Abstract

The article introduces Lieutenant Colonel Józef Olszyna-Wilczyński in the Polish and Latvian campaign conducted in winter 1920. Then, this officer commanded 3 Infantry Brigade Legions and at the same time as was Acting Commander of 1 Infantry Brigade Legions and Infantry Division, which belonged to Edward Rydz-Śmigły.During this campaign Lt. Col. Olszyna-Wilczyński commanded Grupa Przełomowa (the Breakthrough Group), which mainly carried out attacks. On 3 January he conquered Daugavpils. In the first ten days of January Gen. Rydz-Śmigły gave J. Puriņša`s Latvian Group under Lt. Col. Olszyna-Wilczyński’s command.For the Polish and Latvian campaign, conducted under very harsh conditions, he was held in high regard by the division commander Gen. Rydz-Smigly and the commander of the Lithuanian and Belarusian Front Gen. Stanislaw Sheptytsky. For conquering Daugavpils, at Stefan Dąb-Biernacki’s request, he was decorated second time with the Cross of Valour. At the beginning of February 1926, the President of the Republic of Poland permitted him to accept and wear the Latvian Cross Lacplesis (Bear Slayer) Class III.

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