Polish General Staff

Last updated
Chief of the General Staff
Szef Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego
Odznaka pamiatkowa Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego.png
Emblem of the PGS
Flaga Szefa Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego.svg
Flag of the PGS Chief
Wieslaw Kukula.png
Incumbent
General Wiesław Kukuła
since 10 October 2023
Polish Armed Forces
Member ofGeneral Staff of the Polish Armed Forces
Reports to Minister of National Defence
Appointer President of Poland
Formation28 October 1918
First holder Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski
Website www.wojsko-polskie.pl/sgwp

Polish General Staff, formally known as the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (Polish: Sztab Generalny Wojska Polskiego) is the highest professional body within the Polish Armed Forces. Organizationally, it is an integral part of the Ministry of National Defence and the Chief of the General Staff is the highest ranking military officer at the Ministry. It was created in 1918, and for a time bore the name Main Staff (Sztab Główny). Currently General Wiesław Kukuła holds the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (Szef Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego). [1]

Contents

History and structure

On 25 October 1918, a decision was made to establish the directorate of the chief of staff of the Polish Army. In 1928 the General Headquarters of the Polish Army was established, known commonly at the time as the Main Staff (Sztab Główny). In September 1939, during the Invasion of Poland by the Wehrmacht and the Red Army, all the institutions of the General Staff ceased to function and were transferred to joint German and Soviet. control. On 8 August 1944, the General Command of the Polish Army was created and on 1 January 1945, the National Council of Poland decided to establish the General Staff of the Polish Army, the head of which was appointed Soviet-Polish General Vladislav Korchits.

The General Staff consists of the following command personnel and organizational units at the Ministry of National Defence (MON):

Command personnel (Kadra kierownicza): [2]

General Staff Directorates (Zarządy Sztabu Generalnego WP): [3]

List of Chiefs

Kingdom of Poland (1917–1918)

Head of the Inspectorate
No.PortraitHead of the InspectorateTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Barth-felix-in-das-leben-im-bild-1915-nr46-s07.jpg
von Barth, Felixgen. piech.
Felix von Barth  [ pl ]
(1851–1931)		23 April 191719 October 191818 days
2
Henryk Minkiewicz (1880-1940).jpg
Minkiewicz, Henrykpłk
Henryk Minkiewicz
(1880–1940)		19 October 191828 October 19189 days
Chief of Staff
No.PortraitChief of StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Tadeusz Rozwadowski.jpg
Rozwadowski, Tadeuszgen. ppor.
Tadeusz Rozwadowski
(1866–1928)		28 October 191814 November 191817 days

Second Polish Republic (1918−1939)

No.PortraitChief of the General StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Tadeusz Rozwadowski.jpg
Rozwadowski, Tadeuszgen. ppor.
Tadeusz Rozwadowski
(1866–1928)		14 November 191815 November 19181 day
2
Szeptycki.jpg
Szeptycki, Stanisławgen. broni
Stanisław Szeptycki
(1867–1950)		16 November 19187 February 191984 days
3
Stanislaw Haller.PNG
Haller, Stanisławgen. ppor.
Stanisław Haller
(1872–1940)		8 February 191922 July 19201 year, 165 days
(1)
Tadeusz Rozwadowski.jpg
Rozwadowski, Tadeuszgen. por.
Tadeusz Rozwadowski
(1866–1928)		22 July 19201 April 1921253 days
4
Wladyslaw Sikorski, 1923.jpg
Sikorski, Władysławgen. dyw.
Władysław Sikorski
(1881–1943)		1 April 19216 December 19221 year, 249 days
5
Jozef Pilsudski1.jpg
Piłsudski, JózefPierwszy Marszałek Polski
Józef Piłsudski
(1867–1935)		17 December 19229 June 1923174 days
(3)
Stanislaw Haller.PNG
Haller, Stanisławgen. dyw.
Stanisław Haller
(1872–1940)		9 June 192316 December 19252 years, 190 days
6
Edmund Kessler.jpg
Kessler, Edmundgen. bryg.
Edmund Kessler  [ pl ]
(1880–1930)		16 December 192512 May 1926147 days
(3)
Stanislaw Haller.PNG
Haller, Stanisławgen. dyw.
Stanisław Haller
(1872–1940)		12 May 192615 May 19263 days
7
Bukacki.jpg
Burhardt-Bukacki, Stanisławgen. bryg.
Stanisław Burhardt-Bukacki
(1890–1942)		17 May 192628 June 192642 days
8
Tadeusz Piskor.jpg
Piskor, Tadeuszgen. bryg.
Tadeusz Piskor
(1889–1951)		28 June 19265 December 19315 years, 160 days
9
Janusz Gasiorowski.jpg
Gąsiorowski, Januszgen. bryg.
Janusz Gąsiorowski
(1889–1949)		3 December 19317 June 19353 years, 186 days
9
Waclaw Stachiewicz.PNG
Stachiewicz, Wacławgen. bryg.
Wacław Stachiewicz
(1894–1973)		7 June 193518 September 19394 years, 103 days

Polish government-in-exile (1939−1946)

No.PortraitChief of the General StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Aleksander Kedzior.jpg
Kędzior, Aleksanderpłk
Aleksander Kędzior  [ pl ]
(1897–1986)		7 November 19395 June 1940211 days
2
Klimecki.jpg
Klimecki, Tadeuszgen. bryg.
Tadeusz Klimecki
(1895–1943)		5 June 1940 4 July 1943  †3 years, 29 days
3
Kopanski Stanislaw.jpg
Kopański, Stanisławgen. dyw.
Stanisław Kopański
(1895–1976)		21 July 19433 September 19463 years, 44 days

Republic of Poland / People's Republic of Poland (1945−1989)

No.PortraitChief of the General StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Gen. Wladyslaw Korczyc.jpg
Korczyc, Władysławgen. broni
Władysław Korczyc
(1893–1966)		9 May 194518 January 19548 years, 254 days
–
No image.png
Pigarewicz, Borysgen. broni
Borys Pigarewicz  [ pl ]
(1898–1961)
Acting		18 January 195423 March 195464 days
2
Jerzy Bordzilowski.jpg
Bordziłowski, Jerzygen. broni
Jerzy Bordziłowski
(1900–1983)		23 March 19546 February 196510 years, 320 days
3
Wojciech Jaruzelski.jpg
Jaruzelski, Wojciechgen. dyw.
Wojciech Jaruzelski
(1923–2014)		6 February 196510 April 19683 years, 64 days
4
Boleslaw Chocha.jpg
Chocha, Bolesławgen. dyw.
Bolesław Chocha
(1923–1987)		10 April 196811 January 19734 years, 276 days
5
Siwicki.Florian.07.JPG
Siwicki, Floriangen. broni
Florian Siwicki
(1925–2013)		12 January 197321 November 198310 years, 313 days
6
Jozef Uzycki.jpg
Użycki, Józefgen. broni
Józef Użycki
(born 1932)		22 November 19831 January 19906 years, 40 days

Third Polish Republic (1990−present)

No.PortraitChief of the General StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Jozef Uzycki.jpg
Użycki, Józefgen. broni
Józef Użycki
(born 1932)		1 January 199024 September 1990266 days
2
No image.png
Stelmaszuk, Zdzisławgen. broni
Zdzisław Stelmaszuk  [ pl ]
(born 1936)		25 September 19904 August 19921 year, 314 days
3
No image.png
Wilecki, Tadeuszgen. broni
Tadeusz Wilecki  [ pl ]
(born 1945)		4 August 19929 March 19974 years, 216 days
4
Henryk Szumski.jpg
Szumski, Henrykgen. broni
Henryk Szumski
(1941–2012)		10 March 199729 September 20003 years, 203 days
5
Czeslaw Piatas.jpg
Piątas, Czesławgen.
Czesław Piątas
(born 1946)		30 September 200031 January 20065 years, 123 days
–
Mieczyslaw Cieniuch.jpg
Cieniuch, Mieczysławgen. broni
Mieczysław Cieniuch
(born 1951)
Acting		31 January 200627 February 200627 days
6
2008.08.15. Gen Franciszek Gagor Fot Mariusz Kubik 01.jpg
Gągor, Franciszekgen.
Franciszek Gągor
(1951–2010)		27 February 2006 10 April 2010  †4 years, 42 days
–
Mieczyslaw Stachowiak.JPG
Stachowiak, Mieczysławgen. broni
Mieczysław Stachowiak  [ pl ]
(born 1952)
Acting		10 April 20107 May 201027 days
7
Mieczyslaw Cieniuch.jpg
Cieniuch, Mieczysławgen.
Mieczysław Cieniuch
(born 1951)		7 May 20106 May 20132 years, 364 days
8
Mieczyslaw Gocul.jpg
Gocuł, Mieczysławgen.
Mieczysław Gocuł
(born 1963)		7 May 201331 January 20173 years, 269 days
9
Leszek Surawski.JPG
Surawski, Leszekgen.
Leszek Surawski
(born 1960)		31 January 20172 July 20181 year, 152 days
10
Rajmund Andrzejczak.JPG
Andrzejczak, Rajmundgen.
Rajmund Andrzejczak
(born 1967)		2 July 201810 October 20235 years, 100 days
11
Wieslaw Kukula.png
Kukuła, Wiesławgen. broni
Wiesław Kukuła
(born 1972)		10 October 2023Incumbent1 year, 58 days

See also

Badge of a WSW-certified officer of the General Staff of the Second Polish Republic (1918-1939). Memorial badge of the Polish General Staff.PNG
Badge of a WSW–certified officer of the General Staff of the Second Polish Republic (1918–1939).

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References

  1. ↑ "Polish president appoints new army chiefs". Polskie Radio. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  2. ↑ "Kadra Kierownicza". Wojsko-Polskie.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  3. ↑ "Zarządy SGWP". Wojsko-Polskie.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2021-02-25.
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