Bolesław Bronisław Duch (1896–1980) was a Polish Major General and General Inspector of the Armed Forces.
Life
Duch was born on 15 November 1896 at Borshchiv and attended schools in Ternopil before the outbreak of World War I. After Poland regained independence, he served in the Polish Army. In 1935-1938 he commanded the 73rd Infantry Regiment. At the outbreak of World War II, the commander of the 39th Reserve Infantry Division General Bruno Olbrycht was ill and the division was de facto commanded by Duch.
After Poland was overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939, Duch managed to evade capture and served in western Europe, becoming commander successively of the Polish 1st Grenadier Division in France (1940), 1st Rifle Brigade of the 1st Polish Corps in Scotland (1942–43), and of the 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division of the 2nd Polish Corps (1943–46).
In 1947, Duch settled in London and became chairman of the Council of the World Polish Veterans' Association. He was the last General Inspector of the Armed Forces (from February 1980 until his death in October that year).
Promotions
- 60px 1914: Second Lieutenant (Podporucznik)
- 60px 1919: Lieutenant (porucznik)
- 60px 1919: Captain (Kapitan)
- 60px 1924: Major (Major)
- 60px 1929: Lieutenant Colonel (Podpułkownik)
- 60px 1938: Colonel (Pułkownik)
- 60px 1940: Brigadier (Generał brygady)
- 60px 1945: Major General (Generał dywizji)
Decorations
thumb|125px|Duch's gravestone, Polish War Cemetery, [[Monte Cassino, Italy]]
- 60px Knight's Cross of the Virtuti Militari (1 June 1945),
- 60px Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari (1940)
- 60px Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari
- 60px Commander's Cross with Star of the Polonia Restituta
- 60px Cross of Valour (Poland), 8 times
- 60px Cross of Independence
- 60px Golden Cross of Merit (Poland), with Swords
- 60px Gold Cross of Merit
- 60px Croix de Guerre (France)
- 60px 1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal (France)
- 60px Commander of Legion of Honour (France)
- 60px Military Cross (United Kingdom)
- 60px War Cross of Military Valor (Italy)
- 60px Medal for Bravery (Austria-Hungary)
See also
- List of Poles