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{{short description|Polish general (1884–1971)}}
⚫ '''Antoni Szylling''' (1884-1971) was a Polish general, considered along Generals ] and ] to be one of the most succesfull ] commanders during the ] of 1939.
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|name=Antoni Szylling
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|image=File:Antoni Szylling 1.jpg
|rank=Generał dywizji
|death_date={{Death date and age|1971|6|17|1884|8|31|df=y}}
|death_place=], Canada
|birth_date={{Birth date|1884|8|31|df=y}}
|birth_place=], ], ]
|serviceyears=1914–1939
|unit=], ], ], and ]
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* ]
* ]
* ]
** ]
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|awards=] ] ] ] ] ]
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⚫ '''Antoni Szylling''' (31 August 1884 – 17 June 1971) was a Polish general, considered, along with Generals ] and ], to have been one of the most successful ] commanders during the ] of 1939.


==Biography== ==Biography==
Antoni Szyling was born on 31 August 1884 in ] near ]. He finished a 7-year trade school in 1904 and from an early age was an active member of Polish patriotic and revolutionary organiations, such as ]. He had several ]s, in which he stored ] and arms, as well as hid wanted PPS members and other organizations. Arrested by the ] regime, he spent several one and a half months sentences in ] and Daniłłiczowski Prison. He was also denied the right to study at a university and was was forcibly enlisted in the ] for two years. In the years 1909-1912 he was able to finish 'industrial-agricultral courses' in Higher Agricutural School in Warsaw and from 1912 to 1913 he worked on an experimental ] in ]. In 1914 he was mobilized to Russian Army again and fought in the ]. Antoni Szyling was born in ]. He finished a 7-year trade school in 1904 and from an early age was an active member of the Polish pro-independence nationalist paramilitary organization the ]. He had several ]s, in which he stored ] and arms, as well as hiding wanted PPS members and members of other organizations. Arrested by the authorities of the ], he served several one-and-a-half-month sentences in the ] and Daniłłiczowski Prison. He was also denied the right to study at a university and was conscripted into the ] for two years (1905–1907). In 1910, he married Zofia Bajkowski (1887–1944). In the years 1909–1912 he was able to finish 'industrial-agricultural courses' at the Higher Agricultural School in Warsaw, and from 1912 to 1913 he worked on an experimental ] in ]. In 1914 he was mobilized into the Russian Army again and fought in the ].


In 1917 in rank of ] he joined the the ]. In 1918 he was promoted to ], and soon afterwards taken prisoner by the Germans. In January 1919 he joined the ]. During the ] he commanded the 44 Infantry Regiment. In 1922 he was promoted to ] and retired on his own request. In 1925 he was enlisted again and became the commander of ] in Warsaw. Later he commanded the ] in ] and ] in ]. In 1929 he was promoted to the rank of ]. In May 1937 he took the worked at General Inspectorate of Armed Forces in ]. In 1917, with the rank of ], he joined the ]. In 1918 he was promoted to ], and soon afterwards taken prisoner by the Germans. In January 1919 he joined the ]. During the ] he commanded the 44th Infantry Regiment. In 1922 he was promoted to ] and later retired at his own request. In 1925 he was commissioned again and became the commander of the ] in Warsaw. Later he commanded the ] in ] and the ] in ]. In 1929 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general (]). In May 1937 he worked at the General Inspectorate of the Armed Forces in ].


During the ] in 1939 he commanded ]. This army was the main ] of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the ] and defend the ] ] region. It consisted of five infantry divisions, one mountain brigade, one motorized cavalry brigade, one mountain brigade and one cavalry brigade. It was the most south-western of Polish Armies; on the north it was touching ], on the south-east, ]. During the ] (1939) that started ] he commanded ]. This army was the main pivot of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the ] and defend the ] ] region. It consisted of four infantry divisions (], ], ] and ]), two mountain infantry divisions (] and ]), one mountain brigade and two cavalry brigades: one motorized (]) and one standard (]). It was the most southwestern of the Polish Armies, with ] to its north and ] to its southeast.


During the early stages of the ] the northern ] was partially surrounded by ] German forces. Army Kraków attacked by ] was forced to retreat to protect its flanks from 2 September onwards. A careful tactician, General Szylling followed the strategy 'retreat to fight another day' instead of engaging superior enemy. General Szylling despite increasingly difficult situation for the Polish forces was able to retreat succesfully towards the city of ], following his orders and avoiding several German attempts to surround him.ref name="Wiecz">{{pl icon}} Paweł Wieczorkiewicz, ''Wrzesień 1939'', Mówią Wieki , t. 9 (2002) , s. 24-30 . 471 </ref> On 19 September Szyling's forces joined ] of General ] in the ], the second largest battle<ref name="second_largest">. Private Land Army Research Institute. Last accessed on 11 March 2007</ref> of the campaign. Polish forces followed the plan of General Piskor; the German defences proved to strong and majority of Polish forces including headquaters of both generals were encircled and surrendered on 20 September. During the early stages of the ] the northern ] was partially surrounded by ] German forces. Army Kraków, attacked by the ] under the command of General ], was forced to retreat to protect its flanks from 2 September onwards. A careful tactician, General Szylling followed the strategy of 'retreat to fight another day' instead of engaging the superior enemy. General Szylling, despite the increasingly difficult situation for the Polish forces, was able to retreat successfully towards the city of ], following his orders and avoiding several German attempts to surround him.<ref name="Wiecz">{{in lang|pl}} Paweł Wieczorkiewicz, ''Wrzesień 1939'', Mówią Wieki, t. 9 (2002), s. 24-30 . 471 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426002806/http://www.niniwa2.cba.pl/wrzesien_1939.htm |date=April 26, 2007 }}</ref> On 19 September Szyling's forces joined with ] of General ] in the ], the second largest tank battle<ref name="second_largest">. Last accessed on 11 March 2007</ref> of the campaign. Polish forces followed the plan of General Piskor, but the German defences proved too strong and the majority of Polish forces, including the headquarters of both generals, were encircled and surrendered on 20 September.


Hence General Szylling became a German prisoner for the second time. He spend most of the war in the ]. On 30 April 1945 he was freed by advancing American forces; he decided not to return to ]s controlled Poland, but emigratee to ], later to ] and ]. He lived in ], where he died on 17 June 1971. He is buried on ] cemetery. Hence General Szylling became a German prisoner for the second time. He spent most of the war in the ] ] camp. On 30 April 1945 he was freed by advancing American forces; he decided not to return to ]-controlled Poland, but emigrated to ] and later to the ] and, finally, to ] (in 1947). In 1949 he married Maria Róża Dobrowolska (1896–1986). He lived on a farm at ], near ], where he died on 17 June 1971. He is buried in ]. He actually died at the Maria (Curie) Sklodowski Polish Home for the Aged on Belanger Street in Montreal.


After emigrating he wrote a ], ''Moje dowodzenie we wrześniu 1939'' ("My command in September 1939"). The original was given to Antoni Borejsza-Wysocki (1918–2000) to be published at a later date. It was published in Kraków in 2007 - with some minor changes and additions unbeknownst to the author.
In 1946 Poish government promoted him to ] in recognition of his valor. He is also the recipent of ], ], ] and ].

In 1946 the Polish government promoted him to ] in recognition of his valor.

==Honours and awards==
* Gold Cross of the ], previously awarded the Silver Cross
* Commander's Cross of the ], previously awarded the Officer's Cross
* ] - three times
* ]


==References== ==References==
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*{{Polish|Antoni Szylling|5 April 2007}}


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Latest revision as of 10:01, 4 September 2024

Polish general (1884–1971)
Antoni Szylling
Born(1884-08-31)31 August 1884
Płoniawy-Bramura, Łomża Governorate, Russian Empire
Died17 June 1971(1971-06-17) (aged 86)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Years of service1914–1939
RankGenerał dywizji
Unit28th Infantry Division, 23rd Infantry Division, 8th Infantry Division, and Army Kraków
Battles / wars
AwardsVirtuti Militari (IV Class) Virtuti Militari (V Class) Polonia Restituta (III Class) Polonia Restituta (IV Class) Cross of the Valorous (three times) Golden Cross of Merit

Antoni Szylling (31 August 1884 – 17 June 1971) was a Polish general, considered, along with Generals Wiktor Thommée and Stanisław Maczek, to have been one of the most successful Polish Armed Forces commanders during the Invasion of Poland of 1939.

Biography

Antoni Szyling was born in Płoniawy-Bramura. He finished a 7-year trade school in 1904 and from an early age was an active member of the Polish pro-independence nationalist paramilitary organization the Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party. He had several safehouses, in which he stored bibuła and arms, as well as hiding wanted PPS members and members of other organizations. Arrested by the authorities of the Russian Empire, he served several one-and-a-half-month sentences in the Warsaw Citadel and Daniłłiczowski Prison. He was also denied the right to study at a university and was conscripted into the Russian Army for two years (1905–1907). In 1910, he married Zofia Bajkowski (1887–1944). In the years 1909–1912 he was able to finish 'industrial-agricultural courses' at the Higher Agricultural School in Warsaw, and from 1912 to 1913 he worked on an experimental folwark in Szamocin. In 1914 he was mobilized into the Russian Army again and fought in the First World War.

In 1917, with the rank of captain, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps in the East. In 1918 he was promoted to major, and soon afterwards taken prisoner by the Germans. In January 1919 he joined the Polish Army. During the Polish-Soviet War he commanded the 44th Infantry Regiment. In 1922 he was promoted to colonel and later retired at his own request. In 1925 he was commissioned again and became the commander of the 28th Infantry Division in Warsaw. Later he commanded the 23rd Infantry Division in Katowice and the 8th Infantry Division in Modlin. In 1929 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general (generał brygady). In May 1937 he worked at the General Inspectorate of the Armed Forces in Silesia.

During the German attack on Poland (1939) that started World War II he commanded Army Kraków. This army was the main pivot of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the Carpathians and defend the heavily industrialized Upper Silesia region. It consisted of four infantry divisions (6th, 7th, 23rd and 55th), two mountain infantry divisions (21st and 22nd), one mountain brigade and two cavalry brigades: one motorized (10th) and one standard (Kraków). It was the most southwestern of the Polish Armies, with Army Łódź to its north and Army Karpaty to its southeast.

During the early stages of the Battle of the Border the northern Army Łódź was partially surrounded by quickly advancing German forces. Army Kraków, attacked by the German 14th Army under the command of General Wilhelm List, was forced to retreat to protect its flanks from 2 September onwards. A careful tactician, General Szylling followed the strategy of 'retreat to fight another day' instead of engaging the superior enemy. General Szylling, despite the increasingly difficult situation for the Polish forces, was able to retreat successfully towards the city of Lublin, following his orders and avoiding several German attempts to surround him. On 19 September Szyling's forces joined with Army Lublin of General Tadeusz Piskor in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski, the second largest tank battle of the campaign. Polish forces followed the plan of General Piskor, but the German defences proved too strong and the majority of Polish forces, including the headquarters of both generals, were encircled and surrendered on 20 September.

Hence General Szylling became a German prisoner for the second time. He spent most of the war in the Oflag VII-A Murnau POW camp. On 30 April 1945 he was freed by advancing American forces; he decided not to return to Polish Communist-controlled Poland, but emigrated to France and later to the United Kingdom and, finally, to Canada (in 1947). In 1949 he married Maria Róża Dobrowolska (1896–1986). He lived on a farm at Abercorn, near Montreal, where he died on 17 June 1971. He is buried in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec. He actually died at the Maria (Curie) Sklodowski Polish Home for the Aged on Belanger Street in Montreal.

After emigrating he wrote a monograph, Moje dowodzenie we wrześniu 1939 ("My command in September 1939"). The original was given to Antoni Borejsza-Wysocki (1918–2000) to be published at a later date. It was published in Kraków in 2007 - with some minor changes and additions unbeknownst to the author.

In 1946 the Polish government promoted him to generał dywizji in recognition of his valor.

Honours and awards

References

  1. (in Polish) Paweł Wieczorkiewicz, Wrzesień 1939, Mówią Wieki, t. 9 (2002), s. 24-30 . 471 online Archived April 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Michal Derela: The Vickers Mk. E light tank in the Polish service. Last accessed on 11 March 2007

External links

Categories: