Ignacy Oziewicz


Ignacy Oziewicz, pseudonym: „Czesław”, „Czesławski”, „Netta”, „Jenczewski” was a colonel of the Polish Army and commandant of the National Armed Forces from 1942 to 1943.

Biography

Early life and military career

Oziewicz was born on 7 May 1887 in the village of Linkmenys, near Swieciany, Russian Empire. After graduation from a Wilno high school, he voluntarily joined the Imperial Russian Army. In 1911, he graduated from a Military School in Vilna, and during World War I was an officer of the 103rd Infantry Regiment, part of 26th Infantry Division. Between April and October 1917, he served in 193 I.D., leaving Russian army after the October Revolution. Between October 1917 and late 1918, Oziewicz managed a real estate in Podolia.
In February 1919, Oziewicz joined Polish Army’s. In October of that year, he was named commandant of 41st Infantry Regiment, and on 20 August 1920, he became commandant of 17th Infantry Regiment. In October 1925, he was named commandant of 76th Lida Infantry Regiment, stationed at Grodno. On 16 March 1927 President Ignacy Moscicki, upon a request of Minister of Military Affairs Jozef Pilsudski, promoted him to Colonel. In 1935, Oziewicz was transferred to 16th Pomeranian Infantry Division, stationed in Grudziadz, where he commanded infantry. On 25 October 1938 he was appointed commandant of 29th Grodno Infantry Division.

World War II

During the Invasion of Poland, he commanded the 29th Grodno Infantry Division. After breaking it, he managed to get to Lithuania, where he was interned. Then he managed to get to occupied Poland.
From 1941 to 1942 he was deputy of the Commander-in-Chief and head of the operational department of the National Military Organization. Oziewicz did not accept the decision to merge this organization with the Home Army because he considered it politically controlled by the Sanation and in the summer of 1942 he headed the split in NOW. He then began to form the National Armed Forces. On 20 September 1942, he became the first commandant of the NSZ.
He attempted to communicate with general Stefan Rowecki to include NSZ in the Home Army. On 9 June 1943, he was arrested by the Gestapo and then imprisoned in Pawiak prison. In October of the same year he was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. In January 1945 he was evacuated to Flossenbürg concentration camp.

Post-war Life

After being released by the United States Army in April 1945, he was in Allied-occupied Germany. Then he moved to France. He was active in Polish social organizations. He was the representative of the NSZ community before the Home Army Verification Commission in London. In July 1949 he became the president of the "Ogniwo" organization founded in France.
In 1958 returned to the Poland. He settled with his family in Gdynia. The cause of his death was leukemia.

Honours and awards