Bronisław Rakowski

Bronisław Stanisław Rakowski (20 June 1895 in Szczucin – 28 December 1950 in Buenos Aires^[1]) was a Polish general. He fought in the Polish legions during World War I. As a Colonel defending Lviv he refused entry to the Soviet Army during the Soviet invasion of Poland, instead suggesting the Soviets advance on German positions,^[2] and after the city capitulated, was later imprisoned by the Soviet NKVD. During World War II, he fought in the Anders Army and Polish Armed Forces in the West.^[3]

Gen. Bronisław Rakowski 1942

Career timeline

• 1931–1936: Commanding Officer 12th Ulan Regiment
• 1936–1939: Head of Army Historical Bureau
• 1939–1941: Prisoner of War, Soviet Union
• 1941–1942: General Officer Commanding 8th Division^[4]
• 1942: General Officer Commanding 5th Division
• 1942–1943: Chief of Staff Polish Forces in Soviet Union^[5]
• 1943–1944: General Officer Commanding 2nd Armoured Brigade^[3]
• 1944–1947: General Officer Commanding 2nd Armoured Division (2 Warszawska Dywizja Pancerna)^[3][4]

Promotions

• Podporucznik (Second lieutenant) - November 1918
• Rotmistrz (Captain)- 1 June 1919
• Major (Major) - 15 August 1924
• Podpułkownik (Lieutenant colonel) - 1 January 1930
• Pułkownik (Colonel) - 1 January 1934
• Generał brygady (Brigadier general) - 11 December 1941

Honours and awards

• Gold Cross of Virtuti Militari
• Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari
• Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
• Cross of Independence
• Cross of Valour (four times)
• Gold Cross of Merit with Swords
• Army Medal for War
• Gold Cross of Merit
• Commemorative Medal for the War of 1918–1921
• Medal of the 10th Anniversary of Regained Independence
• Monte Cassino Commemorative Cross
• Officer's Cross of the Legion of Honour
• Officer of the Order of the Crown of Romania
• Distinguished Service Order (United Kingdom)^[6]
• War Medal 1939–1945
• Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
• Italy Star
• Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)