Władysław Kasza

Władysław Kasza - (born 6 August 1895 in Polanka (Krosno), Krosno, died 25 January 1937 in Warsaw aged 41) - Podpolkovnik of infantry of the Polish Armed Forces, independence activist, awarded the Virtuti Militari.

Early life
He was born on the 6th of August 1895 in the village of Polanka (Krosno), Krosno in the family of Tomasz, a farmer and Zofia from Gieruck. Before 1914, he went to, and then in Sanok, where he completed sixth grade. As of 1913, he was active in the Union of Active Struggle and Riflemen's Association.

Service
On the 17th of August 1914, he joined the Polish Legions (WW1) and was assigned to the 9th company of the. On the 15th of March 1915 he was transferred to the 8th company of the On the 1st of January 1917 he was assigned the title of a standard-bearer of the regiment. In April 1917, he served in the National Inspectorate of Enlistment. From the 16th of September 1917 to the 31st of October 1918, he served in the Austro-Hungarian Army. On the 1st of October 1918, he passed the Matura at.

On the 15th of November 1918, he was accepted to the Polish Armed Forces, temporarily serving as a podporuchik given by major general Bolesław Roja. During the years of fighting from 1918 to 1921 Kasza served in the 4th Legions' Infantry Regiment. During this period he captured a total of around 400 prisoners, seized four cannons and 30 machine guns. On the 17th of February 1919, he was wounded in Lviv.

On the 3rd of May 1922 he was promoted to Captain with seniority accompanying him from the 1st of June 1919 and the 281st place in the infantry officer corps. On the 10th of July 1922 he was approved as the commander of the 3rd battalion of the 4th Legions' Infantry Regiment in Kielce. On the 31st of March 1924, he was promoted to Major with seniority as of the 1st of July 1923 and 89th place in the infantry officer corps. After being promoted to Major he was approved as commander of the battalion. On the 25th of October 1924, he was transferred to the Border Protection Corps as commander of the.

In January 1928, he was transferred from KOP to the in Piotrków as the commander of the 3rd battalion. In April of this year, he was transferred to the 12th Infantry Regiment (which belonged to Kraków) in Wadowice as the commander of the 3rd battalion. In March 1929, he was transferred to the in Cieszyn as deputy commander of the regiment. On the 24th of December 1929, the president of the Second Polish Republic made him Podpolkovnik and 11th place in the infantry corps as of the 1st of January 1930.

On the 20th of November 1932, he was transferred to the as deputy commander of the regiment. In August 1933, he was dismissed from his position retaining his previous service allowance. In April 1934, he was transferred to the Częstochowa Square Command as commander. From the 5th of November 1935, he commanded the 9th Legions' Infantry Regiment in Zamość. On the 12th of January 1937, he was transferred to the as commander.

Death
On the night of the 24–25 January 1937, he committed suicide in Warsaw, using a firearm. He died unmarried, having no children.

Awards

 * Silver Virtuti Militari nr 2008 - 19 July 1921
 * Cross of Independence - 6 June 1931 „for work in the cause of regaining independence”
 * Cross of Valour 4 times
 * Gold Cross of Merit - 10 November 1928 „in recognition of services rendered in the field of work in individual branches of the military”
 * Silver Cross of Merit
 * Swastika of the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions
 * Swastika of the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions
 * Swastika of the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions
 * Swastika of the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions

Cited sources

 * Kasza Władysław: Kolekcja Orderu Wojennego Virtuti Militari, sygn. I.482.73-6771. Military Historical Office (Available 2023-01-20)
 * Lista starszeństwa oficerów Legionów Polskich w dniu oddania Legionów Polskich Wojsku Polskiemu (12 kwietnia 1917). Command of the Polish Legions, 1917.
 * Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych. (Available 2022-01-19).
 * Lista starszeństwa oficerów zawodowych. Warsaw: Ministry of Military Affairs, 1922.
 * Rocznik Oficerski 1923. Warsaw: Ministry of Military Affairs, 1923.
 * Rocznik Oficerski 1924. Warsaw: Ministry of Military Affairs, 1924.
 * Rocznik Oficerski 1928. Warsaw: Ministry of Military Affairs, 1928.
 * Rocznik Oficerski 1932. Warsaw: Ministry of Military Affairs, 1932.
 * Lista starszeństwa oficerów zawodowych piechoty. 5 czerwiec 1935. Warsaw: Infantry Department of the Ministry of Military Affairs, 1935.
 * Ś. p. pułk. Władysław Kasza. „Good evening! Red Courier”. Nr 26, s. 5, 26 January 1937.
 * Ś. p. pułk. Władysław Kasza „Lviv newspaper”. Nr 20, s. 3, 27 January 1937.