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Karol Piasecki

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karol Piasecki
Black-and-white portrait of Karol Piasecki in military uniform
Karol Piasecki as Lieutenant Colonel of the Polish Army (c. 1934)
Born
Karol Piasecki

(1897-01-20)20 January 1897
Zator, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, Austria-Hungary
Died11 July 1953(1953-07-11) (aged 56)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Burial place
Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California, U.S.
SpouseAlina Piasecka
Military career
Allegiance Second Polish Republic
Austro-Hungarian Empire (1917–1918)
Branch
Polish Army
Polish Legions
Service years
1914–1918, 1918–1935, 1939
Rank
Lieutenant colonel of artillery
Nickname"Koryński"
Unit1st Legions Field Artillery Regt.
1st Heaviest Artillery Regt.
Wawelberg Group
Commands3rd Battery, 1st Legions Field Artillery Regt.
Subgroup "Krapkowice" (Silesia)
Station No. 4 (Katowice), Second Department
Section II (Intelligence), Łódź Army & Warszawa Army
Conflicts
World War I
Polish–Ukrainian War
Polish–Soviet War
Third Silesian Uprising
World War II
* Invasion of Poland
* Siege of Warsaw (1939)
AwardsVirtuti Militari (Silver Cross)
Cross of Independence
Cross of Valour (6 times)
Gold Cross of Merit
Other workRestaurateur, owner of Ham and Eggs Restaurant in Los Angeles

Karol Piasecki (20 January 1897 – 11 July 1953) was a Polish military officer, artillery officer of the General Staff, intelligence operative, and recipient of the Virtuti Militari. He served as Chief of Station No. 4 in Katowice within the Second Department of Polish General Staff (1931–1935) and as Chief of Intelligence (Section II) for Łódź Army and Warszawa Army during the 1939 September Campaign. On 27 September 1939, during the final days of the siege of Warsaw, he carried command dispatches during an aerial evacuation to Lithuania aboard the prototype light bomber PZL.46 Sum. Interned and later held as a German prisoner of war in an Oflag, he emigrated after World War II to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, California, where he owned and operated the Ham and Eggs Restaurant.[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Karol Piasecki was born on 20 January 1897 in Zator, in the Wadowice district of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a crown land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.[2][3] He was the son of Jan Piasecki and Franciszka (née Żmudzińska).[2]

Piasecki completed five years of primary school in Zator, followed by three years of secondary school (gymnasium) in Kraków.[2] He then transferred to the Imperial and Royal Secondary School in Krosno, completing the fourth and fifth forms during the 1913/1914 school year.[2][4] In Krosno, he was a member of the pro-independence Riflemen's Association.[2]

Military career

[edit]

First World War and Polish–Soviet War

[edit]

In 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Piasecki enlisted in the Polish Legions. He served in the artillery, assigned to the 4th Battery of the 1st Artillery Regiment.[2] Following the Oath crisis in 1917, he was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian Army, serving from 20 September 1917 to 30 October 1918.[2]

In November 1918, Piasecki joined the newly formed Polish Army. On 18 March 1919, as a former Polish Legions non-commissioned officer serving in the 1st Legions Field Artillery Regiment, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of artillery, with seniority backdated to 1 March 1919.[5]

During the Polish–Ukrainian War and the Polish–Soviet War (1919–1920), Piasecki served on the front lines and commanded the 3rd Battery of the 1st Legions Field Artillery Regiment.[2] For combat actions against Ukrainian and Bolshevik forces, he was decorated on 1 September 1920 with the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari (Fifth Class, cross number 558).[2][6] On 20 September 1920, his promotion to captain of artillery was confirmed, with seniority effective 1 April 1920.[7]

Silesian Uprisings and covert operations

[edit]

In May 1920, Piasecki was assigned by Section II of the Polish Supreme Command to clandestine intelligence and reconnaissance duties in Upper Silesia during the Upper Silesia plebiscite campaign.[8]

During the Third Silesian Uprising in May 1921, Piasecki used the nom de guerre "Koryński". He commanded a demolition detachment in Subgroup "Krapkowice" of the Wawelberg Group, executing sabotage against German railway infrastructure to prevent German troop reinforcements from reaching the area.[8] He subsequently served as adjutant to the commander of the 2nd Bytom Infantry Regiment.[8]

Interwar service and military intelligence

[edit]

Following the wars, Piasecki was granted a military settlement plot in Adampol, in the Niehniewicze commune of Nowogródek Voivodeship.[8] In early 1922, he was demobilized into the reserve of the 1st Legions Field Artillery Regiment.[9][10]

In April 1923, he returned to active duty with the regiment in Vilnius (then Wilno).[2] He was promoted to Major of artillery on 18 February 1928, with seniority from 1 January 1928.[11] In July 1929, he was transferred to the 1st Heaviest Artillery Regiment in Warsaw as a battalion commander.[12]

After completing a preparatory course and required line service, Piasecki was admitted on 23 December 1929 to the Higher War School (Wyższa Szkoła Wojenna) in Warsaw as a student of the two-year staff officer course (class of 1929/1931).[13]

On 1 September 1931, upon graduating as a certified General Staff officer (oficer dyplomowany), Piasecki was assigned to the Second Department of Polish General Staff and appointed Chief of Station No. 4 in Katowice.[14][15] The station was responsible for tactical and operational reconnaissance along the German border, monitoring German military districts in Lower and Upper Silesia, Breslau, and Oppeln.[16] On 17 January 1933, he was promoted to Lieutenant colonel of artillery, with seniority from 1 January 1933.[17] In Katowice, he developed reporting networks across the border area and expanded coordination with the Border Guard and State Police counterespionage units.[16]

In May 1935, Piasecki handed over command of Station No. 4 to Major Kazimierz Szpądrowski.[18][16] On 30 June 1935, he was placed on the retired list due to permanent medical unfitness for active military service.[19] In civilian life, he lived in Gdynia, working as a director of the trading company "Progress".[8]

World War II

[edit]

Defense of Poland and the Siege of Warsaw

[edit]

In August 1939, Piasecki was mobilized as Chief of Section II (Intelligence) on the Staff of Łódź Army, commanded by Major General Juliusz Rómmel.[20][21]

Following the withdrawal of Łódź Army toward the central front, Piasecki reached Warsaw with the army headquarters. On 8 September 1939, Rómmel assumed command of Warszawa Army, with Piasecki continuing as Chief of Section II of the army staff throughout the Siege of Warsaw (1939).[22] For his service during the siege, he was awarded the Cross of Valour twice more by General Rómmel on 29 September 1939, bringing his total to six citations.[20][21]

Aerial evacuation on the PZL.46 "Sum"

[edit]
Second prototype of the PZL.46 Sum, flown by Piasecki and crew from Warsaw to Kaunas

On the morning of 27 September 1939, as Warsaw prepared for capitulation, General Rómmel dispatched a courier flight to deliver command reports and military dispatches to the Polish Supreme Commander, Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły, who was interned in Romania.[23]

At 04:30 AM, the second prototype of the PZL.46/II "Sum" light reconnaissance bomber took off from the damaged runway at Pole Mokotowskie airfield in central Warsaw.[24] Piloted by test pilot Stanisław Riess, with observer Jerzy Fabisiak and mechanic Wiktor Szumowski, the aircraft carried Lieutenant Colonel Piasecki as the official courier of the army command.[24][23]

With southern flight routes cut off by German forces, Riess flew northeast toward neutral Lithuania, landing at Aleksotas aerodrome in Kaunas.[23][24] Lithuanian authorities impounded the aircraft and interned Piasecki and the crew.[24]

Internment and German POW captivity

[edit]

Piasecki remained interned in Lithuania through late 1939 and early 1940. Following the Soviet annexation of Lithuania in June 1940 and the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the area came under German control. Piasecki was taken into German custody and held for the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war in an Oflag for Polish officers.[16]

Emigration and life in Los Angeles

[edit]

In 1945, Piasecki was liberated from German captivity by Western Allied forces. Like many pre-war Polish officers and intelligence personnel, he chose not to return to post-war Poland and remained in exile.[16][1]

He emigrated to the United States, settling in Southern California.[1] In Los Angeles, he entered the hospitality trade as the owner and operator of the Ham and Eggs Restaurant.[1]

He was married to Alina Piasecka, who survived him.[1] In Los Angeles, he was associated with Our Lady of the Bright Mount Church, the Polish-American parish located on West Adams Boulevard.[1]

Death

[edit]

Karol Piasecki died on 11 July 1953 in Los Angeles, at the age of 56.[1]

Funeral services were held at Our Lady of the Bright Mount Church, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.[1]

Military ranks

[edit]
RankDate of rankSeniority
Second lieutenant18 March 19191 March 1919[5]
Captain20 September 19201 April 1920[7]
Major18 February 19281 January 1928 (rank 35)[11]
Lieutenant colonel17 January 19331 January 1933 (rank 22)[17]

Honours and awards

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "California Obituaries, M–S: Karol Piasecki". ObitCity.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2026. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Piasecki Karol, sygn. I.482.31-2353" (PDF). Kolekcja Orderu Wojennego Virtuti Militari (in Polish). Wojskowe Biuro Historyczne. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Kartoteka personalno-odznaczeniowa: Karol Piasecki" (in Polish). Wojskowe Biuro Historyczne. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  4. ↑ Ósme sprawozdanie Dyrekcyi C. K. Szkoły Realnej w Krośnie za rok szkolny 1914 (in Polish). Krosno: Nakładem Funduszu Naukowego. 1914. p. 67.
  5. 1 2 "Mianowania". Dziennik Rozkazów Wojskowych (in Polish) (36): 886. 1 April 1919.
  6. 1 2 "Zarządzenia Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (8): 341. 26 February 1921.
  7. 1 2 "Zatwierdzenia". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (37): 921. 29 September 1920.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Pepłoński, Andrzej; Cenckiewicz, Sławomir, eds. (2014). "Piasecki Karol". Kontrwywiad II RP (1914) 1918–1945 (1948) (in Polish). Vol. 2. Warsaw: Agencja Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego. pp. 140–141.
  9. ↑ Druga lista oficerów rezerwowych WP (in Polish). Warsaw: Ministerstwo Spraw Wojskowych. 26 January 1922. p. 29.
  10. ↑ Alfabetyczny spis oficerów rezerwy (in Polish). Warsaw: Ministerstwo Spraw Wojskowych. 1 May 1922. p. 217.
  11. 1 2 "Awanse". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (5): 48. 21 February 1928.
  12. ↑ "Przeniesienia". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (11): 197. 6 July 1929.
  13. ↑ "Powołania". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (20): 376. 23 December 1929.
  14. ↑ "Przeniesienia". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (7): 323. 23 October 1931.
  15. 1 2 Rocznik Oficerski 1932 (in Polish). Warsaw: Ministerstwo Spraw Wojskowych. 1932. pp. 182, 422.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Kołakowski, Piotr (2023). W obliczu wojny. Polski wywiad wojskowy na hitlerowskie Niemcy 1933–1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Bellona. p. 101. ISBN 978-83-11-16502-1.
  17. 1 2 "Awanse". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (1): 2. 18 January 1933.
  18. ↑ Woźny, Aleksander (2025). "Kapitan/major dypl. Kazimierz Szpądrowski – droga do służby w Oddziale II SG (1932) i Ekspozyturze nr 4 (1935)". In Dubicki, Tadeusz (ed.). Wywiad i kontrwywiad wojskowy II RP (in Polish). Vol. 14. Łomianki: Wydawnictwo LTW. p. 227. ISBN 978-83-7565-928-3.
  19. ↑ "Przeniesienia w stan spoczynku". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (10): 100. 4 July 1935.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Rómmel, Juliusz (1958). Za honor i ojczyznę. Wspomnienia dowódcy armii „Łódź” i „Warszawa” (in Polish). Warsaw: Państwowe Wydawnictwo „Iskry”. p. 378.
  21. 1 2 3 Wróblewski, Jan (1975). Armia „Łódź” 1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej. pp. 45, 167.
  22. ↑ Głowacki, Ludwik (1985). Obrona Warszawy i Modlina na tle kampanii wrześniowej 1939 (in Polish) (5 ed.). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej. p. 285. ISBN 83-11-07109-8.
  23. 1 2 3 Morgała, Andrzej (2003). Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1924–1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Bellona. pp. 147–152. ISBN 83-11-09319-9.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Glass, Andrzej (2008). Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze (in Polish). Vol. 3. Sandomierz: Wydawnictwo Stratus. pp. 82–85. ISBN 978-83-89450-84-5.
  25. ↑ "Monitor Polski nr 132, poz. 199" (PDF) (in Polish). Monitor Polski. 11 June 1931. Retrieved 30 September 2026.
  26. ↑ "Zarządzenia Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (8): 364. 11 November 1931.
  27. ↑ "Monitor Polski nr 260, poz. 634" (PDF) (in Polish). Monitor Polski. 10 November 1928. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Zarządzenia Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej". Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (in Polish) (15): 407. 11 November 1928.
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