Zdzislaw Przyjalkowski

Zdzisław was born 6 October 1892 in Magnuszew, pow. Kozienice, Poland. He was the son of Zdzisław and Kazimiera (nee Kreyser). He began school in Radom, and after the school strike of 1905, he continued his studies at a trade school, where he graduated in 1909. He completed his high school diploma in 1910 in Lwow. He then studied at the Lwow Polytechnic Faculty of Machine Construction. He was also a member of a scouting group, and a rifle club. After completing the NCO course in 1912, he was an instructor at the rifle club in Kleparów, and was later appointed captain of the club in Lwow.

When he was mobilized, he arrived in Krakow with the Lwow shooting team. From August 1914, he served in the IV Battalion of the Piłsudski Division. On 9 Oct 1914, he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. After the creation of 5th Legion in December 1914, he became adjutant of the 2nd Battalion and was appointed Lieutenant on 3 June 1915. He led the 3rd company, 2nd Battalion, and later the 2nd company, 1st Battalion. On 21 October 1916, during the fighting on the Wolhyn front near Koszyszcze, his hand was wounded by a bayonet.

After the withdrawal of Legion troops from the front, he returned LLwow. During the period of increased German aggression, he was on a training course. On 16 July 1917 he was interned by the Germans in Benjaminow. He was dismissed from camp on 23 March 1918 and returned to Lwow.

From 1 November 1918, he participated in the defense of Lwow, where he fought with Ukrainians. On 14 February 1919 he moved to the 21st Panzer Regiment and was promoted to the rank of Captain. From 1 August 1919 he was the AD II of the 21st Battalion. On 1 April 1920 he was appointed Major, and from 22 May 1920 he was put in charge of the 3rd Battalion of the 21st Panzer Regiment. On 11 February 1920, during the counterattack in the Polish-Bolszewik War, he took command of 21st Panzer Regiment and commanded it until the end of the war. On 8 April 1921 he was appointed vice-commander of the 21st Panzer Regiment. In July 1923 he was promoted to the rank of 1st Colonel. 1 April 1927 he was appointed Commander of the 41st Panzer Regiment and promoted to the rank of Colonel on 1 January 1928, then on 3 August 1937 he was upgraded to the rank of General. During the September 1939 Campaign, he commanded the 15 DP in the "Pomorze" army. He took part in the battles in the Pomeranian Sea, near Bzura, then in the defense of Warsaw. After the capitulation of Warsaw, he was in German captivity, interned in the Oflag VII A in Murnau.

After regaining his freedom on 29 April 1945, he stayed in Germany, then went to Sweden, where he settled permanently in Stockholm. He initially worked in a marine signal factory, and then in the Allmann Svenska Elekriska AB company.

From 1952 to 1969 he served as president of the Polish Refugee Council in Stockholm. He also worked in the Executive of the Association of Polish Combatants in Sweden.

Orders awarded:

Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari
Independence Cross
Officer's Cross of Polish Revival
Warrior's Cross (seven times)
Gold Cross of Merit
Commemorative Medal for the War of 1918-1921
Medal of the Decade of Independence
Officer Badge "Umbrella"
Commander’s Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Commander's Cross of the Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia)
Officers' Cross of the Order of the White Eagle (Yugoslavia)
Bachelor's Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honor (France)
Medal of the 10th Anniversary of the War of Independence (Latvia)

He passed away in 1971 at the age of 79 years. He is buried at the Saint Peter RC Cemetery in Banden, Kerkhoflaan 10, The Hague.

Source: Several Facebook posts