Historical calendar: anniversary of the shooting by the Russians of 1 of the leaders of the January Uprising – General Zygmunt Padlewski.
Today in our calendar we will look at the destiny of this man.
Sigismund Padlewski was born in 1836 in Czerniawka Smalla close Berdyczów in Kresach. In his youth, he joined the Russian cadet corps and then graduated from the Artillery Academy in St. Petersburg. While serving in the Tsarsk capital, he agreed with another officers of Polish origin and founded with them a secret “The ellipse of Polish Officers in Petersburg”. The organization's goal was to prepare for an uprising against Russia.
Here after the outbreak of the January Uprising, Padlewski fed the rebel ranks and advanced to general. He became a warden in northern Mazovia. He fought under Myszyn, Drądzev and Radzanov. He was later decommissioned to Płock, who was to become the office National Government. Unfortunately, the insurgents' attack on the Russian garrison of the city was repulsed. The tsaric troops captured Padlewski along with his unit on 22 April 1863 between God's and Studzianka. The general was recognized and transported to a detention center in Płock along with another prisoners.
The general was sentenced to death by shooting. His pardon was involved, but he rejected the offer to preserve his life in exchange for treason, condemning the insurgents and giving up another rebels.
On the day of his execution – on May 15, 1863, he was held on Płock Streets at the Russian military training area. The full way from the prison was sent with flowers that Polish women threw out of the windows in honor of the hero of freedom fighting.
When the general faced the firing squad, he behaved decently. He asked not to be blindfolded. The Russian squad fired a volley, but missed. Padlewski was injured, but he did not fall. Therefore, 1 of the Russian officers shot him in the head at close range.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here..
