Edmund Knoll-Kownacki
Encyclopedia
Gen.bryg. Edmund Stanisław Knoll-Kownacki (1891 – 1953) was a Polish military officer and a high-ranking commander of the Polish Army.
in 1908 in Kaluga
, he continued his education at the Department of Natural Sciences of the Moscow State University
. After five semesters he was transferred to the Moscow Agricultural Institute. In the course of his studies he was subjected to compulsory military service for 12 months. He entered the army in September 1912 at the 19th Battery of Horse Artillery in Dubno, after which he passed his officers exam, earning the rank of reserve warrant officer.
In May 1913 he received his diploma in agricultural engineering. He worked for a year as a veterinary inspector in the Central Agriculture Association in Warsaw. Meanwhile, he entered the Rifleman Squads, with the nickname Kownacki. He graduated from the Rifleman Squad School in Nowy Sącz
in 1914.
, he became a commissioned troop commander in the 2nd Rifleman Battalion. From 13 September he was a member of 1st Uhlan
Squadron of Władysława Beliny-Prażmowskiego. From October 1914 he organised and commanded a battery of cavalry (part of 1st artillery regiment), later upgraded to a wing. After the Oath crisis of August 6, 1917 he was interned in a camp at Beniaminów
. Granted temporary leave in May 1918 to deal with family matters, he never returned to the camp. On October 25 he was appointed to Polska Siła Zbrojna
(Polish Military Force) and assigned to Headquarters of Artillery Inspector. In November he organized the 1st regiment of Legion's field artillery which he commanded on the eastern front.
).
. After arriving in Great Britain and demobilizing, he settled on a small farm in Wales
.
He died on September 2, 1953 and was buried at the Beaumaris cemetery in Llangefni
, Wales. He was married to Janina Chramiec, and had a daughter, Maria Barbara.
Youth
Son of Kazimierz and Maria von Eynatten. After his matura examMatura
Matura or a similar term is the common name for the high-school leaving exam or "maturity exam" in various countries, including Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia,...
in 1908 in Kaluga
Kaluga
Kaluga is a city and the administrative center of Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River southwest of Moscow. Population: It is served by Grabtsevo Airport.-History:...
, he continued his education at the Department of Natural Sciences of the Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
. After five semesters he was transferred to the Moscow Agricultural Institute. In the course of his studies he was subjected to compulsory military service for 12 months. He entered the army in September 1912 at the 19th Battery of Horse Artillery in Dubno, after which he passed his officers exam, earning the rank of reserve warrant officer.
In May 1913 he received his diploma in agricultural engineering. He worked for a year as a veterinary inspector in the Central Agriculture Association in Warsaw. Meanwhile, he entered the Rifleman Squads, with the nickname Kownacki. He graduated from the Rifleman Squad School in Nowy Sącz
Nowy Sacz
Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
in 1914.
World War I
On August 6, 1914, at the beginning of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he became a commissioned troop commander in the 2nd Rifleman Battalion. From 13 September he was a member of 1st Uhlan
Uhlan
Uhlans were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres and pistols. The title was later used by lancer regiments in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian armies....
Squadron of Władysława Beliny-Prażmowskiego. From October 1914 he organised and commanded a battery of cavalry (part of 1st artillery regiment), later upgraded to a wing. After the Oath crisis of August 6, 1917 he was interned in a camp at Beniaminów
Beniaminów
Beniaminów is a village in Poland. It has approximately 190 inhabitants and is located in the Masovian Voivodship, east of Warsaw, between Legionowo and Nieporęt.Within the village are remnants of a 19th-century fort....
. Granted temporary leave in May 1918 to deal with family matters, he never returned to the camp. On October 25 he was appointed to Polska Siła Zbrojna
Polnische Wehrmacht
Polska Siła Zbrojna, was a military formation created by Imperial Germany during World War I, as the armed forces of their puppet Kingdom of Poland. Polska Siła Zbrojna was established a part of the German Army, under German command...
(Polish Military Force) and assigned to Headquarters of Artillery Inspector. In November he organized the 1st regiment of Legion's field artillery which he commanded on the eastern front.
World War II
In the battle since 1939; became a prisoner of war and was in detention through 1945 (since 27 April 1942 in Oflag VII-A MurnauOflag VII-A Murnau
Oflag VII-A Murnau was a German Army POW camp for Polish Army officers and generals during World War II. It was located in the Bavarian town of Murnau am Staffelsee....
).
After the war
Freed from imprisonment in 1945, lived in FranceFrance
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...
. After arriving in Great Britain and demobilizing, he settled on a small farm in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
He died on September 2, 1953 and was buried at the Beaumaris cemetery in Llangefni
Llangefni
Llangefni is the county town of Anglesey in Wales and contains the principal offices of the Isle of Anglesey County Council. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, the population of Llangefni was 4,662 people and it is the second largest settlement on the island...
, Wales. He was married to Janina Chramiec, and had a daughter, Maria Barbara.
Promotions
- Warrant officer – September 15, 1913
- Lieutenant – May 15, 1915
- Capitan – November 1, 1916
- Major – October 13, 1918
- Colonel – June 1, 1919
- Brigadier-general – January 15, 1927
Honours and awards
- Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari (1921)
- Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, previously awarded the Commander's Cross and the Officer's Cross
- Cross of IndependenceCross of IndependenceCross of Independence was one of the highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had "fought heroically for the independence of Poland," and was released in three versions.- History :...
- Cross of Valour (six times)
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Commemorative Medal for War 1918-1921
- 10 Years of Independence medal
- Military Merit Medal (Austria-Hungary)Military Merit Medal (Austria-Hungary)The Military Merit Medal was a military decoration of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on March 12, 1890...
- Commander of the Legion of Honour
- Order of the Crown of Romania, 2nd class