Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski

Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski
President of the Republic of Poland
In office September 25 – September 26, 1939
Preceded by	Ignacy Mościcki
Succeeded by	Władysław Raczkiewicz
Personal details
Born	July 22, 1881(1881-07-22) Maksymówka
Died	July 1, 1942(1942-07-01) (aged 61) New York City, New York
Nationality	Polish

Bolesław Ignacy Florian Wieniawa-Długoszowski (July 22, 1881 – July 1, 1942) was a Polish general, politician, poet and diplomat, as well as formally President of the Republic of Poland for one day.

Before World War I

Gen. Wieniawa-Długoszowski (2nd from the right) with Col. Józef Beck (2nd left) during the Legionnaires' meeting in Kraków; 1930s

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Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski was born on 22 July 1881, in his family's estates in Maksymówka (near Stanisławów – nowadays Ivano-Frankivsk). He was a son of a Polish Nobleman Bolesław Długoszowski and Josephine Struszkiewicz.

In 1877 his family had moved to palace in another family's estates in Bobowa. There Bolesław had spent his early life. He was learning in gymnasium in Lwów, where he was one of the best students. After several years he moved to school in Nowy Sącz. There, in 1900, he passed his graduation exams. After school he studied medicine at Jan Kazimierz University in Lwów, gaining a special diploma with high distinction.

After studies he moved to Berlin where he spent a year studying in the very prestigious Berlin Academy of Arts. After school he moved to Paris, where he worked as a private doctor (one of the best in the city). In 1911 he was one of the founders of The Union of Polish Artists (Towarzystwo Artystów Polskich). He also joined Riflemen's Association (Związek Strzelecki "Strzelec"). There he met Józef Piłsudski.

1914–1942

In 1914 he moved to Kraków and joined the First Cadre Company which fought on the Austro-Hungarian side against Russia. In October 1914 he became a commander of a platoon of a squadron in 1 Pułk Ułanów Legionów Polskich. During the fighting in 1914–1915 he was promoted to lieutenant, and after the war he was awarded the V-Class Virtuti Militari. In August 1915 he moved to the special group in Warsaw. Soon he became an aide-de-camp of Józef Piłsudski. In 1918, while on a mission to Russia, he was arrested by the Soviet Cheka as a member of the Polish Military Organisation. He was freed after several months.

As aide-de-camp of Józef Piłsudski during the Polish-Soviet War he helped Marshall with organising the Vilna Operation and Battle of Warsaw. He was also a commander of 1st Cavalry Division. After the war Wieniawa was awarded many medals (such as Légion d'honneur, Cross of Valor and Cross of Independence).

In November 1921 he became Polish Military attaché in Bucharest, Romania. He was associated with making the Polish-Romanian convention which was signed in 1922.

In 1926 he passed his exams in High War School, and soon he became a commander of 1 Pułk Szwoleżerów Józefa Piłsudskiego – the most prestigious and representative Polish cavalry division. He commanded it until 1930.

During the May Coup he was one of Piłsudski's officers. He gave him much help with organising the coup.

From 1930–1932 he was commander of I Cavalry division and for some time II Cavalry Division. In 1931 he was promoted by the President Ignacy Mościcki to the rank of Brigadier General. In 1932 he became a commander of II Cavalry Division and performed his duties until 14 May 1938. In 1938 he was promoted to the General-major. From 1938 to 13 June 1940, he was Polish Ambassador in Rome.

One-day Presidency

On 17 September 1939, he was nominated president of Poland by retiring President Ignacy Mościcki. Shortly after being nominated, Poland was invaded and he went to Paris to perform his new role but was blackballed by Władysław Sikorski, the French Third Republic and the United Kingdom. After the capitulation of France he emigrated to Lisbon but soon he moved to New York.

Many sources do not list Wieniawa as President, merely "designated successor". However, according to the then constitution, when the President can not execute his powers (as Mościcki was interned in Romania and this was clear that he would not be released unless resigned), the designated successor automatically became President.

After receiving appointment or becoming President, Wieniawa asked Cardinal August Hlond to become Prime Minister. Hlond refused, referring, noteworthy fact, to Wieniawa as, "Mr. President".

Also in a press statement from President Lech Wałęsa's press secretary on September 21, 1994, to Dziennik Polski Wieniawa-Dłogoszowski was referred to as one of the legitimate Presidents in Exile.

According to some opinions Mościcki intended to pass his office to Wieniawa-Dłogoszowski as a caretaker, until a candidate accepted by both Sanacja and opposition circles, General Kazimierz Sosnkowski, whose whereabout was unknown in September 1939. Finally compromise candidate Władysław Raczkiewicz was chosen after Wieniawa resignation.

Death

Wieniawa became Polish Ambassador in Havana, but after moving to Washington he died by his own hand. The exact details of his death are subject to debate among historians.

Honours and awards

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Italian Wikipedia.

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Polish Wikipedia.

Polish

• Order of the White Eagle
• Order of St. Stanislaus
• Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari
• Cross of Valour
• Cross of Independence with Swords

In 1936, he was awarded the Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature Academic merit for literature.

Foreign

• Imperial Order of Leopold (Austria)
• Military Order of Max Joseph (Bavaria)
• Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France)
• Military Order of Maria Theresa (Austro-Hungarian Empire)
• Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Bulgaria)
• Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)
• Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (Holy See)

Political offices
Preceded by Ignacy Mościcki	President of the Polish Republic 1939	Succeeded by Władysław Raczkiewicz

References

• Szuflada Generała Wieniawa, edited by Elżbieta Grabska and Marek Pitasz, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warsaw 1998
• Ulubieniec Cezara – Wydawnictwo MSW, Warszawa 1990