Jan Rzepecki Officer of the Polish Army, qualified colonel, military historian Date of Birth: 29.09.1899 Country: Poland

1. Early Life and Military Service
2. Service in the Polish Army
3. World War II and Resistance
4. Post-War Activities
5. Arrest and Imprisonment

Early Life and Military Service

Stefan Korboński, a Polish army officer, graduated colonel, and military historian, was born into the Polish nobility. From 1914, he served in the Polish Legions, initially in the 1st Infantry Regiment. Following the "Oath Crisis" of 1917, he joined the Polish Armed Forces, completing officer school and earning his first officer's rank.

Service in the Polish Army

In November 1918, Korboński joined the Polish Army, commanding a platoon in the School of Officer Cadets. From 1922-1924, he studied at the Higher Military School in Warsaw. On October 1, 1924, he became an officer in the General Staff and was assigned to the Officer Infantry School in Warsaw, where he commanded a battalion of officer cadets and taught strategy and military tactics.

During the May Coup of 1926, led by Józef Piłsudski, Korboński supported the constitutional authorities with his battalion. After Piłsudski's victory, he was reassigned to the provinces as a battalion commander. In 1928, he was transferred to the training center in Rembertow. From 1935-1939, he taught tactics at the Higher Military School.

World War II and Resistance

During the September Campaign of 1939, Korboński served as chief of the III (Operations) Department of the "Kraków" Army. After the occupation of Poland, he became chief of staff for the Warsaw-City district of the Union of Armed Struggle (ZWZ). From 1940-1944, he headed the Information and Propaganda Bureau of the ZWZ-Home Army.

Using various pseudonyms, Korboński worked with individuals of left and liberal views, which drew criticism from right-wing resistance members. He participated in the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, and after its capitulation, was imprisoned in German POW camps until 1945.

Post-War Activities

After his release, Korboński returned to Poland in secret as commandant of the underground organization "NIE" (Independence). From May 1945, he led the delegation of the armed forces. He advocated for the cessation of armed resistance, as the new Polish government had been recognized by the US and UK.

Korboński opposed a public statement urging Home Army soldiers to abandon the underground, arguing for the creation of a political structure that could influence the country's future, including the upcoming parliamentary elections. He officially dissolved the Home Army on August 14, 1945, and established the illegal political organization "WiN" (Freedom and Independence).

Arrest and Imprisonment

In November 1945, Korboński was arrested and imprisoned. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison in 1947, before being pardoned and working in the training department of the Academy of General Staff. In 1949, he was arrested again and released in 1955, with his reputation rehabilitated.

Later in life, Korboński became a researcher at the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences, earning a doctorate. He was posthumously awarded the Order of the White Eagle in 1995 and received numerous military decorations.