Franciszek Kamiński

Franciszek Wawrzyniec Kamiński, pseudonym: „Olsza”, „Kowal”, „Zenon Trawiński” (20 September 1902 – 24 February 2000) was a Polish politician and military leader, commander of the Peasant Battalions during World War II. After the war, he was a member of the State National Council and the Legislative Sejm. Imprisoned for political reasons during the Stalinist period (from 1950 to 1956).

Biography He came from a peasant family. He was active in scouting. In 1920, during the Polish–Soviet War, he volunteered for the Polish Army.

From 1926 to 1929, he studied at the Faculty of Mathematics and Philosophy of the University of Warsaw. He received military training, after which he was appointed a reserve officer. He was an activist of the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie" and People's Party. He participated in the organization of 1937 peasant strike in Poland. Maciej Rataj, fearing the delegation of the party by the Sanation authorities, entrusted him with securing the property of the People's Party.

After the German invasion of Poland, he started to create underground structures of the peasant movement. Initially, he was in favor of including peasants in the Union of Armed Struggle. However, the reluctant attitude of the leadership of this formation to the People's Party led to the decision to create a separate organization. Already at the beginning of 1940 he made such a proposal to the Central Leadership of the People's Movement.

In August 1940, the Peasant Guard was created (in the spring of 1941 it changed its name to Peasant Battalions). Franciszek Kamiński was appointed commander of this formation and held this function until the end of World War II.

In 1942, during the ethnic cleansing of Zamojszczyzna by Nazi Germany organized speeches by peasant guerrilla units against the occupation forces. In October the same year, the College of Judges of the Supreme Military Court in Warsaw overruled his judgment and discontinued the proceedings. After being released, he started working as an official. He retired in 1973. He no longer undertook active political activities.

From 1957 to 1959 he presided and managed the work of the Historical Commission of Peasant Battalions established at the United People's Party. From 1988 he was a member of the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites. He was buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery.

Awards

Legacy In August 2003, a monument to general Franciszek Kamiński was unveiled in Lublin. In October 2007 the museum and hall of memory dedicated to him were opened. In 1993 he became Honorary citizenship of Warsaw Honorary citizenship of Zamość