Wanda Pełczyńska
Polish
Amazons
During the defence of Lwów in 1918, its female citizens, on their own initiative, created the Volunteer Women’s Legion. They were fighters, couriers, and medics. The Legion served throughout the Polish-Soviet War. Women operated sewing rooms and eateries for the military. Illiterate troops found the work of educators very important; these educators would read letters from families and newspapers and also taught the men to read and wright. In the Battle of Warsaw, the Volunteer Women’s Legion represented the last line of defence.
Aleksandra
Zagórska
Initiator and commandant of the Volunteer Women’s Legion. The first female major of the Polish Armed Forces. She lost her 14-year-old son Jurek Bitschan, who fell during the defence of Lwów against the Ukrainians in 1918. His eulogy is sung to this day.
Maria
Wittek
A military intelligence officer with the Polish Military Organisation and the Polish Armed Forces, she took part in the defence of Lwów against Budyonny’s Cavalry Army. She was awarded the Virtuti Militari – the highest Polish military decoration. After the Polish-Soviet War, she was made commandant of the Women’s Military Training. The first female general in the Polish Armed Forces.
Wanda
Gertz
During the Great War, disguised as a man, she served in the artillery with the Polish Legions. During the defence of Vilnius against the Bolsheviks in July 1920, only twenty-five at the time, she commanded a battalion of several hundred female volunteers.
Wanda
Pełczyńska
A Scout instructor and head of the Education Instructor Department with the Army High Command. She organised frontline taverns. In 1935-1938, she served as a Deputy to the Polish Sejm.
