BEREK JOSELEWICZ BOHATERSKI POLISH WAR PUŁKOWNIK
Berek Joselewicz (born 17 September 1764 in Crete, died or 8 May 1809 in the conflict of Kock) is simply a Polish merchant of judaic origin, a colonel of the Polish army, an officer of the Polish Legions in Italy.
He studied in the local cheder, then became the origin of Bishop Massalski, the owner of Kretynga. He cleverly gained his trust; sent respective times in business to France and Belgji, he wiped himself, became acquainted with languages, and even financially independent. This allowed him to settle in Prague and marry Ryfka around 1788. In 1789, he had a boy of Joseph, then a daughter of Leja. He struggled to trade horses and feed supplies. The Kosciuszko Insurrection, raising hopes of equality in Jews, kidnapped him too. He was the only hebrew who put his signature in the book of accession to the uprising. He then served in the militia, yet appeared with Joseph Aronovich with a task to form a light-tailed ancient order regiment. Kościuszko approved the thought (IX 1794) to appoint Berk Joselewicz as Colonel. The Jews were eager to join the fresh formation, but they did not have time to organize themselves completely, as Prague was shortly attacked by Russians (4 XI 1794), in which according to tradition the regiment of Berk Joselewicz was to be destroyed.
After the fall of the uprising, Joselewicz emigrated to Galicia. At first, as a suspect, he was under observation. From mid-1795 he lived in Lviv, surrounded by popularity. The Austrian politician hr. Gaisruck characterizes him as a man of “big wit, cheerfulness and entrepreneurial spirit”. In 1796 he offered Joselewicz the formation of an 6-8 thousandth volunteer judaic corps (15 IX 1796), but the task in Vienna was rejected (13 X). On the news of the formation of legions he set out to Italy, in mid-June 1798 he arrived in Milan, where he was warmly received and called to the side of Gen. Dąbrowski to Rome (July 1798); he was temporarily placed as supercomplete officer of the 1st Legion. It was only during the Neapolitan run that he was given rot mastership in the recently formed legion cavalry (January 1799). He marked himself in the fight against the insurgents and made himself a good officer. After moving Legjia 1st to northern Italy, he fought over Trebbia, under Novi I, Bosco, Novi II, even alternately commanded the regiment (1799). He adhered to parties of opponents of Gen. Dąbrowski. In the reorganization of the destroyed Italian legions in 1800 he was moved with the remnants of the regiment to the recently formed Kniaziewicz's legion over the Rhine. Here, however, he was met with many (since May 1800) sorrows, due to judaic origin. In an effort to buy in and show his selflessness, he gave precedence to the promotion of respective influential officers, though “without 1 campaign”. But bitterly he felt his hurt and complained to Kosciuszko. On 3 XII, 1800, he participated in the conflict of Hohenlinden, followed by a victorious pursuit of the Austrians. After the Lunewil area (9 II 1801), he was moved along with the regiment to Tuscany, taking his resignation in the rank of first-class captain in June 1802. This was determined by the transition of the regiment to Italian pay, the complete decline of Polish hope, the feeling of sick feeling in the regiment, and the deficiency of views for promotion. It is characteristic that in legions he utilized his name as a surname (so Berek, Berka or Joseph Berko).
Thanks to the protection, General Mortier opened up to him in 1803, after the French occupied the Hanover electorate, fresh opportunities. He was appointed captain of the quartermaster in the Dragoon regiment of the forming Hanower legion on the French acorn; he received an honorary legacy and gratification for erstwhile fighting With this regiment he was moved to France in the first half of 1805, then took part in the 1805 run under Wertingen and Austerlitz. In the second half of 1806 he was with the Hanower legion in Italy. erstwhile this formation began to fall, he volunteered on 30 X 1806 to Gen. Dąbrowski, called upon to Napoleon's side to make him a transfer to the large Army.
On the news of the formation of the Polish army he threw everything and rushed to Poland (post-1807). Assigned to the 1st p. horse shooters (K. Turno), – who later changed the numbering to 5 – as supernumerary chief of the squadron, he fought under Tczew Gdańsk , Maltheser Wiese , Friedland (14 VI 1807) and received Virtuti Militari (assigned to him on 8 March 1808), and the actual squadron chiefship that became his compensation for legional grief. He was respected and popular.
In the 1809 campaign, walking in the front defender of the column, heading for Osieck, Żelechów, at a halt in Serokomla, he learned that the Hungarian Husar Squadron was standing in Kock. To reject him for the Pig, he fell 5 V 1809 into Kock. The enemy stepped back, but Joselewicz went besides far in pursuit. Surrounded by overwhelming forces, wounded, he asked for a pardon – but was chopped up by the Husars. A general regret is borne out by a tribute dedicated to his memory at the Society’s meeting. Friends of discipline 22 XII 1809. In 1810 the widow of him was awarded 1800 PLN salary. With children – the boy followed his father into the Polish army, the daughter married the arenar Majer in Lithuania.
Berek Joselewicz had “a face with wise eyes, sharp eyes, a small foxy expression, with a noise-shattering mustache from ear to ear“. The “Monitor” of 19 VI 1809 characterized him as follows: “Here is the first Polish hebrew to show his fellow believers the way of honor and to give an example of heroic devotion in service to the Homeland.” present it has a monument at Kock, after the cities honor plates and streets of its name, and besides in Polish literature it occupies a serious place. In Krakow there is Berk Joselewicza Street in the city centre, a block from Starowiślna Street. An example of another Polish hero of judaic origin.
INTERVIEW OF J ÓZEF COMAREWICZ AND THE SHUMAN Aleksanderr
2 FEBRUARY 199 9 R. ‘POLONIUM NOTICES’ JOHANNESBURG
