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In March of [[1939]] he was given the command over the [[Łódź Army]], a Polish tactical group that was to link the southern and northern flanks of the Polish army during the probable war with Germany. However, contrary to [[Edward Rydz-Śmigły]]'s orders he dislocated his forces almost at the border with Germany. When the [[Polish Defensive War]] finally broke out on [[September 1]], [[1939]], this proved to be a fatal move. Without any natural defences, Rómmel's army was easily outmanouevred and cut off from the rest of Polish forces, without much chance to act as an pivot of the Polish defences or even withdraw from the enemy. Under still uncertain circumstances, Rómmel abandoned his army and headed for Warsaw. There Edward Rydz-Śmigły, unaware of Rómmel's desertion, gave him general command over all the Polish forces along the central [[Vistula]] river, including those in [[Warsaw]] and the [[Modlin Fortress]]. Although the actual command tasks were carried out by other generals (namely [[Walerian Czuma]] during the [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)|Siege of Warsaw]] and [[Wiktor Thommée]] during the [[battle of Modlin]]), Rómmel held the general command over the forces of the improvised [[Warszawa Army]] fighting there and served as the ''face'' of the command. He also prevented the Polish forces under his command from helping the Polish armies fighting in the [[battle of Bzura]], instead trying to unsuccessfully restore the defences at the [[Western Bug|Bug River]]. It was also his task to sign all the addresses to the civilian population, as well as the final act of capitulation of [[Warsaw]] on [[September 28]].
In March of [[1939]] he was given the command over the [[Łódź Army]], a Polish tactical group that was to link the southern and northern flanks of the Polish army during the probable war with Germany. However, contrary to [[Edward Rydz-Śmigły]]'s orders he dislocated his forces almost at the border with Germany. When the [[Polish Defensive War]] finally broke out on [[September 1]], [[1939]], this proved to be a fatal move. Without any natural defences, Rómmel's army was easily outmanouevred and cut off from the rest of Polish forces, without much chance to act as an pivot of the Polish defences or even withdraw from the enemy. Under still uncertain circumstances, Rómmel abandoned his army and headed for Warsaw. There Edward Rydz-Śmigły, unaware of Rómmel's desertion, gave him general command over all the Polish forces along the central [[Vistula]] river, including those in [[Warsaw]] and the [[Modlin Fortress]]. Although the actual command tasks were carried out by other generals (namely [[Walerian Czuma]] during the [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)|Siege of Warsaw]] and [[Wiktor Thommée]] during the [[battle of Modlin]]), Rómmel held the general command over the forces of the improvised [[Warszawa Army]] fighting there and served as the ''face'' of the command. He also prevented the Polish forces under his command from helping the Polish armies fighting in the [[battle of Bzura]], instead trying to unsuccessfully restore the defences at the [[Western Bug|Bug River]]. It was also his task to sign all the addresses to the civilian population, as well as the final act of capitulation of [[Warsaw]] on [[September 28]].


He spent the rest of the war interned in [[Oflag VII-A Murnau]], a Nazi [[Prisoner of war|POW camp]]. After his liberation in [[1945]] he was not welcome in the [[Polish II Corps]] and decided to return to Communist-controlled Poland, as the only of Polish army commanders of 1939. Because of that, he was used by the communist propaganda as a war hero, while his insubordination and desertion were suppressed by the [[censorship]]. He was also awarded with the Commander's Cross of [[Virtuti Militari]]. In [[1947]] he was retired from the army and spent the rest of his life writing books.
He spent the rest of the war interned in [[Oflag VII-A Murnau]], a Nazi [[Prisoner of war|POW camp]]. After his liberation in [[1945]] he was not welcome in the [[Polish II Corps]] and decided to return to Communist-controlled Poland. Out of 11 Generals who commanded army-sized units in 1939, Rómmel was the only one to return to Poland and not stay in exile. Because of that, he was used by the communist propaganda as a war hero, while his insubordination and desertion were suppressed by the [[censorship]]. He was also awarded with the Commander's Cross of [[Virtuti Militari]]. In [[1947]] he was retired from the army and spent the rest of his life writing books.


His brother [[Karol Rómmel]] was also an officer of the Polish Army and a bronze medalist in [[Equestrian at the 1928 Summer Olympics|equestrian eventing team]] at the [[1928 Summer Olympics]] in [[Amsterdam]]. Their family was also distantly related to that of German Field Marshal [[Erwin Rommel]].
His brother [[Karol Rómmel]] was also an officer of the Polish Army and a bronze medalist in [[Equestrian at the 1928 Summer Olympics|equestrian eventing team]] at the [[1928 Summer Olympics]] in [[Amsterdam]]. Their family was also distantly related to that of German Field Marshal [[Erwin Rommel]].

Revision as of 07:59, 1 March 2006

Juliusz Rómmel

Juliusz Rómmel (1881-1967) was a Polish military commander and a General of the Polish Army. A commander of two Polish armies during the Polish Defensive War of 1939, Rómmel remains by large the most controversial of the Generals to serve during that conflict.

He graduated from the Konstantin's Artillery School in St. Petersburg in 1903 and served in the Russian Army in the rank of Colonel. During the Great War he served as the commanding officer of the 1st Artillery Brigade. In 1917 he was transferred to the Polish II Corps being formed in the area of Ukraine and became one of its organizers. During the Russian Civil War he commanded the Polish Light Brigade, a part of Gen. Żeligowski's 4th Rifle Division. Interned by Austria-Hungary, in 1918 he joined the Polish Army.

Initially a commanding officer of the 1st Legions Infantry Division, during the Polish-Bolshevik War he created and commanded the 1st Cavalry Division. At that post he achieved a striking victory in the battle of Komarów, the largest cavalry battle in 20th century, which later added to his popularity and fame in Poland. He also fought with distinction in the ranks of Haller's Operational Group of the Sikorski's 3rd Army during the battle of the Niemen River.

After the war, in 1922 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and continued his service in the army at various command posts. Among other posts, he continued to command his wartime unit until 1924 and then between 1926 and 1939 he was an army inspector within the General Inspectorate of Armed Forces. In 1928 he was promoted to the rank of generał dywizji (Major General).

In March of 1939 he was given the command over the Łódź Army, a Polish tactical group that was to link the southern and northern flanks of the Polish army during the probable war with Germany. However, contrary to Edward Rydz-Śmigły's orders he dislocated his forces almost at the border with Germany. When the Polish Defensive War finally broke out on September 1, 1939, this proved to be a fatal move. Without any natural defences, Rómmel's army was easily outmanouevred and cut off from the rest of Polish forces, without much chance to act as an pivot of the Polish defences or even withdraw from the enemy. Under still uncertain circumstances, Rómmel abandoned his army and headed for Warsaw. There Edward Rydz-Śmigły, unaware of Rómmel's desertion, gave him general command over all the Polish forces along the central Vistula river, including those in Warsaw and the Modlin Fortress. Although the actual command tasks were carried out by other generals (namely Walerian Czuma during the Siege of Warsaw and Wiktor Thommée during the battle of Modlin), Rómmel held the general command over the forces of the improvised Warszawa Army fighting there and served as the face of the command. He also prevented the Polish forces under his command from helping the Polish armies fighting in the battle of Bzura, instead trying to unsuccessfully restore the defences at the Bug River. It was also his task to sign all the addresses to the civilian population, as well as the final act of capitulation of Warsaw on September 28.

He spent the rest of the war interned in Oflag VII-A Murnau, a Nazi POW camp. After his liberation in 1945 he was not welcome in the Polish II Corps and decided to return to Communist-controlled Poland. Out of 11 Generals who commanded army-sized units in 1939, Rómmel was the only one to return to Poland and not stay in exile. Because of that, he was used by the communist propaganda as a war hero, while his insubordination and desertion were suppressed by the censorship. He was also awarded with the Commander's Cross of Virtuti Militari. In 1947 he was retired from the army and spent the rest of his life writing books.

His brother Karol Rómmel was also an officer of the Polish Army and a bronze medalist in equestrian eventing team at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Their family was also distantly related to that of German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.