated in the Polish Army as a office at the “Pod Blachą” palace, commemorative badge. Its sta- where the seat of the Polish branch of tus was not very clear. It was chiefly Krzysztof Filipow the association was located. worn by Polish soldiers, most of whom The crosses were awarded together returned to the American continent. Few istorian, Ph.D., professor at the University with a decorative diploma with an image remained in the Polish Army for a short Hof Białystok, doctor honoris causa of the of the cross surrounded by Polish flags and time. Even the official name did not break National Technical University in Kropivnicky a decorative plant panoply. In the upper part, it through in the military consciousness. In fact, in (). Author of publications on phaleristics, read: “Republic of Poland,” there was an image of the 1927, the head of the cabinet of the Minister of Military numismatics, heraldry, knowledge of medals and cross and a frame with the inscription: “The Cross of Pol- Affairs, Colonel Józef Beck, in a letter to the Presidium of military history. He publishes works in this field ish Soldiers from America Diploma for...” spread in three the Council of Ministers, wrote: “Badge No. 11 “Volunteer in , Lithuania, the , Be- lines, space for data entry, and below: “Warsaw, on the day from America,” issued in 1919, when Poland did not yet larus, Ukraine, Russia, . of ... 1920”. Below that, it said: “Head of State and Com- have any decorations. It was awarded in the amount of over Special edition Independence Day, November 11, 2019 6

Street – later the field cathedral of the occupation. As a representative of the peas- Polish Army. On December 18, he was or- ants, he became a member of the Social and dered by the German authorities to send Political Committee at the Command of two chaplains to POW camps in Germa- the Area of the ny, where soldiers of Polish nationality were in Lviv, he was also the head of the Fiscal held. Having chosen Father Władysław An- Commission, which had custody over the tosz as his companion, he went to bring con- so-called “treasure of Poznań,” intend- solation to the imprisoned compatriots in ed for the purposes of the independence Russian uniforms. Already in Germany, on struggle. At the turn of March and April December 20, he learned that he had been 1940, Panaś was arrested by the NKVD appointed field superintendent of the Polish in Kozin near Halicz, and detained first Legions, which meant that he had become in the prison in Halicz, and then in Lviv the superior of all chaplains and clergy in all at Pełczyński Street. After three days of legionary brigades. heavy investigation, tortures, on April 4 he During the in , just like jumped out of the window onto the court- at the beginning of his service in the Eastern yard while he was being led to another in- Legion, he advocated that the 2nd Brigade terrogation, and died on the spot. Perhaps of the Legions should remain attached to he wanted to avoid giving away to the Rus- the central states. In mid-September, he sians the place where the treasure was kept. became the superintendent of the Polish It is also possible that after he had been tor- Auxiliary Corps. However, the provisions of tured to death, he was simply thrown out of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk quickly verified that window... his attitude. In February 1918, he was among Until the end of his days, in spite of the the officers who decided to break through conflict with Piłsudski’s camp, Father Józef with the Polish Corps to the other side of Panaś did not forget that he was an old “le- the front and join the First Polish Corps in gionary.” At the end of his diary he described Russia. Interned by the Austrians, he be- one of his visits at the military hospital in came one of the main accused of betraying Sucha in 1917, where Polish legionaries were the monarchy. Due to the intervention with also treated. Seeing the priest’s legionary emperor Charles I undertaken by Father uniform, the head of the ward emphasized Achilles Ratti, the papal nuncio and the that he had less trouble with ten Austrian future Pope Pius XI, Father Panaś was par- soldiers than with one legionary. “And so,” doned on September 30, 1918 and released wrote Father Panaś, quoting the doctor’s re- together with other Polish officers. Already port, “last winter there were two of our boys in November he organized the defense of Redeployment of the 2nd Brigade of the Polish Legions from Bukowina to Volhynia in the institution, with only one and a half Przemyśl against the Ukrainians, and then legs and three arms altogether. Neverthe- he left for Lviv, in whose defense he took less, they were able to get to the attic of the part until May 1919. For his combat actions of Father Panaś. On May 17, during a mass cluding Marshal Piłsudski, always stressed neighboring tenement house, from where he was decorated with the Class-V Order for the victims of the , concele- his impeccable honesty and civil courage. they took a sports sled, and went on a trip of Virtuti Militari and four times with the brated by field bishop Stanisław Gall at the Apart from his political activity in the peo- that would have ended well if it hadn’t Cross of Valor. field cathedral, he publicly tore off from his ple’s movement, Father Panaś was one of been for the fact that they drank a little al- uniform the medals awarded to him by Mar- the closest collaborators of Wincenty Wi- cohol at some inn, and during their return In Free Poland shal Józef Piłsudski, saying: “They burn my tos, and he devoted himself to the creation they drove their sled into a ditch. This is In 1919, as lieutenant colonel, he was ap- breasts and bring me shame. I cannot con- of the cooperative movement in the Polish where the misfortune happened, because pointed dean of the military pastoral minis- tinue to wear them, as I see the same ones on countryside. all four artificial limbs were strained. Not try at the Polish Army Command in Little the breasts of those who have been stained being able to cope with them, they had to Poland. From September of the same year, by shedding blood of their brothers...” For New War and Death wait in the ditch for merciful help. This is he was Dean of the VI Lviv Corps District, this speech he was retired, and the Piłsud- After the outbreak of World War II, the »legionary« nature.” Lieutenant Col- and from November 1921 he was Dean of ski camp gained one of the most famous Father Panaś stayed in Lviv. From 1939 onel Józef Panaś understood this nature the X Przemyśl Corps District. In 1926 political opponents in the unruly chaplain. he co-organized the underground of the like no one else, because he had courage there was another turning point in the life However, the priest’s greatest enemies, in- Union of Armed Struggle under Soviet and bravery in his blood.

the Tsar’s decrees were of no use – the Crosses of Virtuti Militari awarded in the battles for the independence of the Homeland were worn with pride by their veterans in the THE MOST PRECIOUS CROSS subsequent uprisings, or handed over to their children as “an eternal memento and indication of the life duty of a Pole.”

Heroes of the Second Republic of Poland “For a Soldier, the Cross Piotr Korczyński After regaining independence in 1918, the Legislative of Virtuti Militari is a pearl of the Republic of Poland, by the Act of August 1, 1919, he history of the Order of Virtuti Militari is as tur- restored the order established 127 years earlier, giving it the made of blood shed from bulent as the history of the Republic of Poland. Es- name of the Military Order of Virtuti Militari. The former a loving heart. It is not only tablished by King Stanisław August Poniatowski on significance of the order was also restored as a distinction for the red of metal, but also the TJune 22, 1792, a few days after the victorious battle with the “acts of outstanding bravery and courage, performed in bat- Russian Army near Zieleńce, it became the highest award tle and combined with dedication to the good of the Home- red of spirit and the heart granted to Polish soldiers for their merits on the battlefield. land.” The restored order preserved the former division into that burns.” These words Among the first decorated were General Tadeusz Kościusz- five classes, as well as their names. The basic parameters of were delivered by Primate ko and Prince Józef Poniatowski. They opened the array of the order, the rules of wearing it, the qualification of ac- heroes who were honored with this order for fighting with tions for which soldiers could receive particular classes of Stefan Wyszyński on May the invading armies. The first woman, Joanna Żubrowa, was the order, and the rights and privileges for his bachelors, 3, 1976, when the generals among the Order’s bachelors already in 1809. She defended were defined. The feast of the order was to be celebrated on Zamość against the Austrians in the ranks of the army of the May 3. However, the new law of March 25, 1933 postponed of the Independent Poland . it to November 11, 1933, also changing its name to the War placed their Orders of After the fall of the , Tsar Nicholas Order of Virtuti Militari. The pantheon of the Order’s Virtuti Militari as a vote I, in order to additionally humiliate the Poles, degraded the bachelors was joined by many soldiers who became famous Order of Virtuti Militari to the rank of a Russian badge, in the struggles for independence during the Great War, in before the Black Madonna which was awarded to... over one hundred thousand tsarist the struggles for the borders of the reborn homeland, and in of Częstochowa. soldiers who suppressed the “Polish rebellion.” However, the groundbreaking for the Polish-Soviet Special edition Independence Day, November 11, 2019 7 PIŁSUDSKI'S UNFAILING SOLDIER Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer (1889–1936)

When General Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer took off from the airfield in Grudziądz at 1:50 PM on July 16, 1936, taking a course for , he did not know that it would be his last flight. The recently appointed Inspector of State Air Defense flew with the RWD-9 aircraft. The disaster occurred in the vicinity of Orłowo Morskie; the aircraft crashed into the after half an hour from take-off. This is the story of the death of one of the most talented and popular generals of the Second Republic of Poland.

Piotr Kardela

n 1903, at the age of 14, he was through to Polish soldiers fighting at the admitted to the secret national side of Austrians. youth organization “Przyszłość” Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer was admitted [Future] in Częstochowa. Two to the cavalry unit of Władysław Beli- years later he actively took part in na-Prażmowski, and later he fought in Ithe famous strike for the Polish school the 1st Cavalry Regiment of the Legions. in the , as an intran- He was soon promoted, becoming one of sigent enemy of the revolution inspired Piłsudski’s most reliable soldiers. He was by the left-wing parties and modeled a role model for many. His war achieve- on Russia. In 1908, when he was a stu- ments were permanently embedded in dent of law at the Jan Kazimierz Uni- the canon of legionnaires’ stories. During versity in Lviv, he was admitted to the the Oath Crisis in 1917, as a cavalry cap- secret Zet, i.e. to the independent Polish tain, he voluntarily went to the camp in Youth Union, active underground in the Szczypiorno near Kalisz where his six- three . Mobilized on teen-month prisoner-of-war journey be- August 1, 1914 as a Russian reserve offi- gan. Released from the camp in mid-Oc- For his courage, devotion cer of the 3rd Cavalry Squadron of the tober 1918, he headed initially to Chełm and effectiveness as commander Russian Hussars Regiment, he was in near , where, as the commander of he was awarded four times with the Kielce region already two days later. the local Polish Military Organization, the Cross of Valor and On August 14, just before the Russian he led the action of disarming the Aus- the Virtuti Militari. attack on the city, he deserted, getting trians.

The Crosses Forest. He destroyed six tanks and two staff cars with , received the order. It was then that the of the Order of his 37-mm caliber anti-tank cannon in the battle near generals of the Polish Army, who had fought for Poland’s Virtuti Militari Witkowice. For this deed he received a special distinction. independence, and served in the army of the Second Pol- in the collec- General decorated 2nd Lieutenant ish Republic and in exile during the Second World War, tion of the Ciepliński with the Class-V Order of Virtuti Militari, decided to hand over their Crosses of Virtuti Militari to Polish Army removing it from his own chest. Colonel Ciepliński Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland, in Jasna Góra. Before Museum in Warsaw later proved that he was worthy of this honor, fighting the formal Holy Mass, as the oldest general practitioner, in conspiracy and becoming a steadfast soldier. The Virtuti Mieczysław Boruta-Spiechowicz submitted an officer Militari bachelors were obliged to wear the order even on a report to Primate Stefan Wyszyński: “Your Eminence, field uniform, and so did also Major Henryk Dobrzański, Cardinal Primate of Poland! As a mandate to Poland on War of 1920. Among them was the youngest bachelor of the the famous “Hubal,” who, having not accepted the defeat behalf of the head of the Chapter of Virtuti Militari and order, a 13-year-old defender of Lviv of 1919, Antoś Petryki- in 1939, still fought with the Germans in the Kielce forests. the Commander-in-Chief in times of War, the late Gen- ewicz. By the decision of the Head of State Józef Piłsudski, This is how Melchior Wańkowicz described in his book eral , and also on behalf of generals he was posthumously awarded the Silver Cross of the Order Hubalczycy [Hubal’s Soldiers] the night preceding the day of the Polish Army gathered here, I kindly ask for your of Virtuti Militari. of the Major’s heroic death: “[Dobrzański] smiled thinking permission to offer Our Lady, Queen of Poland, a vote of Less than twenty years of independent Poland passed, about the past. The small lamp started giving smoke. Hubal gratitude in the form of our Crosses of Virtuti Militari, when in 1939 two totalitarian powers – and leaned over the table to take off the black glass. An element for six hundred years of help in defending our Nation Soviet Russia – attacked it. Those days were full of tragedy, at the cross burst, the silver Virtuti fell onto the chest with a and State.” Twelve Virtuti Militari Crosses were solemn- but also glory of the Polish nation. Many Orders of Virtuti hollow sound, as if it were the lid of a coffin. »Yes, this is it… ly laid before the miraculous painting of the Black Ma- Militari were awarded during September’39 and subsequent a sign.«” donna of Częstochowa. Six months after the ceremony, campaigns. Heroic Warsaw was also honored with it. It is It was a sign that yet another hero had gone immortal. on November 11, 1976, the then in impossible to mention here even some of the bachelors of exile, Stanisław Ostrowski, awarded the Order of Virtuti this award who made the Polish Army famous on all fronts A Sign of Glory Forever Militari to the Polish soldiers murdered by the NKVD in of World War II by their heroism. One of them was Colonel Like the Russian tsars, the communists also wanted to Katyń and other unknown places of execution, in memo- Łukasz Ciepliński. In September 1939, as a commander of destroy the Order of Virtuti Militari, awarding it gener- ry of the sacrifice of their lives in the name of independent an anti-tank company in the rank of second lieutenant, he ously to Soviet generals. The last straw was when the Secre- Poland. The cross was hung at the Katyń Monument in fought in the battle of the River and in the Kampinos tary-General of the Communist Party of the , . Special edition Independence Day, November 11, 2019 8

ko-Bohusz recalled that Dreszer, being ki). It was Dreszer who wrote the intro- “a cavalryman to the core, having a tem- duction to the once famous book Śląsk perament and fantasy, liked to drink and [] by Gustaw Morcinek. have fun, but knew how to work steadfast- When Józef Piłsudski died on May 12, ly and honestly when necessary, and most 1935, General Orlicz-Dreszer lost a close importantly, had a bright and very lucid person. It was him who was the command- mind.” er of the military part of the Marshal’s fu- Parallel to military matters, the general neral ceremonies in Warsaw, Krakow, and was very active in the work of the Sea and . He had a negative opinion on the Colonial League, whose president he was evolution of the program implemented by elected in November 1930 at a convention the camp that ruled after Józef Piłsudski’s in Gdynia. He wished for powerful Po- death, which attracted the interest of the land with a strong position in the world, representatives of the National-Radical and treated the League’s actions as a Camp with whom he held talks. propaganda maneuver against Germany. Orlicz openly proclaimed the view that “the western and northern lands, i.e. East Piotr Kardela , Gdańsk, Central and Western Pomerania, Lubusz Land, , istorian, graduate of UMCS in Opole and the rest of the Upper Silesia, HLublin (1992), PhD of huma- should be included in Poland, perceiving nities, professor of the Police Aca- (...) the whole thing in terms of historical demy in Szczytno, director of the justice, i.e. the return to the Motherland Białystok office of the Institute of The in Warsaw on May 12, 1926, at the beginning of a military coup d’état led of the lands once separated, but also in the National Remembrance, specializes by Józef Piłsudski. The is on his way to meet President Stanisław Wojciechow- context of Polish population expansion in the history of Poland and Polish ski – from the left: LtCol Kazimierz Stamirowski, Lt Marian Żebrowski, Gen Orlicz-Dreszer, and the strengthening of Poland’s eco- communities in the 20th century. Piłsudski, Maj Tadeusz Jaroszewicz, Lt Michał Galiński. nomic potential.” (Przemysław Olstows-

During the fights with Ukrainians and Bolshevik Russia, Gustaw Or- Dreszer, being licz-Dreszer became famous as an out- “a cavalryman to standing cavalry commander. His bravura entry into Vilnius at the head of the cav- the core, having alry through the Gate of Dawn, victori- a temperament ous battles with the army of Budyonny, the cavalry corps of Gaya Gai, or the bold and fantasy, liked victorious drive on Korosteń, the larg- to drink and have est cavalry drive of the 20th century, are only his most famous front actions. For fun, but knew his courage, dedication and effectiveness how to work as commander, he was four times award- ed with the Cross of Valor, as well as the steadfastly and Virtuti Militari. After , he was sent to the honestly when Chief Inspectorate of the Armed Forces. necessary, and Associated with fratricidal fights in the capital, but also disappointed with the de- most importantly, velopment of the socio-political situation had a bright and in Poland, in January 1928 he resigned from his post in order not to be a “burden very lucid mind.” for the army and its leader.” The Marshal At the grave of Orlicz-Dreszer. On the left, the General’s second wife Olga Elwira, on the did not accept the resignation because he right, his mother Emilia. The funeral took place on July 27 at the cemetery in Gdynia Oksywie. highly valued his usefulness to the army. Orlicz could afford to criticize what he did not like in Poland after May 1926. Although he constantly adored the Mar- THE “ZWIASTUN” PROGRAM shal, this was not how he imagined the For over two years now, the Polish National Foundation (PNF) has been implementing the “Zwiastun" (“Herald”) restoration of Poland. For example, he educational program for NATO soldiers stationing in Poland. “The program is to present Poland as a , openly spoke about his dislike for Colonel safe country which is developing all the time, but which also remembers its history,” assures Cezary Andrzej Wacław Kostek-Biernacki, commander Jurkiewicz, member of the Board of the PNF. Within the program, the Foundation organised numerous lectures of the Brest Fortress, when opposition and educational trips. A few thousand soldiers participated in them, and they all emphasise that it helped them to leaders from the “Centrolew” movement were imprisoned there. On November know Poland from various perspectives. “This is a valuable opinion, because after they return to their homes, they 11, 1930, on the 12th anniversary of re- will be natural ambassadors of Poland,” he adds. gaining independence, he was promoted The PFN continues to develop the program. In the following months, the Foundation plans to organize to division general, and a month later he the Moniuszko concert, give lectures devoted to General Ryszard Kukliński and the indomitable soldiers. There are was appointed army inspector. His then also plans to engage soldiers from other garrisons, not only in Orzysz. subordinate Colonel Zygmunt Szysz-

Patrons

Wojskowy Instytut Wydawniczy Project supervised by: Anna Putkiewicz [Military Publishing Institute] English translations by: Barbara Wierczyńska (LONDONER Translation Services Warsaw) Aleje Jerozolimskie 97, 00-909 Warszawa English translations revised, edited and proofread by: Dorota Aszoff Director: Maciej Podczaski Supervising editor (Polish version): Jacek Żurek Editing and proofreading (Polish version): January Szustakowski Polska Zbrojna (military monthly) Cooperation: Piotr Korczyński Editor-in-Chief: Izabela Borańska-Chmielewska Graphic design: Paweł Kępka polska-zbrojna.pl (military news website) Photohraphs: Cezary Pomykało (cover photo), Ilustrowana kronika Legjonów Polskich, Polska Zbrojna. Historia (historical quarterly) Warsaw: Wojskowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 2019 [reprint], Krzysztof Filipow's collection, Editor-in-Chief: Anna Putkiewicz National Digital Archives [NAC], [MWP] Polska Zbrojna is a military magazine published under the Print: Wojskowe Zakłady Kartograficzne sp. z o.o., ul. Fort 22, 01-258 Warszawa supervision of Polish Ministry of National Defense since 1921 SKLEP.POLSKA-ZBROJNA.PL