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Duch, Boleslaw Bronislaw

Date of birth:
November 15th, 1896 (Borszczow, Poland)
Date of death:
October 9th, 1980 (London, Great Britain)
Buried on:
Polish War Cemetery Cassino
Nationality:
Polish (1918-1939, IInd Republic)

Biography

Major General Boleslaw Duch, a veteran from WW1, commanded several units during the Second World War. He died at the age of 94 in London.

1914: Lieutenant
1919: First Lieutenant
1919: Captain
1924: Major
1929: Lieutenant Colonel
1938: Colonel
1940: Brigadier General
1945: Major General

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1917
Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille (Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille II. Klasse)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
1921
Medal Zwyciestwa
Period:
Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)
Awarded on:
February 19th, 1922
Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari - Krzyz Srebrny
Period:
Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)
Awarded on:
August 2nd, 1931
Krzyz Niepodleglosci
Awarded on:
March 19th, 1935
Krzyz Zaslugi in Gold
Awarded on:
November 11th, 1937
Order Odrodzenia Polski Kawalerski
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Brygadi (Brigadier)
Unit:
1 Dywizja Grenadierów, Wojsko Polskie
Awarded on:
1940
Order Virtuti Militari Gold Cross
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Dywizji (Major General)
Unit:
HQ, 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, Polish II Corps, Polish Armed Forces in the West
Awarded on:
December 31st, 1944
Citation:
"General Duch has shown himself to be a brilliant and tenacious commander throughout the campaign in Italy. He distinguished himself particularly during the battle for Monte Cassino, where his skill as a general and a leader contributed greatly to the success of the operation. During the campaign on the Adriatic sector in July and August 1944 he fought his Division brilliantly, and time and again, by swift and bold action outmanoevred the enemy, he himself on many occassions conducting the course of the battle personally. His skill, courage, and leadership have enabled the 3rd Carpathian Division to attain many notable successes, in particular, the capture of Loreto on 2nd and 3rd July 1944 and of Castel Fidardo on the same day, and the subsequent actions at Osimo on 4th July and on the Metauro River from 19th to 22nd July 1944."
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Brygadi (Brigadier)
Unit:
HQ, 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, Polish II Corps, Polish Armed Forces in the West
Awarded on:
1944
Krzyz Monte Cassino
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Dywizji (Major General)
Unit:
HQ, 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, Polish II Corps, Polish Armed Forces in the West
Awarded on:
June 1st, 1945
Order Virtuti Militari Knight
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Brygadi (Brigadier)
Awarded on:
1945
Medal Wojska za Wojne 1939-1945
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Dywizji (Major General)
Awarded on:
1970
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Dywizji (Major General)
Awarded on:
April 28th, 1973
Commandeur de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
After War Period (1945-now)
Rank:
General Dywizji (Major General)
Awarded on:
April 2nd, 1979
Order Odrodzenia Polski Komandorski z Gwiazda
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General Dywizji (Major General)
Unit:
HQ, 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division, Polish II Corps, Polish Armed Forces in the West

With swords
Krzyz Zaslugi - Gold

Sources