Bolesław Bronisław Duch
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Bolesław Bronisław Duch (1896[1]–1980[2]) was a Polish Major General and General Inspector of the Armed Forces.
Life
Duch was born on 15 November 1896 at Borshchiv and attended schools in Ternopil before the outbreak of World War I.[1] He served during World War I, 1914–18, in the Polish Legions.[3] After Poland regained independence, he served in the Polish Army. In 1935-1938 he commanded the 73rd Infantry Regiment.[4] At the outbreak of World War II, the commander of the 39th Reserve Infantry Division[5] General Bruno Olbrycht was ill and the division was de facto commanded by Duch.
After Poland was overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939, Duch managed to evade capture and served in western Europe, becoming commander successively of the Polish 1st Grenadier Division in France (1940),[6] 1st Rifle Brigade of the 1st Polish Corps in Scotland (1942–43), and of the 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division of the 2nd Polish Corps (1943–46).[7]
In 1947, Duch settled in London and became chairman of the Council of the World Polish Veterans' Association. He was the last General Inspector of the Armed Forces (from February 1980 until his death in October that year).
Promotions
- File:PL Epolet ppor.svg 1914: Second Lieutenant (Podporucznik)
- File:PL Epolet por.svg 1919: Lieutenant (porucznik)
- File:PL Epolet kpt.svg 1919: Captain (Kapitan)
- File:PL Epolet mjr.svg 1924: Major (Major)
- File:PL Epolet pplk.svg 1929: Lieutenant Colonel (Podpułkownik)
- File:PL Epolet plk.svg 1938: Colonel (Pułkownik)
- File:PL Epolet gen bryg.svg 1940: Brigadier (Generał brygady)
- File:PL Epolet gen dyw.svg 1945: Major General (Generał dywizji)
Decorations
- File:POL Virtuti Militari Kawalerski BAR.svg Knight's Cross of the Virtuti Militari (1 June 1945),
- File:POL Virtuti Militari Złoty BAR.svg Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari (1940)
- File:POL Virtuti Militari Srebrny BAR.svg Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari
- File:POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski ZG BAR.svg Commander's Cross with Star of the Polonia Restituta[8]
- File:POL Krzyż Walecznych (1920) 4r BAR.svg Cross of Valour (Poland), 8 times
- File:POL Krzyż Niepodległości BAR.svg Cross of Independence
- File:POL Złoty Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami (1942) BAR.svg Golden Cross of Merit (Poland), with Swords
- File:POL Krzyż Zasługi (1923) BAR.svg Gold Cross of Merit
- File:Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 ribbon.svg Croix de Guerre (France)
- File:World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg 1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal (France)
- File:Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg Commander of Legion of Honour (France)
- File:Military cross BAR.svg Military Cross (United Kingdom)
- File:Croce di guerra al valor militare BAR.svg War Cross of Military Valor (Italy)
- File:AUT KuK Kriegsbande BAR.svg Medal for Bravery (Austria-Hungary)
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See also
References
Template:General Inspectors of the Polish Armed Forces
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- Pages with script errors
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- 1885 births
- 1980 deaths
- Military personnel from Ternopil Oblast
- Polish generals
- Knights of the Virtuti Militari
- Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Recipients of the Cross of Independence
- Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland)
- Recipients of the Cross of Merit with Swords (Poland)
- Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland)
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- People from Borshchiv