Witold Dzierzykraj-Morawski
Encyclopedia
Witold Dzierżykraj-Morawski (1895—1944) was a Polish
military commander, diplomat and a Colonel of the Polish Army.
Witold Dzierżykraj-Morawski was born in 1895 in his family's manor in Oporów near Krummensee
, Province of Posen
, German Empire
. At the age of 15 he inherited the manor and the surrounding village. As a German
citizen, after the outbreak of the Great War
he was drafted into the Imperial German army. Promoted to officer's grade, in December 1918 he joined the newly-reborn Polish Army. A field commander during the Greater Poland Uprising, during the Polish-Bolshevik War he became the chief of staff of the Polish 7th Cavalry Brigade.
Between 1923 and 1926 he served as the military attaché
in the Polish embassy in Bucharest
. Upon his return he briefly served as one of the commanding officers of the Prużana-based Polish 17th Uhlans Regiment. In 1928 he resumed his post as a military attaché, this time in Berlin
. He held that post until 1932. Until 1937 he was the commanding officer of the Polish 25th Uhlans Regiment and one of the staff officers of the Lwów-based Army Inspectorate. During the Polish mobilization prior to the outbreak of the Polish Defensive War
he became the chief of staff of the Karpaty Army
. During the campaign he also held the same rank within the Małopolska Army.
Taken prisoner of war by the Germans, he spent the remainder of World War II
in various German POW camps, including Oflag VII-C
in Laufen, Oflag XI-B in Brunswick
, Oflag II-C
in Woldenberg and Oflag II-B in Arnswalde. Transferred to the Oflag II-D
in Gross-Born, he was the highest ranking officer there and the informal commander of all the allied prisoners held there. He also became the lead organizer of an underground organization there, intending to prepare an escape of the prisoners. Handed over to the Gestapo
, he was imprisoned in the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
, where he died.
In 1964 he was posthumously promoted to the rank of generał brygady.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
military commander, diplomat and a Colonel of the Polish Army.
Witold Dzierżykraj-Morawski was born in 1895 in his family's manor in Oporów near Krummensee
Krzemieniewo
Krzemieniewo may refer to the following places in Poland:*Krzemieniewo, Greater Poland Voivodeship *Krzemieniewo, Pomeranian Voivodeship *Krzemieniewo, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship...
, Province of Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
, German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. At the age of 15 he inherited the manor and the surrounding village. As a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
citizen, after the outbreak of the Great War
World 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 was drafted into the Imperial German army. Promoted to officer's grade, in December 1918 he joined the newly-reborn Polish Army. A field commander during the Greater Poland Uprising, during the Polish-Bolshevik War he became the chief of staff of the Polish 7th Cavalry Brigade.
Between 1923 and 1926 he served as the military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in the Polish embassy in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. Upon his return he briefly served as one of the commanding officers of the Prużana-based Polish 17th Uhlans Regiment. In 1928 he resumed his post as a military attaché, this time in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He held that post until 1932. Until 1937 he was the commanding officer of the Polish 25th Uhlans Regiment and one of the staff officers of the Lwów-based Army Inspectorate. During the Polish mobilization prior to the outbreak of the Polish Defensive War
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
he became the chief of staff of the Karpaty Army
Karpaty Army
Karpaty Army , formed on 11 July 1939 under Major General Kazimierz Fabrycy, was created after Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and created a puppet state of Slovakia.-Tasks:...
. During the campaign he also held the same rank within the Małopolska Army.
Taken prisoner of war by the Germans, he spent the remainder of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in various German POW camps, including Oflag VII-C
Oflag VII-C
Oflag VII-C was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp for officers located in Laufen Castle in south-eastern Bavaria from 1940 to 1942. Most of the prisoners were British officers captured during the Battle of France in 1940. To relieve overcrowding, some of the officers were transferred to...
in Laufen, Oflag XI-B in Brunswick
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
, Oflag II-C
Oflag II-C
Oflag II-C Woldenburg was a German World War II prisoner-of-war camp located about from the town of Woldenberg, Brandenburg...
in Woldenberg and Oflag II-B in Arnswalde. Transferred to the Oflag II-D
Oflag II-D
Oflag II-D was a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp located at Gross Born, Pomerania...
in Gross-Born, he was the highest ranking officer there and the informal commander of all the allied prisoners held there. He also became the lead organizer of an underground organization there, intending to prepare an escape of the prisoners. Handed over to the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, he was imprisoned in the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
Mauthausen Concentration Camp grew to become a large group of Nazi concentration camps that was built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly east of the city of Linz.Initially a single camp at Mauthausen, it expanded over time and by the summer of 1940, the...
, where he died.
In 1964 he was posthumously promoted to the rank of generał brygady.