Historical calendar – an anniversary of appointment as the chief chief of the Wielkopolska Uprising, experienced general Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki.
Today in our calendar we will look at the life and activities of this distinguished patriot.
Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki came from Garbów close Sandomierz from Roman's patriotic household and Antonina from Wierzbick's house. Like most wealthy peers, he received home education from the parents of the governers. In 1877, he began his junior advanced school in Radom. He then joined the Cadet Corps and the Constantinian Officers School in St. Petersburg.
In 1891 he obtained the rank of lieutenant. He served for 9 years in Siberia and Central Russia. He then began studying at the General Staff Academy. He graduated with honors in 1902. He practiced in the Moscow Military territory staff and linear units specified as the 2nd Grenadiers Regiment. In 1904, he participated in the Russian-Japanese War, where he served as an officer for peculiar assignments at the 1st Siberian Corps.
He spent the following years in Manchuria as chief of staff of the border troops there. In 1908, he returned to Europe and became chief of staff of the 11th and then the 7th Infantry Division. After the outbreak of planet War I, he participated in fights against Austrians in Galicia and Germany in central Poland. He appeared as a large commander, who crashed respective divisions of the opponent. He was injured many times, distinguished and promoted. In the course of the war he reached the general level.
In 1916, he fought against the Turks in the Caucasus, and then again against the Germans on the Dźwiny River line. After the February revolution, he supported the thought of creating a Polish army alongside the Provisional Government. In June 1917 the Chief Polish Military Committee with Władysław Raczkiewicz was established. Dowbor-Muśnicki became commander of the First Polish Corps in Russia formed by this organization. During the highest period, the unit had about 30,000 soldiers.
After the beginning of the October Revolution, the Corps was in a bad position. The Germans were attacking him, and the Bolsheviks were demanding the demobilization of troops. The General made his decision to fight against the revolutionaries. After respective skirmishes he occupied and planted a fortress in Bobrujsk, southeast of Minsk. At the same time he conducted negotiations with the Warsaw Regency Council, which he yet submitted to politically.
As a monarch, he powerfully supported the concept of revival of the Polish Crown. However, Germany was opposed to strengthening the position of the Council, which did not taste specified crucial forces beyond their direct control. On the another hand, soldiers of the First Corps associated with the POW Józef Piłsudski protested against surrendering to the Regency Council. They even attempted to overthrow the general, which did not happen. Surrounded by all sides, Poles laid down their weapons in exchange for the German warrant of safe return to the country.
The General instructed his officers to stand by in case of a possible fight for independence. Upon arriving in the country, he lived in Staszów close Sandomierz. After his independence, he intended to proceed to service his homeland. To this end he went to the capital, where he met with Józef Piłsudski. He tried to scope agreement with him, which proved impossible. The Chief of State treated him hostilely and did not accept him into the Polish army, despite the considerable front experience he had.
In December 1918 the Wielkopolska Uprising broke out. His main pain was the chronic deficiency of officers. On January 6, 1919, the Poznań General People's Council invited Dowbor-Muśnicki to take command of its subordinate troops. Józef Piłsudski had no choice. He succumbed to the pressures of Wojciech Korfanty, Fr Stanisław Adamski and Adam Poszwinski from the ultimate People's Council and agreed on 16 January to release him from his current duties by sending him to Wielkopolska.
The curious 1 himself dragged with him erstwhile officers and Corps. At a fast pace he arranged the personnel and organizational matters of the Wielkopolska Army. He introduced discipline and discipline. He ordered widespread mobilization, resulting in 100,000 soldiers. He has so far divided the uniform front into episodes with his own command and staff, which greatly facilitated the defence against the Germans. Thanks to it, the chaotic troops of insurgents initially in the final phase of the fighting resembled an organized and professional army.
Everything indicates that his work had the price of victory. He even planned to decision the fights to Pomerania and conquer Gdańsk. However, these ideas were not supported by Piłsudski and the government in Warsaw. In the summertime of 1919, there was integration of Wielkopolska troops with the remainder of the Polish army, which meant moving them to the east front. shortly the general remained unassigned. During the fierce fighting with Bolsheviks, he asked Warsaw for a position in the Volunteer Army, but did not get it.
This decision was based on Piłsudski's reluctance. Later, he was offered the position of Minister of Military Affairs and head of the front, but he refused to do so. He settled in Lusowo property close Poznań. He wrote memoirs, opened the Dowborczyk Association, and became active in local politics.
He was active in the Organization of Polish Monarchists. In 1926, he became her vice president. During the May bombing, he spoke against Piłsudski and remained in opposition to the sanctioning regulation for the remainder of his life. He was married to Agnieszka Korsonska, with whom he had 4 children. His daughter Janina was the only female victim of the 1940 Katyn crime.
Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki was a large commander and organizer, without whom the triumph of the Wielkopolska Uprising would not be possible. It is an example of a Polish patriot from a completely different communicative than Piłsudski or Dmowski. As a monarch he was a supporter of the thought of the large Republic, which went beyond the narrow cultural and democratic horizons.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
