Józef Urbanowicz

Józef Urbanowicz (25 March 1916 – 6 July 1989) was a Soviet and Polish general and political figure. Urbanowicz served as the head of the Main Political Directorate of the Polish Army in (1965–1971) and Vice Minister of Defense of the Polish People's Republic (1968–1984).

Biography
He was born in the Oryol Governorate in to a Polish working-class family. In 1920 he settled in Riga with his family. After graduating from Polish primary school, he studied for a short time at the Polish Gymnasium in Riga in 1932, from which he dropped out due to lack of funds and communist beliefs. From 1932 to 1935 he was a metalworker. From 1934 to 1938 he studied at the Riga Maritime School. From 1935 to 1938 he was a sailor of a merchant navy. From 1938 to 1939 he served in the Latvian Army in Aluksne In 1939, he joined the Communist Party of Latvia.

After the Soviet annexation of Latvia, he became the main editor of the Polish newspaper Czerwony Sztandar. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union, he served as an officer in the Red Army near Moscow and Staraya Rusa.

In 1943, with the establishment of the Polish Armed Forces in the Soviet Union he became part of it. From 1943 to 1945 he was Deputy Commander in Political Affairs of the 4th Division.

After the founding of the Polish People's Republic, he served in the Polish People's Army as a member of the Polish Workers' Party. From 1945 to 1952 he was Chief of the Political Division of the Polish Navy, and later held similar positions in the Pomeranian War Area and the General Staff Academy. From 1958 to 1960 he was commander of the Dzerzhinsky Political-Military Academy. Urabanowicz was Deputy from 1960 to 1965 and the Head of the Political Directorate of the Polish People's Army from 1965 to 1971. From 1968 to 1984, Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland. From 1984 to 1987 he was the Ambassador of Poland to Mongolia.

Urabaniewicz was a member of the Sejm of the Polish People's Republic from 1965 to 1985 and a member of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party from 1971 to 1986.

He died in Warsaw and was buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery and received a state funeral.

Awards
And other awards
 * Polish People's Republic:
 * POL Virtuti Militari Srebrny BAR.svg Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari
 * POL Order Budowniczych Polski Ludowej (rozetka) BAR.svg Order of the Builders of People's Poland
 * POL Polonia Restituta Oficerski BAR.svg Officer' Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
 * POL Polonia Restituta Kawalerski BAR.svg Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
 * POL Order Sztandaru Pracy 1 klasy BAR.svg Order of the Banner of Work, 1st Class
 * POL Order Sztandaru Pracy 2 klasy BAR.svg Order of the Banner of Work, 2nd Class
 * POL Order Krzyża Grunwaldu 3 Klasy BAR.svg Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 3rd Class
 * POL Złoty Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg Gold Cross of Merit
 * POL Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi BAR.svg Silver Cross of Merit
 * POL Medal 10-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg Medal of the 10th Anniversary of People's Poland
 * POL Medal 30-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg Medal of the 30th Anniversary of People's Poland
 * POL Medal 40-lecia Polski Ludowej BAR.svg Medal of the 40th Anniversary of People's Poland
 * POL Za Warszawę 1939-1945 BAR.svg Medal for Warsaw 1939–1945
 * POL Medal za Odrę Nysę i Bałtyk BAR.svg Medal for Oder, Neisse and Baltic
 * POL Medal Zwycięstwa i Wolności BAR.svg Medal of Victory and Freedom 1945
 * POL Złoty Medal Siły Zbrojne w Służbie Ojczyzny BAR.svg Gold Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland
 * POL Srebrny Medal Siły Zbrojne w Służbie Ojczyzny BAR.svg Silver Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland
 * POL Brązowy Medal Siły Zbrojne w Służbie Ojczyzny BAR.svg Bronze Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland
 * POL Za udział w walkach o Berlin BAR.svg Medal for Participation in the Battle of Berlin
 * POL Złoty Medal za Zasługi dla Obronności Kraju BAR.svg Medal of Merit for National Defence
 * Soviet Union:
 * SU Order of Lenin ribbon.svg Order of Lenin
 * SU Order of the Red Banner ribbon.svg Order of the Red Banner
 * SU Order of Friendship of Peoples ribbon.svg Order of the Friendship of Peoples
 * ValourRibbon.png Medal "For Courage"
 * CombatRibbon.png Medal "For Battle Merit"
 * Ribbon bar for the medal for the Defense of Moscow.png Medal "For the Defence of Moscow" (1944)
 * Caputureberlin_rib.png Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" (1945)
 * Order_of_Glory_Ribbon_Bar.png Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" (1945)
 * 100_lenin_rib.png Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin" (1969)
 * 20 years of victory rib.png Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" (1965)
 * 30 years saf rib.png Jubilee Medal "30 Years of the Soviet Army and Navy" (1948)
 * 40 years saf rib.png Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1958)
 * 50_years_saf_rib.png Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR" (1968)
 * 60 years saf rib.png Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
 * 70 years saf rib.png Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
 * Other countries:
 * Patriotic Order of Merit GDR ribbon bar gold.png Gold Patriotic Order of Merit
 * Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 Bar.png Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945