Edward Rydz-Śmigły (help·info) (pronounced [ˈɛdvard ˈrɨdz ˈɕmigwɨ]) sometimes Edward Śmigły-Rydz (help·info) (March 11, 1886 – December 2, 1941); nom de guerre Śmigły, Tarłowski, Adam Zawisza) was a Marshal of Poland, Polish political figure, Commander-in-Chief of Poland's armed forces, and a painter and poet. After many earlier successes as an army commander during the Polish-Soviet War, Rydz succeeded Józef Piłsudski as General Inspector of th...
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Edward Rydz-Śmigły (help·info) (pronounced [ˈɛdvard ˈrɨdz ˈɕmigwɨ]) sometimes Edward Śmigły-Rydz (help·info) (March 11, 1886 – December 2, 1941); nom de guerre Śmigły, Tarłowski, Adam Zawisza) was a Marshal of Poland, Polish political figure, Commander-in-Chief of Poland's armed forces, and a painter and poet. After many earlier successes as an army commander during the Polish-Soviet War, Rydz succeeded Józef Piłsudski as General Inspector of the Armed Forces in 1935, following Piłsudski's death. He served in that capacity during the Invasion of Poland, which marked the beginning of World War II.
Edward Rydz was born in the village of Łapszyn near Berezhany, Galicia, Austria-Hungary. He was the son of a professional NCO in the Austro-Hungarian Army, Tomasz Rydz, and Maria Babiak. The family endured rather humble circumstances and he was orphaned at the age of 13 years. He was then raised by his maternal grandparents and, after their deaths, by the family of Dr. Uranowicz, the town...
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