Bolesław Bronisław Duch
General
Bolesław Bronisław Duch |
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Born | Borszczow, Austrian Galicia |
November 15, 1885
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. London, England |
Allegiance | Poland |
Years of service | from 1914 |
Rank | Generał dywizji |
Battles/wars | Monte Cassino |
Awards | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bolesław Bronisław Duch (1885–1980) was a Polish Major General and General Inspector of the Armed Forces in 1980.
Biography
Duch served during World War I, 1914–18, in the Polish Legions. After Poland regained independence, he served in the Polish Army. In 1935-1938 he commanded the 73rd Infantry Regiment. At the outbreak of World War II, the commander of the 39th Reserve Infantry Division General Bruno Olbrycht was ill and the division was de facto commanded by Duch.
After Poland was overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939, Duch managed to evade capture and served in western Europe, becoming commander successively of the Polish 1st Grenadier Division in France (1940), 1st Rifle Brigade of the 1st Polish Corps in Scotland (1942–43), and of the 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division of the 2nd Polish Corps (1943–46).
In 1947, Duch settled in London and became chairman of the Council of the World Polish Veterans' Association. He was the last General Inspector of the Armed Forces (from February 1980 until his death in October that year).
Promotions
- 1914: Lieutenant
- 1919: First Lieutenant
- 1919: Captain
- 1924: Major
- 1929: Lieutenant Colonel
- 1938: Colonel
- 1940: Brigadier
- 1945: Major General
Decorations
- Knight's Cross of the Virtuti Militari (1 June 1945), Gold Cross (1940) and Silver Cross
- Commander's Cross with Star of the Polonia Restituta
- Cross of Merit (Poland), with Swords
- Cross of Valour (Poland), 8 times
- Cross of Independence
- Gold Cross of Merit with Swords
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Croix de Guerre
- Military Cross
- Medal Międzysojuszniczy "Medaille Interalliée"
See also
References
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- Pages with broken file links
- 1885 births
- 1980 deaths
- People from Borshchiv
- Polish generals
- Knights of the Virtuti Militari
- Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Recipients of the Cross of Independence
- Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland)
- Recipients of the Cross of Merit with Swords (Poland)
- Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland) over 5 times
- Recipients of the Military Cross