Zbigniew Stanisław Kiedacz  was born in Drohobycz, Poland,on 11 September 1911, to Nicholas Kiedach and Zofia Strzetelska. In 1919, the family moved to Poznań. In 1928 he graduated from middle school. He was a scout in the 16th Poznań Scouts.

From 16 July 1928 to 21 April 1929, he was a student of the School of Artillery Reserve at Włodzimierz Wołyński. Until 20 September 1929, he was an intern in the 7th Division of the Wielkopolska Horse Artillery in Poznań, as the commander of reconnaissance. From 28 October 1930 to 15 August 1932, he attended the School of Cavalry Cadets in Grudziądz.

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Zbigniew was then named a professional officer in the corps of cavalry and incorporated into the 15th Poznański Ułanów Regiment. In 1938 he was admitted to the Higher School of War in Warsaw. In July 1939 he was assigned to the Newgrad Cavalry Brigade as an information officer. In the September campaign, he fought the entire battle route of the Brigade from the Polish-German border near Działdowe to the Polish-Hungarian border in the vicinity of Skola in the Carpathians.

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After the Soviet invasion of Poland, Zbigniew was taken prisoner on the Polish-Hungarian border by the Russians. He escaped from the POW camp in Szepietyka, and this daring escape saved him from the fate of his colleagues – almost all were the victims of the Katyn massacre. He crossed the Polish-Romanian border and journeyed to the Polish Army in France. In France, he completed a three-month staff course at the Centre d'etat Major in Compiegne, and was promoted to Rotmister on 3 May 1940. After the defeat of France in June 1940, he made his way to Great Britain, where he served as command in the 1st Polish Armoured Division.

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After the outbreak of the German-Soviet war and the conclusion of the Sikorski-Majski agreement in July 1941, to the news of the beginning of the creation by General Władysław Anders of the Polish Armed Forces in the USSR, Zbigniew volunteered to serve alongside the general. From January to April 1942, he was the head of Division I in the Second Command Division of the Polish Army in the USSR.

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He organized and trained a 600-man elite unit – the “S” battalion. Kiedacz commanded both the “S” battalion and then – in the Middle East and in the Italian campaign – the reborn 15th regiment of Poznań’s Ulans in the Polish 2nd Corps.

In the 2nd Corps from 1943 to 1944, Zbigniew was the youngest commander of a regiment. On 1 March 1944, he was appointed Major, commanding the regiment during the Italian campaign, including the Battle of Monte Cassino and Ancona. On 1 August 1944, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

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From September 1943, Zbigniew was married to Anna Romanowska, and had no children.

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He died on 23 October 1944, at Civitella di Romagna, Italy, as a result of a mine explosion, and was buried in the cemetery of Santa Sofia. His body was later transferred to the Polish War Cemetery in Bologna.

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Orders and decorations:

• Cross of the Virtuti Militari

• Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari

• Cross of Valour

• Monte Cassino Cross No. 23596

 

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Source: Institute of National Remembrance Facebook post

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