Allegiance Poland Rank General dywizji Awards | Years of service from 1914 Battles/wars Monte Cassino Name Boleslaw Duch | |
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Born November 15, 1885
Borszczow, Austrian Galicia ( 1885-11-15 ) Died October 9, 1980(1980-10-09) (aged 94)
London, England | ||
Bolesław Bronisław Duch (1885–1980) was a Polish Major General and General Inspector of the Armed Forces in 1980.
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Biography
Duch served during World War I, 1914–18, in the Polish Legions. After Poland regained independence, he served in the Polish Army. In 1935-1938 he commanded the 73rd Infantry Regiment. At the outbreak of World War II, the commander of the 39th Reserve Infantry Division General Bruno Olbrycht was ill and the division was de facto commanded by Duch.
After Poland was overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939, Duch managed to evade capture and served in western Europe, becoming commander successively of the Polish 1st Grenadier Division in France (1940), 1st Rifle Brigade of the 1st Polish Corps in Scotland (1942–43), and of the 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division of the 2nd Polish Corps (1943–46).
In 1947, Duch settled in London and became chairman of the Council of the World Polish Veterans' Association. He was the last General Inspector of the Armed Forces (from February 1980 until his death in October that year).