Julian Edwin Arnoldt-Russocki was a Polish lieutenant colonel of the

Polish Armed Forces The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland (, ; abbreviated SZ RP), also called the Polish Armed Forces and popularly called in Poland (, roughly "the Polish Military"—abbreviated ''WP''), are the national Military, armed forces of the Poland, ...

who commanded the 16th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment during the early battles of the

Invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak R ...

and was the main commander at the Battle of Bukowiec before being captured two days later.

Biography

He was born in 1893 in the village of Penkiny (modern ,

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

). He was the son of Bronisław, the older brother of Wiktor (1895–1956), also a lieutenant colonel in the cavalry of the Polish Army. He became an officer in the

Imperial Russian Army The Imperial Russian Army () was the army of the Russian Empire, active from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was organized into a standing army and a state militia. The standing army consisted of Regular army, regular troops and ...

. During,

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he served in the 5th Zaslaw Uhlan Regiment. After Poland regained independence, he was admitted to the Polish Armed Forces. From December 1918, he was a soldier of the 12th Podolian Uhlan Regiment, and after the transformation of the

10th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment 10th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment (, 10 puł) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic. From 1922 until 1939, it was garrisoned in Białystok. The regiment was created as part of the so-called Lithuanian and Belarusian S ...

, he took part in the Polish-Soviet War as a cavalry lieutenant in the ranks of the 10th regiment as a reserve squadron commander. On June 1, 1921, he was still in service in the 10th Uhlans. On May 3, 1922, he was verified as a captain with seniority on June 1, 1919 and on the 121st position in the corps of cavalry officers (from 1924 - cavalry), and his parent unit was still the 10th regiment. He was an officer of the 10th Uhlans in

Białystok Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is the List of cities and towns in Poland, tenth-largest city in Poland, second in terms of population density, and thirteenth in area. Biał ...

until 1930. On April 12, 1927, he was promoted to major with seniority on January 1, 1927 and ranked 10th in the corps of cavalry officers. In 1928 he commanded a spare squadron. In July 1929 he was transferred to the position of quartermaster. On July 5, 1930, he was transferred to the 16th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz is a city in northern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Kuyavia. Straddling the confluence of the Vistula River and its bank (geography), left-bank tributary, the Brda (river), Brda, the strategic location of Byd ...

as a deputy regiment commander. On January 17, 1933, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel with seniority on January 1, 1933 and ranked 6th in the corps of cavalry officers. From July 15, 1939, he was the commander of the 16th Greater Poland, along with Gen.

Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer Gustaw Konstanty Orlicz-Dreszer (October 2, 1889 − July 16, 1936) was a Polish general, and a political and social activist. Before World War I, Orlicz-Dreszer was involved in pro-independence activities in partitioned Poland. On 3 August 191 ...

. After the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he was the unit commander in the first days of the

. He commanded in the Battle of Bukowiec. On the night of September 4/5, 1939, he disbanded the 16th Greater Poland. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and imprisoned in Oflag No. 506. He died on August 10, 1953. He was buried at the Roman Catholic cemetery in

Piotrków Trybunalski Piotrków Trybunalski (; also known by #Etymology, alternative names), often simplified to Piotrków, is a city in central Poland with 71,252 inhabitants (2021). It is the capital of Piotrków County and the second-largest city in the Łódź Voi ...

Awards

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', ) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland Stanislaus II of Poland, ...

, Silver Cross No. 6716 (May 10, 1922) * Cross of Valour (Awarded three times) * Cross of Merit, Gold Cross (March 19, 1936) *

Cross of Independence Cross of Independence () was the second highest Polish military decoration between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had fought actively for the independence of Poland, and was released in three classes. History The Cr ...

(April 15, 1932)

Foreign Awards

*: 1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal *: Order of the Crown

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Arnoldt-Russocki, Julian 1893 births 1953 deaths People from Vilkaviškis Polish military personnel of World War II Recipients of the Cross of Independence Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland) Polish military personnel in the Imperial Russian Army of World War I Polish people of World War I