GRUDZIELSKI Kazimierz

1856

1921

Commander of the Northern Front, Infantry Inspector and divisional general. Born on 9 May 1856 in Turwia (Kościan poviat), to the family of Wojciech - an estate administrator, and Alfonsyna née Morin. After graduating from St. Mary Magdalene Gymnasium in Poznań, he entered the military school in Potsdam. From 31 March 1878 he served professionally in the German army, i.e. in? the 6th Rifle Battalion in Oleśnica, 46th Infantry Regiment in Poznań, 163rd Infantry Regiment and 84th Infantry Regiment respectively. In 1880 he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, in 1889 - lieutenant, in 1894 - captain, in 1906 - major, and in 1912 - lieutenant colonel. From the year 1910 he was the head of the Regional Military Draft Office in Montgoie (Monschau) on the Belgian border. After the outbreak of the war in 1914, he received the order to mobilise the border guard and man the Belgian border. On 2 September 1917 he retired and settled first in Sołeczyn and then in Opieszyn near Września. On 12 November 1918, the District People’s Council designated him the Polish delegate-inspector at the poviat office in Września. This position was held by him until the outbreak of the uprising. From 24 November, he was the Commander of the People’s Guard for the Września district. On 28 December he made himself available to the Commissariat of the Supreme People’s Council. Central Command in Poznań appointed him the commander of the north-eastern section of the front (1 January 1919). He proceeded with the execution of the issued orders on 2 January. After the establishment of military districts on 7 January, he took command of the 2nd District which covered the poviats of Września, Środa, Witkowo and Gniezno, with the headquarters in Gniezno. After the insurgents' defeat in Szubin (8 January) he considered it necessary to regain the lost positions immediately and take control of the largest area possible. He contacted Central Command which organised a dispositional group as an emergency. The operational plan developed by him, his staff and the Central Command was a success and the insurgents liberated the south-western region of Greater Poland. As the front commander he defended the liberated area effectively during the German offensive attempts at the end of January and the beginning of February 1919. He organised the 2nd Greater Poland Rifle Division and took command of it on 12 March of the same year. By decree No. 6, of the Commissariat of the Supreme People’s Council, item 1 dated 11 March 1919, he was appointed colonel and based on decree No. 7 from the same day - second lieutenant general (presently the equivalent of brigadier general). On 25 June, through a day order of Central Command (No. 172) Gen. J. Dowbor-Muśnicki appointed him the Infantry Inspector to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in the former Prussian partition. Undoubtedly Grudzielski contributed to the formation of three infantry divisions and the staff for the Pomeranian Division. By order of the Commander-in-Chief, on 8 November, he was appointed the commander of the Toruń fortress, with the simultaneous function of deputy commander of Central Command in Poznań. On 3 January 1921, he received promotion to the rank of divisional general. He died on 31 March 1921 in Poznań and was buried in the family tomb in Gozdowo (Września poviat). He received the Order of Virtuti Militari, the Cross of Independence with Swords and the Greater Poland Insurgent Cross. He was married to Wanda Dobrogoyska and had no children.

B. Polak, Grudzielski Kazimierz (1856-1921) (in:) Słownik biograficzny powstańców wielkopolskich 1918-1919, ed. A. Czubiński, B. Polak, Poznań 2002, p. 117.

Bogusław Polak