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Bolesław Chocha
Bolesław Chocha
Born	6 August 1923; Grodno, Second Polish Republic
Died	2 May 1987 (aged 63); Józefów, Polish People's Republic
Allegiance	Polish People's Republic
Service / branch	Polish People's Army
Years of service	1943-1979
Rank	Generał dywizji (Major general)
Unit	1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division; 6th Pomeranian Airborne Division
Commands	Commander of the 6th Pomeranian Airborne Division; Chief of Polish General Staff; Deputy Minister of National Defence; Commander of the General Staff Academy
Battles / wars	Second World War
Awards	(see below)
Other work	First Secretary of PZPR in Józefów

Bolesław Chocha (born August 6, 1923; died May 2, 1987) was a Polish military commander, publicist, and military theorist. Bolesław held the rank of divisional general in the Polish People's Army and also served as Chief of the General Staff of the Army. In addition to his military career, he was a political and social activist. He was born in Grodno and passed away in Józefów.

Biography

By the time World War Two had initiated, Bolesław had completed four grades at the state gymnasium and high school named after Adam Mickiewicz in Grodno. Due to his father—Konstanty—constantly engaging in battles with the Red Army, the NKVD deported him and his family to Kazakhstan in February 1940 in retaliation. During his time in Kazakhstan, he worked as a blacksmith and carpenter.^[1]

In May 1943, Bolesław joined the Red Army, volunteering for the 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division; he was later promoted to the rank of ensign. He fought as a platoon commander in the machine gun company of the 3rd battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment [pl]. In the beginning of 1944, he became the deputy commander of the 8th company; later, he completed a battalion command course at the Officers' Infantry School in Ryazan and, as a distinguished graduate, remained in its staff—even after the school was relocated to Lublin—as the head of the head of the scientific department of the heavy machine gun battalion. In September that same year, he was transferred to Staff of the Military District Command No. VII in Lublin, serving there as the inspector of combat training in the department. From March to May 1947, he participated in operations against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as part of the Vistula Operational Group [pl].^[1]

From 1948 to 1951, he studied at the General Staff Academy as a senior lecturer in general tactics. From August 1953, he was the deputy head of the Department of General Tactics and Staff Services, from September 1954, the deputy head of the Department of General Tactics, and from October 1956, the deputy head of the Department of General Tactics and Operational Art for general tactics.^[1]

In December 1957, he was awarded the title of Paratrooper of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of the Polish People's Republic. On July 13, 1960, by virtue of a resolution of the Council of State of the Polish People's Republic, he promoted to the rank of brigadier general, later being elevated to the rank of division general by July 30.^[1]

Promotions

Chorąży ( Standard-bearer) - 1943
Podporucznik (Second lieutenant) - 1944
Porucznik (First lieutenant) - 1945
Kapitan (Captain) - 1946
Major (Major) - 1948
Podpułkownik (Lieutenant colonel) - 1952
Pułkownik (Colonel) - 1957
Generał brygady (Brigadier general) - 1960
Generał dywizji (Major general) - 1965

Awards and decorations

Polish:
- Order of the Banner of Labour, 1st Class (1968)
- Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 3rd Class (1970)^[2]
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1963)
- Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1958)
- Cross of Valour (1966)
- Silver Cross of Merit (twice, 1945, 1946^[3])
- Silver Medal for Merit on the Field of Glory (twice, 1945, 1946)
- Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland (1974)
- Medal of the 40th Anniversary of People's Poland
- Medal for Oder, Neisse and Baltic (1947)
- Gold Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland (1958)
- Silver Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland
- Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland
- Medal for Participation in the Battle of Berlin (1970)
- Gold Medal of Merit for National Defence (1973)
- Silver Medal of Merit for National Defence (1968)
- Bronze Medal of Merit for National Defence (1966)^[4]
Soviet:
From other countries:
- Order of the People's Army with Laurer Wreath (Yugoslavia, 1967)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (Finland, 1969)
- 30th Anniversary of the Bulgarian People's Army Medal (Bulgaria, 1974)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Szumiło, Mirosław (2023). Gierek: droga do władzy (Wydanie 1 ed.). Łódź : Lublin: Księży Młyn Dom Wydawniczy ; Wydawnictwo UMCS. ISBN 978-83-7729-711-7.
^ "Ceremonial Decoration of Frontline Participants". Nowiny (in Polish). 6 May 1970. p. 1.
^ M.P. z 1947 r. Nr 23, poz. 103
^ Wojskowy Przegląd Historyczny, no. 1 (41), January-March 1967, page 420.
^ "Medals of the 50th Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the USSR for Members of Foreign Delegations". Trybuna Robotnicza (in Polish). 23 February 1968. p. 1.