World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseWładysław Anders was born in the village of Krośniewice-Blonie, near Kutno in Poland, which was then part of the Russian Empire. His father, Albert Anders, was of German ethnicity from the Baltic states region; his mother's name was Elizabeth. He studied at the Riga Technical University, and during WW1 he served as a junior officer with the Russian 1st Krechowiecki Lancers Regiment. After the Polish independence, he joined the Polish Army as a cavalry officer.

ww2dbaseWhen Germany and Russia invaded Poland in Sep 1939, Anders commanded a cavalry unit, and was wounded a number of times during the failed defensive. He was taken prisoner by Russian forces in late Sep, and was imprisoned in Lwów, Poland and then at the Lubyanka prison in Moscow, Russia. On 22 Jun 1941, he was released on the grounds that he would lead a Polish unit to fight against the Germans. Instead of fighting on the side of the Russians, however, he led his men to the Middle East to form the Polish 2nd Corps. In 1943, the 2nd Corps was sent by the Western Allies to Italy, where Anders' men were instrumental in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

ww2dbaseAfter WW2, Lieutenant General Anders chose to live in the United Kingdom instead of Poland, as Poland was now essentially a puppet state in the Soviet Union. He served as the inspector general of the Polish forces-in-exile while living in London. He passed away in 1970, and was buried at the Polish War Cemetery at Monte Cassino, where many of his men lost their lives.

Photographs

Władysław Anders Timeline