Edward Rydz-Śmigły

MarshalEdward Śmigły-Rydz[ˈɛdvard ˈrɨdz ˈɕmiɡwɨ]^ⓘalso calledEdward Rydz-Śmigły,(11 March 1886 – 2 December 1941) was aPolishpolitician, statesman,Marshal of PolandandCommander-in-Chiefof Poland's armed forces, as well as a painter and poet.

Marshal of Poland Edward Śmigły-Rydz
Śmigły-Rydz in 1937
General Inspector of the Armed Forces
In office 12 May 1935 – 7 November 1939
President	Ignacy Mościcki
Preceded by	Józef Piłsudski
Succeeded by	Władysław Sikorski
Personal details
Born	(1886-03-11)11 March 1886 Brzeżany,Austria-Hungary (now Berezhany,Ternopil Oblast,Ukraine)
Died	2 December 1941(1941-12-02)(aged 55) Warsaw,occupied Poland
Domestic partner	Marta Thomas-Zaleska
Awards
Signature
Nickname(s)	Adam Zawisza,Tarłowski
Military service
Allegiance	Austria-Hungary(1910–1911), (1914–1917) Second Polish Republic(1918–1939)
Branch/service	Austro-Hungarian Army Polish Legions Polish Army
Years of service	1910–1911(Austro-Hungarian Army) 1914-1917(Polish Legions) 1918–1939(Polish Army)
Rank	Fähnrich(Austro-Hungarian Army) Lieutenant colonel(Polish Legions) Marshal of Poland(Polish Army)
Commands	C-i-Cof thePolish Armed Forces
Battles/wars	World War I Battle of Laski and Anielin Battle of Łowczówek Battle of Konary Battle of Tarłów Battle of Kostiuchnówka Polish-Ukrainian War Polish-Soviet War Vilna offensive Battle of Daugavpils Kiev offensive (1920) Battle of Boryspil Battle of Warsaw (1920) Battle of the Niemen River World War II Invasion of Poland

Born in 1886, he came from humble beginnings and was raised by his maternal grandparents after he became an orphan at age 13. He graduated with distinctions from the localGymnasium.He completed his studies in philosophy and history of art at theJagiellonian University.

During theinterwar period,he was an exceptionally admired public figure inPolandand was regarded as a hero for his exemplary record as an army commander in thePolish LegionsofWorld War Iand the ensuingPolish–Soviet War in 1920.He was appointedCommander-in-ChiefandInspector Generalof thePolish Armed Forcesfollowing MarshalJózef Piłsudski's death in 1935. Rydz served in this capacity at the start ofWorld War IIduring theinvasion of Poland.

When war loomed, political differences fell away and defense became the national priority. Consequently, Rydz's stature eclipsed even that of the president.The shock of the Polish defeat made objective evaluations of his legacy during and after the war difficult; his reputation, very much tied to the critical early months of World War II, remains tendentious and controversial.

Early life

Edward Rydz was born in the city ofBrzeżany(now Berezhany in westernUkraine),Galicia,Austria-Hungary,to Polish parents. He was the son of a professionalnon-commissioned officerin theAustro-Hungarian Army,Tomasz Rydz,and his wife Maria Babiak. Rydz grew up in rather humble circumstances and was orphaned at the age of 13. He was then raised by his maternal grandparents and, after their deaths, by the family of a Dr. Uranowicz, the town physician at Brzeżany.

After graduating with distinction from the localgymnasium(secondary school), Rydz went toKraków,where he completed studies in philosophy and history of art at theJagiellonian University.He then studied to be a painter at theAcademy of Fine Artsin Kraków, and later inViennaandMunich.In 1910–1911 he attended the reserve officers' academy in Vienna and received military training at the renowned Austrian 4th Infantry Regiment, the "Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights".

Rydz finished his military education with distinction and was offered a commission in the Imperial Army, which he declined. In 1912 he became a founder of the Polish paramilitary group, theRiflemen's Association(Związek Strzelecki). Concurrently he completed his art studies, regarded a talented landscape and portrait painter by professors and critics.

Early Military Career

Śmigly-Rydz among a group of officers of the Polish Legions.

Drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army in July 1914, Rydz was transferred in August to thePolish Legionsand fought in World War I in the famous Polish 1st Brigade ofJózef Piłsudski.He took part in numerous engagements against theImperial RussianArmy in the region of the SouthernVistulaand rose quickly in rank. By 1916, he was already a fullcolonel.He did not forget his art, however, and exhibited his work at a gallery in Kraków around that time. In 1917, after their refusal to swear an oath to the Austrian and German authorities, the Legions were disbanded, their soldiersinternedand their leader Józef Piłsudski imprisoned inMagdeburgfortress. By Piłsudski's appointment, Rydz (who was released from prison on grounds of ill health) became commander of thePolish Military Organization(POW) and adopted thenom de guerreŚmigły( "Swift", "Deft" ), which he later officially added to hissurname.

In October 1918 Rydz joinedIgnacy Daszyński's socialist government inLublinas minister of war. Having been promoted tobrigadier general,he emphasized that on accepting the ministerial post he was to be seen as a deputy of Piłsudski. It was at this time that he began using the dual surname Śmigły-Rydz. On 11 November 1918 the government relinquished power to Piłsudski, who became Provisional Head of State. After some hesitation, Piłsudski (though displeased at Śmigły-Rydz having worked with the socialists) confirmed his rank of brigadier general in the Polish army.

Military triumphs

Śmigły-Rydz withMarshalJózef Piłsudskiduring Polish-Soviet War

During thePolish-Soviet Warof 1919–21, Rydz commanded Polish armies in several offensives against theBolsheviks.Among the victorious engagements, he captured the cities ofWilno(Vilnius) andDünaburg.Following his victories on the field, he was appointedCommander-in-Chiefof theLatvianarmed forces and soon liberatedLatgalefrom theRed Army.Subsequently, he annihilated the Red Army's12th Armyand tookKiev.After the Bolshevik counterattack led the Red Army to the gates of Warsaw, Rydz commanded the Central Front of the Polish forces during theBattle of Warsaw of 1920,also known as the "Miracle on the Vistula". In this decisive battle, Śmigły-Rydz's Central Front held firm against the Soviet attack and later blocked the escape routes for the defeated Bolshevik 4th and15th Armies,as well as the 3rd Cavalry Corps of Soviet GeneralGayk Bzhishkyan,which in the end retreated toEast Prussiato be interned by the Germans.

Army inspector 1921-1935

Śmigly-Rydz at army inspectors' conference, 1926

At the conclusion of the Polish-Soviet war, Rydz was appointed Inspector General of the Polish Army in the Wilno district and later in Warsaw. In November 1924, he informally headed the so-calledstrike of the generals,in which a group of Polish Army commanders resigned to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the lack of reaction of the Ministry of Military Affairs to the statements of GeneralFranciszek Latinikthat were unfavorable to former legionnaires. In 1926, during Piłsudski'sMay Coup,Rydz took the Marshal's side and sent troops from Wilno to reinforce anti-government troops in Warsaw. Piłsudski never forgot this fidelity, and in 1929, Rydz was appointed the Marshal's deputy on all matters concerning the East.

"Second Man" in the State

Śmigły-Rydz receives Marshal'sbatonfrom PresidentIgnacy Mościcki,Warsaw,10 November 1936.

On 13 May 1935, following Piłsudski's death, Rydz was nominated by the president and government of Poland to serve in the capacity of theInspector-General of the Polish Armed Forces,the highest Polish military office. This was done in accordance with Piłsudski's wishes. Piłsudski's death saw his followers (theSanacja), divide themselves into three main factions: those supporting PresidentIgnacy Mościckias Piłsudski's successor, those supporting Rydz, and those supporting Prime MinisterWalery Sławek.Mościcki in the end would conclude a power-sharing agreement with Śmigły-Rydz, which saw Slawek marginalised as a serious political player by the end of the year. As a result of this agreement, Śmigły-Rydz was to become thede factoleader of Poland until the outbreak of the war, whereas Mościcki remained influential by continuing as president.

General Śmigły-Rydz(left)and French GeneralMaurice Gamelin,Warsaw, August 1936

From 1935, Rydz saw himself rapidly elevated in rank and position. On 15 July 1936, he was officially awarded the title of "Second Man in the State after the President" by the Polish prime minister. On 10 November, he was promoted to the rank of Marshal of Poland. Rydz's image as Piłsudski's anointed successor was popularized by theObóz Zjednoczenia Narodowego( "Camp of National Unity" ), or "Ozon", movement, but it alienated many of Piłsudski's supporters, who were offended by what they saw as Rydz's acts of self-promotion. The period of Rydz's rule, 1935–39, has often been referred to as "a dictatorship without a dictator". Rydz lacked themoral authorityof Piłsudski, and thePiłsudskiiteswere bitterly divided after his death in 1935. The ruling regime was divided between the Mościcki faction (known as the "President's men" or the "Castle group" ), made up mainly of civilians, and Rydz's group, known as the "Marshal's men", mostly old comrades of Piłsudski and professional officers. Besides these two major groups, there were also supporters of Sławek and other disgruntled Piłsudskiite groups, which were marginalized after the Rydz-Mościcki pact.

Pre-warstampfeaturing Marshal Śmigły-Rydz

The Marshal on a propaganda poster, 1936

The regime became increasinglyauthoritarian,as manifested by the creation of the Ozon movement. However, Ozon never achieved its goal of developing popular mass appeal and transforming Rydz into "Poland's second great leader" (after Piłsudski himself). Several of Poland's most prominent politicians, including Mościcki and Foreign MinisterJózef Beck,made a point of distancing themselves from this movement.

World War II

Śmigły-Rydz inČeský Těšín,12 October 1938. Poland annexedCzechoslovakia'sTrans-Olzaarea while Nazi Germany took control of theSudetenland.

In March 1939,HitlersplitCzechoslovakiainto the occupiedProtectorate of Bohemia and Moraviaandsatellite stateofSlovakia.This encircled Poland with an iron ring on all sides except the east. Rydz was the only member of government who saw the impending danger of a conflict with Germany. However, the time remaining was too short for the creation of a new army operational plan in the west. During negotiations in Moscow in August 1939, Rydz refused all attempts by the Western Powers to obtain Polish permission for the Red Army to march westward, stating that "there is no guarantee that the Soviets will really take active part in the war; furthermore, once having entered Polish territory, they will never leave it."

On 1 September 1939, theGermans invaded Poland,and Śmigły-Rydz was named Commander-in-Chief of all Polish forces. On 7 September, along with most of the government, he evacuated Warsaw as it came under attack. Soon afterwards, Polish coordination began to suffer from issues with their communication equipment, which impaired Rydz's ability to command his forces effectively. InBrest(Brześć) on 11 September, he ordered the Polish capital to be defended at all costs. In his plan, Warsaw and the nearbyModlin Fortresswere to become two redoubt-citadels in central Poland to fight on for as long as possible while the bulk of the Polish forces were to defend theRomanian bridgeheadand await the counterattack promised by Poland's allies – the French and British. Unknown to Śmigły-Rydz, theWestern Allieshad no such plan and expected Poland to fall (seeWestern betrayal). This strategy was further crippled when Soviet forces invaded Poland from the east on 17 September. Realizing that mounting a defence against both Germany and the USSR was impossible, Śmigły-Rydz issued orders to his forces to begin a retreat towards Romania and to not waste men on fighting the Soviet aggressors.

On 18 September 1939, after avoiding capture by Soviet and then German troops, Śmigły-Rydz escaped to Romania and was interned. The crossing of the Polish government into Romania prevented Poland from having to officially surrender and allowed Polish soldiers tocontinue the fightagainst Nazi Germany, though Rydz's flight sparked some controversy because of his position as supreme commander of the Polish armed forces. Large numbers of Polish soldiers and airmen managed to escape into southern Europe through Hungary and Romania and later regrouped in France. After the French surrender, they re-assembled once more, but this time in the UK.

Last years and death

John Guntherwrote after Śmigły-Rydz and Beck were interned in Romania that "They ought, one might say, to have been interned somewhere else before".As the Commander-in-Chief of Polish Armed Forces, Śmigły-Rydz took complete responsibility for Poland's military defeat in September 1939. Rydz had proven himself an extremely able commander on smaller fronts in earlier wars, but was not an experienced strategist in a great conflict. Indeed, in 1922, in an evaluation of Polish generals, Piłsudski had written about him: "in operational work he displays healthy common sense and a lot of stubborn energy. I could recommend him to everybody as a commander of an army, I am however not sure if he possesses sufficient abilities to function as commander-in-chief in a war between two states."

During his internment in Romania, Śmigły-Rydz initiated the creation of aPolish undergroundoriginating from officers who were loyal to the memory of Piłsudski. Still in Romania, on 27 October, he relinquished his function as the Commander-in-Chief and Inspector-General of the Armed Forces. This role was assumed byWładysław Sikorski,who was serving in the newPolish government-in-exilein France (and after 1940 in the United Kingdom).

In the autumn of 1939, Polish journalistMelchior Wańkowiczmet Beck, also in internment, and he managed to talk to him for a few hours. This is what Wańkowicz wrote about this meeting: "It was completely impossible to get to Rydz, as he was kept in wild mountains, in the summer villa ofPatriarch Miron,closely guarded by a special unit of Romanian police. I managed to get to his villa after bribing a Romanian officer, with the help of Rydz's physician, Dr. Cianciara (...) The Marshal spoke with a charming smile, but there was no spark in this smile. He said that after Piłsudski's death, the condition of the army was catastrophic: "The cost of the construction of modest fortifications along our western border was equivalent to an 18-month budget of Poland, and at the same time, we were working on fortifications in the East. A modest armament plan was up to 5 billionzlotys.What was I supposed to do? I am not an economist, ministerEugeniusz Kwiatkowskitold me that we only had 180 million (...) We began partial mobilization in the spring 1939. The nation hated it, more than 1,000 Silesians deserted to Germany. We were unable to keep Poland mobilized for so long, we could not afford it (...) They say that I am a coward. I had three options: to surrender, to kill myself, and to be captured. It was impossible to fight, as I had only half a company of soldiers with me. To kill myself meant failure. To fly to Warsaw? "

Śmigły-Rydz declaring Hitler an enemy of the state,Kraków,6 August 1939

Śmigły-Rydz was transferred from the internment camp to the villa of a former Romanian prime minister inDragoslavele,from where he escaped on 10 December 1940 and crossed illegally into Hungary. His flight to Hungary and rumours about his planned return to Poland were a source of considerable displeasure to his rival Sikorski, now Prime Minister. Sikorski had been in opposition to Śmigły-Rydz and Piłsudski from the time of the 1926 May Coup. Sikorski declared in a telegram to GeneralStefan Grot-Rowecki,leader of theArmia Krajowa(AK) underground resistance in Poland: "the Polish Government will regard a sojourn of theMarshalin Poland as a sabotage of its work in the country. The Marshal must as soon as possible move to some country of theBritish Empire".However, Śmigły-Rydz left Hungary on 25 October 1941, and travelling through Slovakia reached Poland. On 30 October, in strict secrecy, he came back to Warsaw to participate in the resistance movement as a common underground soldier, thus voluntarily suspending his rank as Marshal of Poland. He managed to contact Grot-Rowecki, but remained incognito. He died suddenly of heart failure at the age of 55, on 2 December 1941, only five weeks after his arrival in Warsaw. He was buried in Warsaw under hisnom de guerre"Adam Zawisza". His tombstone at thePowązki Cemeterybore this assumed name until 1991. A new tombstone inscribed with the Marshal's full name was placed over his grave by the people of Warsaw in 1994.

The Marshal's grave in Warsaw.

Rydz was married to Marta Zaleska,néeThomas; they had no children.

Legacy

Edward Śmigły-Rydz's reputation after World War II was generally negative. In theSoviet Union,thePolish People's Republic,and otherEastern Blocstates, he was denounced for his participation in thePolish-Soviet Warin 1920, for the political repression of far-left elements under his military government of the late 1930s, and for his key role in the Polish defeat of 1939. In the West, due to the influence of anti-Piłsudski circles (withWładysław Sikorskias their foremost representative), he was seen as having fled the battlefield in 1939, and little recognition was given to the actual and impossible circumstances of Poland's invasion and defeat by the Germans and Soviets.

Philip Bujak with the restored painting of Edward Śmigły-Rydz

In 2016 a large and detailed oil painting was discovered amongst the archives of theSikorski Museumin London. It had been folded into four and hidden in a briefcase by an unknown person and smuggled to Britain to avoid being taken by the Nazi occupation forces. After quite a feat of restoration funded byPhilip Bujak,a member of thePolish Heritage Society,the fully restored painting was presented back to theSikorski Institutewhere it is currently on display.

Awards and tributes

Polish Decorations

• Order of the White Eagle
• Commander and Knight ofVirtuti Militari
• Grand Cross, Grand Officer and Officer ofOrder of Polonia Restituta,
• Four timesCross of Valour,Golden Cross of Merit(Złoty Krzyż Zasługi), andCross of Independencewith Swords.

Foreign decorations

• Grand Cross of theOrder of the Star of Romania,
• Grand Cross of theOrder of the Crown of Italy,
• Grand Cross of the French Order of theLegion of Honour,
• Grand Officer of the FinnishOrder of the White Rose,
• Grand Cross of theOrder of the White EagleandOrder of Saint Savaof Yugoslavia,
• Grand Cross of theHungarian Order of Merit,
• Grand Cross of the JapaneseOrder of the Rising Sun,
• Knight of Latvia's highest military award,Order of Lāčplēsis(theOrder of the Bearslayer), 2nd class,
• Pulaski Medal (USA)
• Italian Cross of Military Merit.

Honorary Titles

Rydz was Honorary Doctor of the Universities of Warsaw and (then-Polish)Vilniusand theWarsaw University of Technology,as well as an Honorary Citizen of several Polish cities.

Tributes

Marshal Edward Śmigły-Rydz Parkis a large tree-coveredpublic parkin Warsaw, established after World War II on the eastern side of thePolish parliamentbuilding.

Works

Paintings

• 
  Self-portrait, 1906
• 
  Autumn mountain landscape, 1910
• 
  Old Church inZakopane,oil painting, 1910
• 
  Winter landscape from Olcza, 1910
• 
  Self-portrait, 1935

Writings

• On military tactics and theory
• Walka na bagnety (Bayonet Fight), Lwów 1914;
• W sprawie polskiej doktryny (Poland's Military Doctrine), Warsaw 1924;
• Kawaleria w osłonie (Cavalry in protection of troops), Warsaw 1925;
• Byście o sile nie zapomnieli - Rozkazy, Artykuły, Mowy (Do not forget the Might – Orders, Articles and Speeches), Warsaw 1936;
• Wojna polsko-niemiecka (The Polish-German War), Budapest 1941.
• Dążąc do końca swoich dróg (Toward My Path's End), Paris, 1947; London, 1989.
• Illustrations to Piłsudski's book 22 January 1863, Lwów 1920; Contributions to Art Exhibitions in Kraków (1916) and Warsaw (1917). Most of his paintings are lost.

See also

• Coat of arms of Ryc
• Cult of Edward Rydz-Śmigły

Further reading

• Cepnik, KazimierzWódz Naczelny i Marszałek Polski Edward Śmigły-Rydz, Życie i Czyny,Lwów, 1937.
• Eckert,Marian.Historia polityczna Polski lat 1918–1939.Warsaw, 1989.
• Jabłonowski, Marek,i Stawecki, Piotr.Następca komendanta. Edward Śmigły-Rydz. Materiały do biografii.Pułtusk,1998
• Jędruszczak,Hanna, and Tadeusz Jędruszczak.Ostatnie lata Drugiej Rzeczypospolitej (1935–1939),Warsaw, 1970.
• Kaden-Bandrowski,Juliusz.Piłsudczycy,(The Piłsudskiites), Oświęcim, 1916;
• Mirowicz, Ryszard.Edward Śmigły-Rydz: działalność wojskowa i polityczna,Warsaw, 1988.
• Pepłoński,AndrzejWywiad a dyplomacja II Rzeczypospolitej,Toruń, 2004.
• Piłsudski,Józef.Pisma zbiorowe,Warsaw: 1937.
• Seidner, Stanley S., "The Camp of National Unity: An Experiment in Domestic Consolidation," The Polish Review vol. xx, nos. 2–3, 1975, pp. 231–236.
• Seidner,Stanley S., "Reflections from Rumania and Beyond: Marshal Śmigły-Rydz Rydz in Exile," The Polish Review vol. xxii, no. 2, 1977, pp. 29–51.
• Seidner, Stanley S.Marshal Edward Śmigły-Rydz Rydz and the Defense of Poland,New York, 1978.
• Serwatka, Tomasz. "Edward Śmigły-Rydz,"Gazeta:Historia mało znana,(January) 2007,[1]
• Stachiewicz, Wacław.Wierności dochować żołnierskiej,Warsaw, 1998.
• Zaremba, Paweł.Historia Dwudziestolecia 1918–1939,(A History of the Twenty Years, 1918–1939), 2 vols., Paris, 1967.

External links

• Newspaper clippings about Edward Rydz-Śmigłyin the20th Century Press Archivesof theZBW