LANGE Julian Bolesław

1873

1954

Commander of the People’s Guard and titular colonel of the National Defence. Born on 9 January1873 in Chełmno (in Pomerania), to the family of Ignacy - a merchant, and Jadwiga née Skrzynecka. He completed common school, 3 years of gymnasium and 3 years of secondary technical school in his home town, and then obtained the master’s licence of a locksmith. In Berlin, he attended an evening higher school of machinery construction, working at the same time in a factory which manufactured turbines and electrical devices (1890-1900). He did his military service in the navy (1892-1895). In the years 1908-1910, he worked in a steam engine factory in Berlin, managing the mechanical department. From 15 January 1910, he managed the ”H. Cegielski” and ”Thermoelektromotor” factories in Poznań. From 1896, he was a member of the Polish Gymnastic Society “Sokół” (“Falcon”) in Berlin. On 17 October 1918, he was elected chief of the temporary Polish Civil Guard Headquarters as the law enforcement formation of the secret Central Citizens’ Committee. In October 1918, Lange was called to the Military Section of the Citizens’ Committee. In November, after the outbreak of the revolution in Berlin, the Civil Guard was legalised and revealed itself, and on 14 November during the headquarters’ meeting, he was elected as chief. On 27 November 1918, the Civil Guard was renamed as the People’s Guard. On 27 December 1918 and during the following days, the People’s Guard took part in the seizure of some facilities, especially in the suburbs. By day order No. 3 of Central Command of 3 January 1919, the People’s Guard became part of the insurgent army, in addition to military troops and the gendarmerie. From May 1919 Lange worked on the reorganisation of the People’s Guard into the National Defence Army. By decree No. 108 (item 16 of 25 June 1919) of the Commissariat of the Supreme People’s Council, J. Lange was promoted to the rank of colonel. He was also responsible for the organisation of the voluntary troops of the National Defence Army for the needs of the Uprising in Silesia. In the years 1919-1920, he was the head of the Military Department of the Silesia Defence Committee and in summer 1920 - the Chief Commander of the Civil Guard for the Poznań and Pomerania Provinces. He got involved in the plebiscite works in the Upper Silesia region and took part in the 3rd Silesian Uprising (1921). In the years 1921-1930, he managed the ”H. Cegielski” factories, and then was a proxy of the Poznań Electric Railway Authorities. He was still active in the Polish Gymnastic Society “Sokół” and other veteran associations. During World War II, he lived in Puszczykowo. From 1945 onwards, he was involved in the activities of the People’s Party (United People's Party from 1949). He died in Puszczykowo on 9 June 1954 and was buried there. He received the Order of Virtuti Militari (5th class), the Order of Polonia Restituta (3rd class) and the Silesian Insurgent Cross as well as other medals and badges. In 1928, he received the honorary sabre from the society of Poznań. He was married to Teodora née Prałat and had three children: Ludomiła, Aleksandra and Julian Zbigniew.

B. Polak, Lange Julian Bolesław (1873-1954) (in:)Słownik biograficzny powstańców wielkopolskich 1918-1919, ed. A. Czubiński, B. Polak, Poznań 2002, pp. 188-189.

Michał Polak