Szablą, piórem i... stetoskopem! Gen. Stefan Hubicki w walce o granice Odrodzonej Rzeczypospolitej w latach 1918–1920

Abstract

The results of historical research sometimes need updating – especially if some valuable new historical resources turn up. This is often the case of 20th century history, where iconographic materials are important, which are being gradually submitted for publication by families. This way valuable information can be revealed about, for example, the hero of this article. Stefan Hubicki is an extremely interesting person – a soldier by choice, a publicist by temper, a doctor by profession. He was a versatilely gifted, openminded man, descended from a family of strong independence traditions. It was at the beginning of 20th century when he was imprisoned by tsarism for subversive activity. During the Great War in the Russian army and later in Polish military formations, he employed all his talents to the effort of rebuilding the independent Polish Republic. He was fighting as a soldier, then as a French intelligence agent in Bolshevik Russia, then working as a publicist and politician in Polish National Committee in Paris. Since spring 1919, back in Poland, in frontlines of border wars he helped soldiers as the chief of sanitary service. For his service he received the highest military medal of honour Virtuti Militari. In meantime his personal life rolled on in the background – highly complicated, because he was in danger of being convicted for bigamy. He was a colourful person, rising above the limitations of his era. Despite of his inconspicuous looks and average height he possessed a leadership charisma.