Karol Swierczewski "Walter"

[Lancer44]

We looked at colourful personality of Marshal Rokossowsky. Let's look at another soviet Pole, perhaps even more colourful -
General Karol Swierczewski "Walter".
Born in 1897 in Warsaw as Karl Tenenbaum. During WWI in Russia. In 1917 joined Red Guard. In soviet-polish war commander of battalion. He volunteered to go to the polish front in Tukhaczevski's army.
In inter war period officially in Red Army. More likely in NKVD special duties.
His first touch of fame come during spanish civil war. Sent there by Stalin as military adviser, Swierczewski took command of 35 republican division. He become famous as "general which never bow to whistling bullets". No wonder, he barely coul hear any bullets or even artillery fire because he was constantly drunk. He always had in hand one of his Walher pistols - he had two - PP and model 4, this earned him nickname "Walter". He used his pistols frequently shooting personally deserters, nationalist POWs and with particular ferocity any republican soldiers which displayed "battle fatigue" syndroms. His other custom was that often he paraded at the front in long johns only. Not really typical for soviet colonel...
During this time Swierczewski become friend of Ernest Hemingway which become his drinking companion. Hemingway immortalized Swierczewski in his famous novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" as colonel Golz.
After spanish adventure, Swierczewski promoted to general rank or rather comdiv - soviet equivalent at this time, first become teacher in Frunze Military Academy, than took command of 248 Infantry Division.
In the first weeks of operation Barbarossa near Wiazma, Swierczewski displayed his talent as the commander. In one week from 10,000 soldiers he had five left, including himself.
Other soviet commanders for such achievements were shot, send to Gulag or become privates in penalty companies. Swierczewski survived due to his NKVD connections and become commander of a reserve brigade.
In 1943 Swierczewski was sent to organize led by communists polish army. In 1944 he again displayed his talent when due to his wrong decisions during Vistula crossing, 1-st Polish Army suffered losses of 1500 soldiers dead. This achievement earned him command of 2-nd Polish Army.

50 zlotys note from communist era with hero general "Walter"...
On paper his army was a formidable force. It consisted of 5 infantry divisions, one AAA division, two anti- tank artyillery brigades, one tank corps with 3 Tank brigades and one motor rifle brigade additionally supported by soviet 16-th tank brigade and one heavy tank regiment with JS-2 tanks plus one regiment of rocket artillery - "Katyushas"
All together 89,161 people, 521 tanks and self-propelled guns, 1736 artillery pieces.
2-nd Polish Army commanded by Swierczewski was part of Marshal Koniev's Ukrainian Front.
Her main task was to capture Dresden, (or whatever remained from Dresden after allied bombing. Having under his command army which even by soviet standards could be classified as very strong, Swierczewski become main author of biggest military disaster on the Eastern Front since 1943.
In two weeks of fighting, during what become known as Beutzen Battle, he lost 4,902 KIA, 2,798 MIA, 10,532 WIA. All together
22 percent of his army. 57% of armoured vehicles were distroyed as well as 20 percent of mortars and artillery pieces.
This was the price 2-nd Polish Army paid for alcoholism of her commander.
After WWII Swierczewski become polish vice-minister of defence in communist government. He travelled extensively even to USA. This fact further indicates his special duties. In 1947 during inspection of units near Baligrod his konvoy is attacked by UPA - ukrainian nationalist insurgents and Swierczewski - Tannbaum was finally dead. As always he was drunk and instead of ducking into the ditch he left his willis jeep and walked without "bowing to the whistling bullets".
There is strong indication that B. Bierut, code name Ivanov, NKVD agent which become president of communist Poland wanted to get rid of Swierczewski and UPA action was arranged by NKVD.

Lancer44

Sources:

M.J.Chodakiewicz, Zagrabiona pamięć. Wojna w Hiszpanii 1936-1939, Warszawa 1997
http://www.infoukes.com/upa/series01/sum30.html
http://www.wandea.org.pl/swierczewski.htm
http://www.kommunisten-online.de/Kriegstreiber/wolnosc.htm
http://stayfriends.berlin.de/s/63083/Brandenburg/Strausberg/EOS/EOS_General_Karol_Swierczewski-Walter.html
http://www.infoukes.com/upa/series01/vol22.htmlhttp://akcjawisla.semper.pl/rozdzial5.html
http://www.panzer.punkt.pl/artykuly/budziszyn/budziszyn.htm

[Dani]

Thanks Lancer for your post!. I have a banknote with this guy and always I wonder who should be!
Thanks once again!

[Jim O]

He was a "colorful" character for certain.

Do you know why his birth name was German?

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Jim O

He was a "colorful" character for certain.

Do you know why his birth name was German?

Most probably Tenenbaums were Jewish of German extraction. Even if Warsaw belonged at the time of his birth to Russian Empire, many Jewish people had strong ties with Germany.

"Walter" was immensely popular in DDR after the war. Most probably because Spanish war was treated by German communists as heritage.
I attached link which shows that Germans even named schools after him.

[Jim O]

That makes sense. Many East European Jews had German surnames, having come east from Germany generations earlier.

I wonder if Stalin put him in charge of Second Polish Army intentionally, knowing that he would likely be a terrible leader.

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Jim O

I wonder if Stalin put him in charge of Second Polish Army intentionally, knowing that he would likely be a terrible leader.

I don't think. Stalin gave 2-nd Polish Army to Marshal Koniev. Koniev was a good commander and no one could predict that Swierczewski will change his orders. Anyway Koniev was probably very patient because if Swierczewski would do similar thing to Zukov, he would probably end up as private or shot on the spot.
Rokossovski was also hard towards his subordinates changing his orders at will.
Swierczewskis mistakes caused also huge soviet loses.
"Walter" was just "reliable" comrad. That's all.