Tadeusz Ludwik Piskor

Polish Legions & Polish Army

On 1 February 1889 in Bór Kunowski. In 1907, he graduated from the Gen. Paweł Chrzanowski junior high school in Warsaw, and then in 1908 he began studies at the Faculty of Exact Sciences of the University of Liege in Belgium. At the university, he was one of the founders of the Association of Active Struggle (ZWC).

In 1910, he moved to Lwow, where he continued his education at the Faculty of Machine Construction of the Lwow University of Technology (1910-1914). He was actively involved in the ZWC and the Riflemen's Association. In 1912 he completed the officers' course. After

the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. Piskor began serving in the Polish Legions. Initially, he worked on the staff of the 1st Brigade, then commanded battalions in the 1st and 5th Infantry Regiments. He also served as the temporary chief of staff of the 1st Brigade.

In March 1917, he completed the General Staff course conducted by the Polnische Wehrmacht in Warsaw. After the course, he took command of the 1st Legions Infantry Regiment. He was then interned by the Germans in the camp in Beniaminów. Released at the end of September 1918, he joined the Polish Military.

He began his service in the Polish Army at the beginning of November 1918. At the turn of 1918 and 1919, he served as chief of staff of the General District Command. In January 1919, he became chief of staff of the „Bug Operations Group". During the fighting with the Ukrainians near Bełz, he was wounded.

After returning to service, he took up the position of chief of staff of the 2nd Legions Infantry Division. During the Wilno expedition in April 1919, he headed the staff of the cavalry group of Col. Władysław Belina-Prażmowski, then returned to the division staff. In September of that year, he became the chief of staff of the Lithuanian Group gen. Edward Rydz-Śmigły.

From November 1919 to July 1920, he served as adjutant general of Commander-in-Chief Józef Piłsudski. From April to July 1920, he also headed the headquarters of the cavalry division of Gen. Jan Romer.

In mid-July 1920, at a particularly difficult time Polish-Bolshevik war, Piskor was appointed head of the Third (operational Department of the Supreme Command. During this period, he was one of Marshal Piłsudski's closest collaborators. In September 1920, during Battle of Niemen he was the Chief of Field Staff of the Commander-in-Chief.

After the end of hostilities, he headed Department III of the Office of the Strict War Council (April-December 1921), and then he was head of this Office and 2nd deputy chief of the General Staff (December 1921 - October 1925). In 1923, he completed an information course for senior commanders at the War College in Warsaw, and in 1924, a course at the Center for Higher Military Studies.

In March 1924, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general. From October 1925 to June 1926. Piskor commanded the 28th Infantry Division in Warsaw. On June 28, 1926, he was appointed Chief of the General Staff (from 1928, Main Staff), obtaining the rank of major general in 1928. In December 1931, he took up the position of Army Inspector, which he held until the beginning of September 1939.

After the German aggression on Poland, Gen. Piskor was ordered to organize the „Lublin” Army on 4 September 1939. It was joined by the Warsaw Armoured and Motor Brigade commanded by Col. Rowecki. On 14 September the „Kraków” Army was also subordinated to Piskor. During the September Campaign, his task was initially to defend the central Vistula and then reach the Romanian bridge. After the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski - one of the last large battles of the September campaign. On September 20, 1939, he issued an order to capitulate, and he became a prisoner of war at Fort Srebrna Góra from 1939.

Until the end of the war, he was in German captivity, in the following camps: VIIA Murnau, VIIB Silberberg, IVC Colditz, XC Lübeck, VIB Doessel. In the camps, he directed underground activities. He protested attempts to separate Polish Army officers of Jewish origin.

In April 1945, after liberation, he went to Great Britain and settled in London. He was a member of the Historical Commission of the Main Staff and Chairman of the Commission for Soldiers' Affairs of 1939.

Piskor died on 22 March 1951 in London. He was buried at the St. Cemetery. Mary's at Kensel Green. In 1990, an urn with his ashes was buried at the war cemetery in Tomaszów Lubelski.

He was awarded:

Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari
Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
Officer's Cross of Independence
Cross of Valour - four times
Gold Cross of Merit
Commemorative Medal for War 1918-1921
Decades Regained Independence Medal
Officers' badge "Parasol"
Commander's Cross of the Legion of Honour (France)
Commander's Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Commander's Cross of the Order of the White Eagle (Yugoslavia)
Commander's Cross with Swords of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
Cross of Liberty class III (Estonia)
Order of the Cross of the Eagle Class I (Estonia)

Source: Various Facebook posts