Jan Jagmin-Sadowski
Encyclopedia
Jan Jagmin-Sadowski was a general of the Polish Army, having served in World War One as a member of Józef Piłsudski's legions
, as well as commanding Polish forces during the invasion of Poland in 1939.
, and there he got in touch with Polish independence movement. He became a member of the Polish Socialist Party
- Revolutionary Fraction, as well as the Polish Rifles and the Sokół movement.
and Jozefowek. In 1916, as a soldier of the I Brigade of the Polish Legions
, he fought in the bloody battle of Kostiuchnówka. After the Oath crisis
, Sadowski, together with many other officers, was interned in a prisoner of war camp in Beniaminów
.
In the Second Polish Republic
, Sadowski, then a major, was an instructor at the School of Infantry Officers in Warsaw. In 1919 he entered the Polish Army Headquarters' School in Warsaw, then was sent on a two-year course to Ecole Superieure de Guerre in Paris. After graduation, Sadowski was promoted to colonel and became commandant of the elite 15. "Wolves" Infantry Regiment in Dęblin
. Later on, in 1931, he was named commandant of the Polish 23rd Infantry Division, stationed in Katowice
.
On March 19, 1939, Sadowski was promoted to general, and took command of the freshly created Upper Silesian Fortified Area. During the opening phase of the Second World War, the Invasion of Poland, he was commandant of the Śląsk Operational Group, which was part of the Kraków Army
. His units were engaged in heavy fights with the advancing Wehrmacht
, especially in the area of Mikołów and Wyry
. However, the Germans managed to break through the Polish defences and Sadowski ordered his men to retreat behind the Przemsza
. In mid-September 1939 Edward Rydz-Śmigły reformed the Śląsk Operational Group into Operational Group Jagmin. Sadowski's troops participated in the defence of Kraków
, then fought in the area of Kielce
and finally, in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
, where they were defeated.
Surrendering to the Germans, Sadowski was kept in a POW camp in Wollenberg for the duration of the war. In 1946 he returned to Poland, where he was forced to move to the army reserve.
to Leonid Brezhnev
, together with other war weterans, left his own Virtuti Militari at the Jasna Góra Monastery
. He authored several books, including Dzialania Grupy Operacyjnej "Śląsk" 1-3 września 1939 r. (Activities of the Śląsk Operational Group, September 1–3, 1939).
Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army...
, as well as commanding Polish forces during the invasion of Poland in 1939.
Early Life
In the early 20th century, Sadowski studied mechanics at the Lviv PolytechnicLviv Polytechnic
Lviv Polytechnic National University is the largest scientific university in Lviv. Since its foundation in 1844, it was one of the most important centres of science and technological development in Central Europe. In the interbellum period, the Polytechnic was one of the most important technical...
, and there he got in touch with Polish independence movement. He became a member of the Polish Socialist Party
Polish Socialist Party
The Polish Socialist Party was one of the most important Polish left-wing political parties from its inception in 1892 until 1948...
- Revolutionary Fraction, as well as the Polish Rifles and the Sokół movement.
Military Career
After the outbreak of World War I, he joined the 1st Legionnaire Rifles Regiment as a volunteer. In 1914, he distinguished himself in battles at Anielin and Łaski, and the next year he fought at Łowiczowek, KonaryBattle of Konary
Konary is a small village in the region of Sandomierz Uplands, near the town of Klimontów, Poland.-History:During the Great War, in May and June 1915 it was a site of a major battle between the Russian Army and the forces of Józef Piłsudski's Polish Legions...
and Jozefowek. In 1916, as a soldier of the I Brigade of the Polish Legions
I Brigade of the Polish Legions
Brigade I of the Polish Legions was a unit of Austro-Hungarian Army, manned by Austrian Poles, part of the Polish Legions in World War I, existing from 1914 to 1917.-History:...
, he fought in the bloody battle of Kostiuchnówka. After the Oath crisis
Oath crisis
The Oath crisis was a World War I political conflict between the Imperial German Army command and the Józef Piłsudski-led Polish Legions.Initially supporting the Central Powers against Imperial Russia, Piłsudski wanted to defeat one of the partitioning powers with the hands of the two remaining...
, Sadowski, together with many other officers, was interned in a prisoner of war camp in 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....
.
In the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, Sadowski, then a major, was an instructor at the School of Infantry Officers in Warsaw. In 1919 he entered the Polish Army Headquarters' School in Warsaw, then was sent on a two-year course to Ecole Superieure de Guerre in Paris. After graduation, Sadowski was promoted to colonel and became commandant of the elite 15. "Wolves" Infantry Regiment in Dęblin
Deblin
Dęblin is a town, population 19,500 , at the confluence of Vistula and Wieprz rivers, in Lublin Voivodeship, Poland. Dęblin is the part of the agglomeration with adjacent towns of Ryki and Puławy, which altogether has over 100 000 inhabitants....
. Later on, in 1931, he was named commandant of the Polish 23rd Infantry Division, stationed in Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
.
On March 19, 1939, Sadowski was promoted to general, and took command of the freshly created Upper Silesian Fortified Area. During the opening phase of the Second World War, the Invasion of Poland, he was commandant of the Śląsk Operational Group, which was part of the Kraków Army
Kraków Army
Kraków Army was one of the Polish armies to take part in the Polish Defensive War of 1939. It was officially created on March 23, 1939 as the main pivot of Polish defence. It was commanded by Gen...
. His units were engaged in heavy fights with the advancing Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, especially in the area of Mikołów and Wyry
Wyry
Wyry is a village in Mikołów County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wyry. It lies approximately south of Mikołów and south-west of the regional capital Katowice....
. However, the Germans managed to break through the Polish defences and Sadowski ordered his men to retreat behind the Przemsza
Przemsza
Przemsza is a river in the south of Poland, a tributary of the Vistula.It originates at the confluence of the Black Przemsza and White Przemsza between the cities of Mysłowice and Jaworzno, and flows about southwards along the towns of Imielin and Chełmek to its mouth northeast of...
. In mid-September 1939 Edward Rydz-Śmigły reformed the Śląsk Operational Group into Operational Group Jagmin. Sadowski's troops participated in the defence of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, then fought in the area of Kielce
Kielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
and finally, in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski took place from 17 September to 26 September 1939 near the town of Tomaszów Lubelski. It was the second largest battle of the Invasion of Poland and also the largest tank battle of the campaign. It resulted in the destruction of the Polish forces...
, where they were defeated.
Surrendering to the Germans, Sadowski was kept in a POW camp in Wollenberg for the duration of the war. In 1946 he returned to Poland, where he was forced to move to the army reserve.
Later Life
In 1976 his name once again became famous, when Sadowski, protesting against conferring Virtuti MilitariVirtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
to Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
, together with other war weterans, left his own Virtuti Militari at the Jasna Góra Monastery
Jasna Góra Monastery
The Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland is the most famous shrine to the Virgin Mary in Poland and the country's greatest place of pilgrimage - for many its spiritual capital. The image of Black Madonna of Częstochowa, to which miraculous powers are attributed, is Jasna Góra's most...
. He authored several books, including Dzialania Grupy Operacyjnej "Śląsk" 1-3 września 1939 r. (Activities of the Śląsk Operational Group, September 1–3, 1939).