Bolesław Kontrym

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This article is part of the series: Polish Secret State History of Poland

Bolesław Kontrym
Born	August 27, 1898 Zatruka partitioned Poland
Died	January 2 or 20, 1953 Warsaw, Poland

Bolesław Kontrym (1898—1953), also known by his codenames: Żmudzin, Biały, Bielski, and/or Cichocki, was a Polish army officer, cichociemny, soldier of the Armia Krajowa, organizer of the secret police force, and participant in the Warsaw Uprising.

[edit] Biography

Kontrym was born August 27, 1898 in Zaturka near Łuck (Wołyń). His military career started when he volunteered for the Imperial Russian Army in March 1915. Initially he served in the 106th Infantry Regiment at which he finished NCO training in Saratov. Between August and December of 1915, he commanded the platoon of 250th Infantry Regiment and from Jun 1916 served as an adjutant of the 3 Battalion of 127 Infantry Regiment. In August 1917 promoted to commanding officer of the cavalry recon unit of the 660th Infantry Regiment and at the same time promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Kontrym joined Polish Army units that were forming in Russia and from 1918 served in the 5th Polish Cavalry Regiment of the II Polish Army Corps. The II Polish Army Corps was disarmed and interned by the Germans at Kaniow on May 1918. Bolesław Kontrym escaped from the German POW camp and attempted to join Polish Army units in Murman, Russia. On October 1918 he was arrested by the Bolshevik Cheka and conscripted into the Red Army. He fought against the Polish Army as a commander of 82 Infantry Regiment and 28th Brigade of the 10th Infantry Division. For his commanding talents and bravery, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner three times. On February 1921, he was transferred from his unit to study at the Frunze Military Academy. During that time, he contacted Polish Military attaché płk. Romuald Wolikowski, to whom he passed Soviet military secrets. His espionage activities were discovered and he had to escape to Poland.