Born: January 7, 1895, Rzeszów, Poland
Died: September 3, 1954, London, Great Britain
Buried: London, Great Britain – Wandsworth Cemetery
Medals: Polish – Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari Military Order, Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari Military Order, Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, twice the Cross of Valor; British – Order of the British Empire; French – Officer’s Cross of the Legion of Honor, Croix de Guerre avec Palm
Prewar fates:
Kazimierz Dworak completed two semesters of law studies at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. During World War I, in 1915-1917, he graduated from the Military Academy in Vienna, Wiener Neustadt and Hainburg in Austria. From January to November 1918 on the Italian front in cavalry units of the Austrian army. Between November 5 and December 29, 1918, in Italian captivity. On December 29, 1918, he joined the Polish Army – the Polish Army of General Haller – as a lieutenant. From December 1918 to March 1919, he served as the commander of the 2nd Squadron of the 3rd Light Cavalry Regiment. From April 28 to November 1, 1919, as a member of the staff of the 6th Polish Rifle Division, he participated in the fights against the Ukrainians. Participant in the Polish-Soviet War in 1919-1921 in the ranks of the 12th Infantry Division. For his bravery on the front, he was awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari. A graduate of senior commanders’ courses in France (1921) and the War College in Warsaw (1924). In the years 1924-1925, Chief of Staff of the 6th Independent Cavalry Brigade, in the years 1927-1932 – deputy commander of the 15th Uhlan Regiment. On January 1, 1931, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and in March 1938 – colonel. In September 1932, he was appointed commander of the 24th Uhlan Regiment in Kraśnik, and he carried out its motorization. His regiment was eventually included in the 10th Cavalry Brigade commanded by Col. Stanisław Maczek.
Fates during the war:
In the September Campaign of 1939, Kazimierz Dworak continued to fight as the commander of the 24th Uhlan Regiment, defending, among others, Rzeszów. On September 19, 1939, with the 10th Cavalry Brigade, he crossed the Polish-Hungarian border and was interned. He then got to France, where from January to May 1940 he served as deputy commander of the 10th Armored and Motorized Brigade. In May-June 1940, he was the commander of the Polish Cavalry Reserve Center in France. After the failure of the French campaign, he got to Great Britain, where from October 1940 to January 1941 he served as deputy commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Corps in Scotland, and then until March 1942 he was the commander of the 5th Cadre Rifle Brigade.
From March 1942 to April 1945, he was continuously the deputy commander of the 1st Polish Armored Division. He went through the entire battle trail of the Division. In April 1945, he was transferred to the Polish Army Training Inspectorate and promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and from October 1945 he served as deputy commander of the 1st Polish Corps – again deputy to General Stanisław Maczek.
Post-war fate:
After demobilization from the Polish Armed Forces, he remained in exile in Great Britain. He died after long suffering in London on September 3, 1954. 7 days later during the funeral in St. Mary’s Church in London, and then at the Wandsworth cemetery, among others former soldiers of the 24th Uhlan Regiment were present and giving honour to their long-time commander.
author: Aneta Hoffmann