Jan Kruszewski was born to Kazimierz and Wiktoria (nee Kołakowski) on 18 June 1888 in the village of Aleksandrowo, pow. Ciechanów, Warsaw Voivodeship, Poland.

 

He attended the high school in Płock, from which he was expelled for participating in a strike. He continued his studies at the Matrix high school, graduating in 1907. He then moved to Switzerland, where he studied at the University of Geneva. In 1908 he moved to the University of Krakow. In 1913, he again went to the University of Geneva. In 1914, he completed a course of non-commissioned officers.

 

From August 1914 to July 1917, he served in the Polish Legion, commanding 4 platoons. During World War I he took part in many battles, was seriously injured, and later returned to the 1st Regiment.

 

In June 1917 he married Irena Leszczyńska; they had one daughter, Maria.. On 29 July 1917, for his refusal to take his oath of allegiance to Emperor Wilhelm I, he was interned in the Benjaminów camp, from which he was released in April 1918. After his release, he joined the Polish Army, in which he held many different positions.

 

From 14 October 1930 to August 1939, he was the commander of the Border Protection Corps. During the September Campaign of 1939, he commanded the Operational Group of his own name, which was part of the regional army “Pruss”. On 27 September 1939, he was captured by the German and sent to Oflag Murnau VIIA, where he stayed until his release by the American army in April 1945. He then settled in France.

 

He died on 28 March 1977 in Lailly-en-Val, France, and was buried in the local cemetery. On 12 September 2024 his remains were re-buried in the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw.

 

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Orders and decorations:

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• Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari Military

• Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta

• Independence Cross

• Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta

• Cross of Valour (four times)

• Golden Cross of Merit (twice)

• Commemorative Medal for War 1918–1921

• Medal of the Decade of Regretless Independence

• Badge for Wounds and Injuries

• Memorial Badge "First Cadre"

• The badge "For faithful service"

• Officer of the Legion of Honour (France)

• Order of the Bear Slayer III class (Latvia)

• Medal of the 10th Anniversary of the Independence War (Latvia)

 

Source: Mława city Facebook post

 

 

 

Copyright: Kruszewski family