Władysław Raginis

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Władysław Raginis
Captain Władysław Raginis
Place of birth	Dyneburg
Place of death	Wizna, Poland
Years of service	?
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	Battle of Wizna, Polish Defensive War
Awards

Władysław Raginis (June 27, 1908 – September 10, 1939) was a Polish military commander during the Polish Defensive War of 1939. He commanded the defence of Polish fortified positions in the Battle of Wizna.

Raginis was born in Dyneburg in Livonia. Soon after graduating from a gymnasium he joined the Infantry NCO School and then Infantry Officers School. After graduating on July 15, 1930, he was assigned to the 76th Infantry Regiment stationed in Grodno, where he was a platoon commander. He was advanced to lieutenant and then to captain, and assigned to the elite Border Defence Corps Regiment "Sarny", where he commanded a machine gun company.

In anticipation of the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, his unit was moved to the Wizna Fortified Area where he took command over all Polish forces in the region as of September 2. On September 7 his forces (numbering 720 men) were attacked by more than 42 000 German soldiers. To keep the morale of his men high, Captain Raginis pledged that he would not leave his post alive.

The defence of Wizna against overwhelming odds lasted for three days. On September 10, 1939, the bunker commanded by Raginis was the last remaining pocket of resistance. Although heavily wounded, Raginis was still commanding his troops. At noon, the German commander, Heinz Guderian, threatened that all Polish POWs would be shot if the defence of the bunker did not cease. Raginis decided to end the resistance and committed suicide by throwing himself on a grenade.

His symbolic grave is located next to the ruins of the bunker he died in. The local primary school is named after him, as well as several streets in Poland. On May 13, 1970, Raginis was posthumously awarded with the Virtuti Militari medal.