Franciszek Kamiński
Franciszek Kamiński | |
---|---|
Birth name | Franciszek Wawrzyniec Kamiński |
Nickname(s) | Olsza, Kowal, Zenon Trawiński |
Born | 20 September 1902 Mikułowice, Opatów County, Congress Poland, Russian Empire |
Died | 24 February 2000 (aged 97) Warsaw, Poland |
Rank | Major general |
Battles/wars | Polish–Soviet War, World War II |
Alma mater | University of Warsaw |
Franciszek Wawrzyniec Kamiński,
Biography
He came from a peasant family. He was active in scouting. In 1920, during the Polish-Soviet War, he volunteered for the Polish Army.[2]
From 1926 to 1929, he studied at the Faculty of Mathematics and Philosophy of the University of Warsaw. He received military training, after which he was appointed a reserve officer. He was a activist of the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie" and People's Party. He participated in the organization of 1937 peasant strike in Poland.[3] Maciej Rataj, fearing the delegation of the party by the Sanation authorities, entrusted him with securing the property of the People's Party.
After the German invasion of Poland, he started to create underground structures of the peasant movement. Initially, he was in favor of including peasants in the Union of Armed Struggle. However, the reluctant attitude of the leadership of this formation to the People's Party led to the decision to create a separate organization. Already at the beginning of 1940 he made such a proposal to the Central Leadership of the People's Movement.
In August 1940, the Peasant Guard was created (in the spring of 1941 it changed its name to
In 1942, during the
In August 1945, he revealed himself to the
In May 1949, he was expelled from the Polish People's Party because he did not want to make a self-criticism. On 21 July 1950, he was arrested by the Stalinist authorities. In December 1951, by a verdict of the Military Court, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and forfeiture of all property. He was in prison in Warsaw.
He was released as a result of an amnesty in April 1956.[4] In October the same year, the College of Judges of the Supreme Military Court in Warsaw overruled his judgment and discontinued the proceedings. After being released, he started working as an official. He retired in 1973. He no longer undertook active political activities.
From 1957 to 1959 he presided and managed the work of the Historical Commission of Peasant Battalions established at the United People's Party.[4] In 1970 he initiated the independent celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw.
In October 1980, the
On 5 May 1990, he was elected the honorary president of the reactivated Polish People's Party. In 1992 he became the president of the National Association of Peasant Battalion Soldiers. In 1993 President of Poland Lech Wałęsa promoted him to the rank of major general. In 1996 he received the Order of the White Eagle, the highest Polish award.[6] He was buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery.[7]
Awards
- Order of the White Eagle
- Order of Polonia Restituta
- Order of the Cross of Grunwald
- Virtuti Militari
- Cross of Merit with Swords
- Cross of Valour
- Partisan Cross
- Warsaw Uprising Cross
- Cross of Peasant Battalions
- Honorary citizenship of Warsaw
- Honorary citizenship of Zamość
Legacy
- In August 2003, a monument to general Franciszek Kamiński was unveiled in Lublin.[8]
- In October 2007 the museum and hall of memory dedicated to him were opened.[9]
References
- ^ "Powstańcze Biogramy - Franciszek Kamiński". www.1944.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ a b "Franciszek Kamiński - komendant Batalionów Chłopskich". PolskieRadio.pl. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ "Inicjator i organizator". www.24ikp.pl. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
- ^ a b c "KAMIŃSKI Franciszek". www.dws-xip.pl. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ J. Sałkowski, T. Iwanowska: Na odsłonięcie pomnika Wincentego Witosa – a Polska winna trwać wiecznie, Warszawa 1985
- ^ "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 3 maja 1996 r. o nadaniu orderu". prawo.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ "Wyszukiwarka cmentarna --- Warszawskie cmentarze". www.cmentarzekomunalne.com.pl. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ S.A, Wirtualna Polska Media (2003-08-17). "Pomnik Franciszka Kamińskiego odsłonięto w Lublinie". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-01-22.
- ^ "Izba Pamięci Gen. Franciszka Kamińskiego". www.wojciechowice.com.pl. Retrieved 2020-01-22.