Marian Włodzimierz Kukiel (pseudonyms: ''Marek Kąkol'', ''Stach Zawierucha''; 15 May 1885 in Dąbrowa Tarnowska – 15 August 1973 in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

) was a Polish

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

, historian, social and political activist. One of the founders of

Związek Walki Czynnej The Union of Active Struggle ( pl, Związek Walki Czynnej, ZWC), also translated as ''Union for Active Struggle'' and ''Union for Active Resistance'',Thus rendered in Richard M. Watt, ''Bitter Glory: Poland and Its Fate, 1918 to 1939'', p. 37. W ...

in 1908 and prominent member of

Związek Strzelecki The Polish Riflemen's Association known as ''Związek Strzelecki'' (or more commonly, in the plural form as ''Związki Strzeleckie'') formed in great numbers prior to World War I. One of the better known associations called "Strzelec" (Riflemen's ...

; he fought in the

Polish Legions in First World War The Polish Legions ( pl, Legiony Polskie) was a name of the Polish military force (the first active Polish army in generations) established in August 1914 in Galicia soon after World War I erupted between the opposing alliances of the Triple Ente ...

. Kukiel served from 1919 until 1920 as Deputy Head of Section III, Polish General Staff and took part in the Polish-Soviet War. Then in 1920 he became the Commanding Officer of the 20th Brigade and Head of Section III. From 1923 until 1925 he served as General Officer Commanding the 13th Infantry Division; after Piłsudski's May Coup he entered the reserves. From 1927 he was a professor of

military history Military history is the study of War, armed conflict in the Human history, history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, cultures and economies thereof, as well as the resulting changes to Politics, local and international relationships. ...

Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...

. Since 1932 he became a member of PAU. From 1930 until 1939 he was director of the

Czartoryski Museum The Princes Czartoryski Museum ( pl, Muzeum Książąt Czartoryskich ) – often abbreviated to Czartoryski Museum – is a historic museum in Kraków, Poland, and one of the country's oldest museums. The initial collection was formed in 1796 i ...

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula, Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland un ...

. In 1939 he took part in the defence of

Lwów Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in Western Ukraine, western Ukraine, and the List of cities in Ukraine, seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is o ...

. From 1939 until 1940 he was Vice-Minister of War of the

Polish Government in Exile The Polish government-in-exile, officially known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in exile ( pl, Rząd Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej na uchodźstwie), was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Pola ...

in London. From 1940 until 1942 General Officer Commanding the 1st Polish Corps based in

Coatbridge Coatbridge ( sco, Cotbrig or Coatbrig, gd, Drochaid a' Chòta) is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. Along with neighbouring town Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Airdrie, Coatbrid ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, and since 1943 Minister of War of the Government in Exile. From 1945 until 1973 professor of the Polish University in Exile. From 1946 until 1973 director of the Polish History Institute in London. From 1951 to 1966 member of the Sikorski Institute in London. He died in London in 1973 aged eighty-seven and was buried at

Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of Queens Park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, it was founded by the barrister George Frederick ...

Works

* ''Dzieje wojska polskiego w dobie napoleońskiej 1795-1815'' (t. 1-2 1918-20) * ''Zarys historii wojskowości w Polsce'' (t. 1-2 1921, published in 1949) * ''Wojna roku 1812'' (t. 1-2 1937) * ''Dzieje Polski porozbiorowej 1795-1921'' (1961)

External links

Generals.dk
1885 births 1972 deaths People from Dąbrowa Tarnowska People from the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria Government ministers of Poland Polish generals 20th-century Polish historians Polish male non-fiction writers Polish legionnaires (World War I) Polish people of the Polish–Soviet War People of the Polish May Coup (pro-government side) Polish military personnel of World War II Polish exiles Academic staff of Jagiellonian University Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Commanders of the Order of Polonia Restituta People associated with the magazine "Kultura" {{Poland-mil-bio-stub