Zygmunt Henryk Berling (27 April 1896 – 11 July 1980) was a Polish general and politician. He fought for the independence of Poland in the early 20th century. Berling was a co-founder and commander of the First Polish Army, which fought on the Eastern Front of World War II.

Military career before World War II

Zygmunt Berling was born in Limanowa, then part of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

, on 27 April 1896. He joined the Polish Legions of

Józef Piłsudski Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Chief of State (Poland), Chief of State (1918–1922) and first Marshal of Poland (from 1920). In the aftermath of World War I, he beca ...

in 1914, serving in the 2nd and 4th Legions Infantry Regiment (''Pułk Piechoty Legionów''). Between the " oath crisis" of June 1917 and October 1918 he served in the

Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army, also known as the Imperial and Royal Army,; was the principal ground force of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. It consisted of three organisations: the Common Army (, recruited from all parts of Austria-Hungary), ...

. At the end of the

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 joined the reborn

Polish Army The Land Forces () are the Army, land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 110,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military histor ...

, becoming the commander of an infantry company in the 4th Infantry Regiment. During the

Polish–Soviet War The Polish–Soviet War (14 February 1919 – 18 March 1921) was fought primarily between the Second Polish Republic and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, following World War I and the Russian Revolution. After the collapse ...

, he gained fame as an able commander during the Battle of Lwów and received 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, ...

medal. After the war, he remained in the military and in 1923 he was promoted to the rank of

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

, first serving on staff of the 15th Infantry Division of V District Corps Command 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 1930, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and started his service as a commanding officer, first in the 6th Infantry Regiment and then in the 4th Infantry Regiment. Berling retired from active duty in June 1939 because of divorce problems and conflicts with his superiors. 1928 army document signed by Berling when he was a major - Krakow

1928 army document signed by Berling when he was a major - Krakow

World War II

Berling did not participate in the Polish defence effort during 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 ...

in 1939. After the city of

Vilnius Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...

was occupied by the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

under the terms of the

Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, officially the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and also known as the Hitler–Stalin Pact and the Nazi–Soviet Pact, was a non-aggression pact between Nazi Ge ...

, Berling, along with many other Polish officers, was arrested by the Soviet secret police (

NKVD The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (, ), abbreviated as NKVD (; ), was the interior ministry and secret police of the Soviet Union from 1934 to 1946. The agency was formed to succeed the Joint State Political Directorate (OGPU) se ...

). He remained in prison until 1940, first in

Starobilsk Starobilsk (; ) is a city in Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Starobilsk Raion. The modern settlement was founded in 1686, and it was granted city status in 1938. The city has a population of As a result of the ...

and later

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

, eventually agreeing to cooperate with the Soviets. After the Sikorski–Mayski agreement of 17 August 1941, Berling was nominated to be chief of staff of the recreated 5th Infantry Division, and later commander of the temporary camp for Polish soldiers in Krasnovodsk. Berling refused to leave the Soviet Union with the army led by

Władysław Anders Władysław Albert Anders (11 August 1892 – 12 May 1970) was a Polish military officer and politician, and prominent member of the Polish government-in-exile in London. Born in Krośniewice-Błonie, then part of the Russian Empire, he serv ...

, of which Berling was formally a member. Along with two other officers, he was tried ''in absentia'' before an Anders' Army court which sentenced them to death. The sentence was vacated by General Kazimierz Sosnkowski, the Polish commander-in-chief of forces loyal to the

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

government in exile. From 1940, Berling had been involved in efforts to create a Polish division in the Soviet Union, at first within the Soviet

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...

. In September 1942 and during the following months, he and Wanda Wasilewska appealed to

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...

for permission to establish the Polish division. On 8 April 1943, Berling proposed the establishment of a new Polish army; permission was granted after the break in Soviet-Polish diplomatic relations.Halik Kochanski (2012). ''The Eagle Unbowed''
pp. 376–378.
/ref> In May 1943, the

communist Communism () is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology within the socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a socioeconomic order centered on common ownership of the means of production, di ...

-led Polish People's Army was created in the Soviet Union. It was a new formation of Polish Armed Forces in the East. Berling was nominated to be the commander of its first unit, the 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division, and was promoted to general by Stalin. He became the overall deputy commander of the Polish Army on the Eastern Front on 22 July 1944. On 1 August 1944, the underground Polish

Home Army The Home Army (, ; abbreviated AK) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) established in the ...

, loyal to the Polish government-in-exile in London, began the 63-day long

Warsaw Uprising The Warsaw Uprising (; ), sometimes referred to as the August Uprising (), or the Battle of Warsaw, was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance movement in World War II, Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from ...

, an attempt to free the city from the occupying German forces before the arrival of the Red Army. On 15–23 September, when the uprising was in its later phase, with his First Polish Army on the east bank of the

Vistula The Vistula (; ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest in Europe, at in length. Its drainage basin, extending into three other countries apart from Poland, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra i ...

River and the

Praga Praga is a district of Warsaw, Poland. It is on the east bank of the river Vistula. First mentioned in 1432, until 1791 it formed a separate town with its own city charter. History The historical Praga was a small settlement located at the e ...

district of

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

already secured, Berling led a rescue effort that involved crossing the Vistula and establishing a

bridgehead In military strategy, a bridgehead (or bridge-head) is the strategically important area of ground around the end of a bridge or other place of possible crossing over a body of water which at time of conflict is sought to be defended or taken over ...

on the west bank. The failed operation, possibly not fully consulted with Berling's Soviet military superiors, resulted in heavy Polish Army casualties and may have caused Berling's dismissal from his post soon thereafter. He was transferred to the War Academy in Moscow, where he remained until his return to Poland in 1947. In Poland, Berling organized and directed the Academy of General Staff (''Akademia Sztabu Generalnego''). He retired from the military in 1953.

Government career

Zygmunt Berling held a variety of government positions after 1953. Between 1953 and 1956, he was Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of National Agriculture Industries (''Ministerstwo Państwowych Gospodarstw Rolnych''), between 1956 and 1957 he was Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Agriculture (''Ministerstwo Rolnictwa'') and from 1957 to 1970 he was General Inspector of Hunting (''Inspektor Generalny Łowiectwa'') in the Ministry of Forestry (''Ministerstwo Leśnictwa''). In 1963, he joined the

Polish United Workers' Party The Polish United Workers' Party (, ), commonly abbreviated to PZPR, was the communist party which ruled the Polish People's Republic as a one-party state from 1948 to 1989. The PZPR had led two other legally permitted subordinate minor parti ...

. He is buried at Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw.

Promotions

Chorąży ( Standard-bearer) - 20 August 1915 * POL I BRYGADA LP 1914 PODPORUCZNIK

Podporucznik ( Second lieutenant) - 1 November 1916 * PL Epolet por

Porucznik (

First lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...

) - 1918 * PL Epolet kpt

Kapitan (

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

) - 1920 * PL Epolet mjr

Major (

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

) - 31 March 1924 * PL Epolet pplk

Podpułkownik ( Lieutenant colonel) - 1932 * Naramiennik Pulkownik

Pułkownik (

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

) - 1 May 1943 * Generał brygady ( Brigadier general) - 10 August 1943 * Generał dywizji ( Major general) - 22 July 1944 * Generał broni (

Lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

) - 7 October 1963

Awards and decorations

*: ** Order of the Builders of People's Poland ** Grand 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 ...

POL_Polonia_Restituta_Komandorski_ZG_BAR

Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta ** POL_Virtuti_Militari_Srebrny_BAR

Silver Cross of the

** Order of the Cross of Grunwald (1st class) ** Order of the Cross of Grunwald (3rd class) ** POL_Order_Sztandaru_Pracy_1_klasy_BAR

Order of the Banner of Work (1st class), twice ** POL_Order_Sztandaru_Pracy_2_klasy_BAR

Order of the Banner of Work (2nd class) ** Cross of Valour ** Cross of Valour, twice ** Gold Cross of Merit ** Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945 **

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 ...

** Bronze Medal of Merit for National Defence *: **

Order of Lenin The Order of Lenin (, ) was an award named after Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the October Revolution. It was established by the Central Executive Committee on 6 April 1930. The order was the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet ...

, twice ** Order_of_Glory_Ribbon_Bar

Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" ** SU Medal Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 ribbon

SU Medal Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 ribbon

Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" ** 30_years_of_victory_rib

Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" ** Order_friendship_of_peoples_rib

Order of Friendship of Peoples The Order of Friendship of Peoples () was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons (including non-citizens), organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in s ...

Notes

References

*
Short bio and photo of pre-war Jagiellonian University ID

Biography at the Institute of National Remembrance
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berling, Zygmunt 1896 births 1980 deaths People from Limanowa Military personnel of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria Politicians from the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria 20th-century Polish military personnel Polish people of German descent Polish people of Swedish descent Polish People's Army generals Polish United Workers' Party members Polish legionnaires (World War I) Polish Auxiliary Corps personnel Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I Polish military personnel of World War II Polish people of the Polish–Soviet War Recipients of the Order of the Banner of Work Recipients of the Order of the Builders of People's Poland Recipients of the Virtuti Militari (1943–1989) Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta Grand Crosses of the Order of Polonia Restituta Recipients of the Cross of Independence Recipients of the Cross of Valour (Poland) Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 1st class Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland) Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of Lenin Polish expatriates in the Soviet Union Polish people detained by the NKVD Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni 20th-century Polish politicians People sentenced to death in absentia