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Stanislaus Maria Graf von Szeptycki

Stanislaus Maria Graf von Szeptycki was born in Galicia in 1867.  Oberst Szeptycki was chief of staff for FML Johann von Kirchbach auf Lauterbach and his II. Corps and took part in the offensive against Russia in spring 1915.  A year later, Szeptycki was in command of the 30. Field Artillery Brigade, part of the 12. Infatry division in Emmerich Hadfy's Corps.  Szeptycki's interest in the Polish Legion was known to the Austrian HQ, and so they arranged for him to have a greater role in its affairs.  Following the declaration of the independent Kingdom of Poland in December 1916, both Germany and Austria set about reorganising the autonomous Polish Legions into a Polish National Army.  Szeptycki was appointed chief of the Polish Auxiliary Corps, which replaced the Polish Legion under GM Stanislaus Puchalski. While chief of the Polish Auxiliary Corps, his troops were required to take an oath of allegiance to the Polish National Council in Warsaw, which was not even a real government but a German puppet organisation designed to raise troops to fight the Entente.  Most troops refused to swear an oath and the Corps was severely reduced in size.  As an Austrian officer, Szeptycki did not have to take the oath. In April 1917, Szeptycki was appointed governor of Austrian-administered Poland, and he took his position in Lublin, replacing FZM Karl Kuk. This appointment lasted until February 1918, when Szeptycki was replaced by GdI Anton Liposcak.  Szeptycki was promoted to Generalmajor on 20 December 1917, and was in command of the Austrian 85. Schützen Brigade at the same time.  Following the war, Szeptycki became commander in chief of the Lithuanian-Belorussian Front, and his combined armies occupied Minsk in February 1919, hoping to annex the territory and restore greater Poland.  The Red Army attacked Szeptycki's flanks in May, and his army fell back in disarray, attempting to defend Vilnius, Grodno, and finally Warsaw against the overwhelming Soviet forces.  Only the "miracle on the Vistula" saved the Polish state, of which Szeptycki played an important part.  The Red Army was driven in reverse through August and September, and Szeptycki was able to seize Grodno and Vilnius for Poland.  The latter place was relented for Lithuania in October 1919, but Szeptycki armed his subordinate, General Zeligowski, who then occupied the city in the name of the Polish inhabitants.  Szeptycki remained on the General Staff in Poland thereafter. Stanislaus Szeptycki died in 1946. GWS, 10/03 Attention: Visit FEEFHS map room for a Map of Galicia. Be sure to open in a separate window to toggle between this page and FEEFHS.

Eastern Front, May 1915 Immediately preceding the Dunajec offensive I. Armee, Gen. d. Kav. Viktor Dankl    II. Korps, Feldmlt. Johann Frh. v. Kirchbach    Chief of Staff, Oberst Gf. Szeptycki        25. inf. div.,  Feldmlt. Archduke Peter Ferdinand           49. inf. brig., Genmj. Edl. v. Severus           50. inf. brig., Genmj. Ritt. v. Bolberitz           25. field art. brig., Genmj. v. Jemrich        4. inf. div.,  Genmj. Edl. v. Bellmond           8. inf. brig., Oberst Mietzl           4. field art. brig., Oberst Machaczek           1. brig. d. poln. Legion: Oberst Josef Pilsudski