- Józef Zając
:"This is an article about the 20th century general. For a 19th century one, see
Józef Zajączek ."Infobox Military Person
name=Józef Zając
rank=generał dywizji
born=birth date|1891|3|14
placeofbirth=Rzeszów ,Austria-Hungary
died=death date and age|1963|12|12|1891|3|14
placeofdeath=Ottawa ,Canada
allegiance=Poland
serviceyears=from 1912
commands=
battles=Polish-Bolshevik War ,Second World War (Polish Defensive War)
awards=Józef Ludwik Zając (pron. Za-YANTz) (1891-1963) was a Polish general and pilot.
Born on 14 March 1891 in
Rzeszów , Józef Zając studied at theJagiellonian University inKraków , graduating with aPhD inphilosophy in 1915. He joined the Polish pro-independence organization of that time; in 1912 he joinedZwiązek Strzelecki where he took the course to gain the qualifications of amilitary officer .In 1914 he joined the
Polish Legions in First World War ; he commanded the 3rd, 6th, 5th and again 3rdregiment s ("pułk"s). In 1918 he joined theBlue Army of generalJózef Haller ; until mid-1920 he spent most of his time inFrance (among other things, he attended theÉcole Supérieure de Guerre ). He took part in the last phase of thePolish-Soviet War : on 17 August 1920 he became the chief of staff of anOperational Group 'Wisła' of the Polish 5th Army, later, Operational Group 'North' of the 2nd Army, and finally, of the 3rd Army.In the
interwar period he continued his military career. In 1922 he became the chief of staff of the First Department of General Staff; in 1924 he was promoted tobrigade general ; in 1925 he became the First Deputy of the Chief of General Staff; in 1926 he became the commander of thePolish 26th Infantry Division . In 1936 he became the commander of theKraków Military District and Inspector of thePolish Air Force . In 1937 he began aircraft pilot training and became the Commander of Air Defence. In 1939 he was the Deputy Chairman of the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association.In February 1939 he succeeded General
Ludomił Rayski as the Commander ofPolish Air Force . Józef Zając was a strong supporter of theair superiority doctrine which emphasized strong fighter forces at the expense of a bomber force; however he had little time to implement his plans. After the German and Soviet conquest of Poland, he escaped to France, where he again became the commander of the recreated Polish Air Force as well as resuming his duties in thePolish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP).After the
fall of France he evacuated toGreat Britain . In September 1940 he became the deputy commander of Polish I Corps. Next year he became the commander of the Polish Air Force in theMiddle East ern theatre and was promoted todivision general . AfterAnders Army passed to Western command, he became the deputy commander of the Polish Army in the Middle Eastern theatre until March 1943. Later, until 1946 he was the Inspector of Training of thePolish Armed Forces in the West .After the end of the
Second World War , he elected not to return tocommunist Poland. He settled inEdinburgh , where he received another PhD in philosophy and worked in academia. During his life, he published several works - academic works in the areas of psychology and military science as well as his own memoirs from the war.He received the Silver Cross of the
Virtuti Militari (the most prestigious Polish military medal), as well as thePolonia Restituta ,Cross of Independence ,Krzyż Walecznych ,Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami and several foreign medals (the EnglishOrder of the Bath , FrenchLégion d'honneur , GermanIron Cross , Austro-HungarianSignum Laudis andCentral Lithuania Krzyż Zasługi Wojsk Litwy Środkowej ). Zając died inOttawa on 12 December 1963. His name was taken by the21 Brygada Strzelców Podhalańskich (21 Brigade of Podhale Riflemen).References
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External links
* [http://www.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~bolas/main/dowodcy/dowodcy.htm Short bio]
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