Marian Włodzimierz Kukiel (pseudonyms: ''Marek Kąkol'', ''Stach Zawierucha''; 15 May 1885 - 15 August 1973) was a Polish major general, historian, social and political activist. One of the founders of

Związek Walki Czynnej The Union of Active Struggle (; 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. Watt writes: "Soon after Piłsudski' ...

in 1908 and prominent member of

Związek Strzelecki The Polish Riflemen's Association, known as ''Związek Strzelecki'' (in the plural, ''Związki Strzeleckie''), was an organization formed in great numbers prior to World War I. One of the better known associations, ''Strzelec'' (Rifleman), was a ...

; he fought in the Polish Legions in First World War. Kukiel served from 1919 until 1920 as Deputy Head of Section III,

Polish General Staff Polish General Staff, formally known as the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces ( Polish: ''Sztab Generalny Wojska Polskiego'') is the highest professional body within the Polish Armed Forces. Organizationally, it is an integral part of the M ...

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 relationship ...

Jagiellonian University The Jagiellonian University (, UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by Casimir III the Great, King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and one of the List of oldest universities in con ...

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

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

. In 1939 he took part in the defence of

Lwów Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...

. 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 (), was the government in exile A government-in-exile (GiE) is a political group that claims to be the legitimate government of a sovere ...

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

Coatbridge Coatbridge (, ) 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, Coatbridge forms the area known as the Monklands (popula ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

, 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-eight after sustaining injuries in a car accident and was buried at

Kensal Green Cemetery Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of North Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in P ...

Awards

*: **

Silver Cross of the

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, ...

(1922) **

Commander's Cross of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...

(1922) ** Cross of Valour, four times ** Gold

Cross of Merit with Swords The Cross of Merit with Swords () is a Polish military award established October 19, 1942, by the Polish Government in Exile. Criteria The Cross of Merit with Swords is awarded for deeds of bravery and valor during time of war not connected with ...

*: **

Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown *: ** Legion_Honneur_Chevalier_ribbon

Knight of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

Knight of the Order of Academic Palms *: ** Order_of_the_Bath_UK_ribbon

Honorary Knight Commander of the

Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. Recipients of the Order are usually senior British Armed Forces, military officers or senior Civil Service ...

(1942) *: ** SRB-SHS-YUG_Orden_Belog_Orla_Komandir_BAR

Commander of the Order of the White Eagle

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)

References

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 Recipients of the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari Recipients of the Cross of Merit with Swords (Poland) Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland) Grand Officers of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Knights of the Legion of Honour Chevaliers of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques People associated with Kultura (magazine) Road incident deaths in London Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery {{Poland-mil-bio-stub