Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski

Bolesław Ignacy Florian Wieniawa-Długoszowski (1881 - 1942) was a President of Poland, Polish general, politician and diplomat.

Before World War I

Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski was born on 22 July] 1881 in his family's estates in Maksymówka (near Stanisławów - nowadays Ivano-Frankivsk). He was a son of a Polish Nobleman Bolesław Długoszowski and Josephine Struszkiewicz.

In 1877 his family had moved to palace in another family's estates in Bobowa. There Bolesław had spent his early life. He was learning in gymnasium in Lwów, where he was one of the best students. Aafter several years he moved to School in Nowy Sącz In 1900 he passed there his graduation exams. After school he studied in Jan Kazimierz University in Lwów. He gained there special diploma with high distinction.

After studies he moved to Berlin where he had spended year studying in very prestigious Berlin Academy of Arts. After school he moved to Paris, where he worked as a private doctor (one of the best in the city). In 1911 he was one of the founders of The Union of Polish Artists (Towarzystwo Artystów Polskich). He also joined Riflemen's Association (Związek Strzelecki "Strzelec"). There he met Józef Piłsudski.

1914-1942

In 1914 he moved to Kraków and joined the First Cadre Company which fought on the Austro-Hungarian side against Russia. In October 1914 he became a commander of 1 platoon of 1 squadron in 1 Pułk Ułanów Legionów Polskich. During the fighting in 1914-1915 he was promoted to lieutenant, and after the war he was awarded for this by The V-Class Virtuti Militari. In August 1915 he was moved to the special group in Warsaw. Soon he became an aide-de-camp of Józef Piłsudski. In 1918, while on a mission to Russia, he was arrested by the Soviet Cheka as a member of the Polish Military Organisation. He was freed after several months.

As aide-de-camp of Józef Piłsudski during the Polish-Soviet War he helped Marshall with organising the Vilna Operation and Battle of Warsaw. He was also a commander of 1st Cavalry Division. After the war Wieniawa was awarded by many medals (like Légion d'honneur, Cross of Valor and Cross of Independence).

In November 1921 he became Polish Military attaché in Bucharest, Romania. He was associated with making the Polish-Romanian convention which was signed in 1922.

In 1926 he passed his exams in High War School, and soon he became a commander of 1 Pułk Szwoleżerów Józefa Piłsudskiego - the most prestigious and representative Polish cavalry division. He commanded it until 1930.

During the May Coup he was one of Piłsudski's officers. He gave him much help with organising the Coup.

From 1930-1932 he was commander of I Cavalry division and for some time II Cavalry Division. In 1931 he was promoted by the President Ignacy Mościcki to the rank of Brigadier General. In 1932 he became a commander of II Cavalry Division and performed his duties until 14 May 1938. In 1938 he was promoted to the General-major. From 1938 to 13 June 1940 he was Polish Ambassador in Rome.

On 17 September 1939 he was nominated president of Poland by retiring President Ignacy Mościcki. Shortly after being nominated, Poland was invaded and he went to Paris to perform his new role but was blackballed by Władysław Sikorski, the French Third Republic and the United Kingdom. After the capitulation of France he emigrated to Lisbon but soon he moved to New York.

In 1942 he became Polish Ambassador in Havana, but soon he died by his own hand. The exact details of his death - including whether it really was a suicide - are subject to debate among historians.

References

*"Szuflada Generała Wieniawa", edited by Elżbieta Grabska and Marek Pitasz, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warsaw 1998
*"Ulubieniec Cezara" - Wydawnictwo MSW, Warszawa 1990