Karol Piasecki (20 January 1897 – 11 July 1953) was a Polish military officer, artillery officer of the General Staff, intelligence operative, and recipient of the Virtuti Militari. He served as Chief of Station No. 4 in Katowice within the Second Department of Polish General Staff (1931–1935) and as Chief of Intelligence (Section II) for Łódź Army and Warszawa Army during the 1939 September Campaign. On 27 September 1939, during the final days of the siege of Warsaw, he carried command dispatches during an aerial evacuation to Lithuania aboard the prototype light bomber PZL.46 Sum. Interned and later held as a German prisoner of war in an Oflag, he emigrated after World War II to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, California, where he owned and operated the Ham and Eggs Restaurant.
Early life and education Karol Piasecki was born on 20 January 1897 in Zator, in the Wadowice district of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, a crown land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the son of Jan Piasecki and Franciszka (née Żmudzińska).
Piasecki completed five years of primary school in Zator, followed by three years of secondary school (gymnasium) in Kraków. He then transferred to the Imperial and Royal Secondary School in Krosno, completing the fourth and fifth forms during the 1913/1914 school year. In Krosno, he was a member of the pro-independence Riflemen's Association.
Military career First World War and Polish–Soviet War In 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Piasecki enlisted in the Polish Legions. He served in the artillery, assigned to the 4th Battery of the 1st Artillery Regiment. Following the Oath crisis in 1917, he was conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian Army, serving from 20 September 1917 to 30 October 1918.
In November 1918, Piasecki joined the newly formed Polish Army. On 18 March 1919, as a former Polish Legions non-commissioned officer serving in the 1st Legions Field Artillery Regiment, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of artillery, with seniority backdated to 1 March 1919.
During the Polish–Ukrainian War and the Polish–Soviet War (1919–1920), Piasecki served on the front lines and commanded the 3rd Battery of the 1st Legions Field Artillery Regiment. For combat actions against Ukrainian and Bolshevik forces, he was decorated on 1 September 1920 with the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari (Fifth Class, cross number 558). On 20 September 1920, his promotion to captain of artillery was confirmed, with seniority effective 1 April 1920.
Silesian Uprisings and covert operations In May 1920, Piasecki was assigned by Section II of the Polish Supreme Command to clandestine intelligence and reconnaissance duties in Upper Silesia during the Upper Silesia plebiscite campaign.
During the Third Silesian Uprising in May 1921, Piasecki used the nom de guerre "Koryński". He commanded a demolition detachment in Subgroup "Krapkowice" of the Wawelberg Group, executing sabotage against German railway infrastructure to prevent German troop reinforcements from reaching the area. He subsequently served as adjutant to the commander of the 2nd Bytom Infantry Regiment.
Interwar service and military intelligence Following the wars, Piasecki was granted a military settlement plot in Adampol, in the Niehniewicze commune of Nowogródek Voivodeship. In early 1922, he was demobilized into the reserve of the 1st Legions Field Artillery Regiment.
In April 1923, he returned to active duty with the regiment in Vilnius (then Wilno). He was promoted to Major of artillery on 18 February 1928, with seniority from 1 January 1928. In July 1929, he was transferred to the 1st Heaviest Artillery Regiment in Warsaw as a battalion commander.
After completing a preparatory course and required line service, Piasecki was admitted on 23 December 1929 to the Higher War School (Wyższa Szkoła Wojenna) in Warsaw as a student of the two-year staff officer course (class of 1929/1931).
On 1 September 1931, upon graduating as a certified General Staff officer (oficer dyplomowany), Piasecki was assigned to the Second Department of Polish General Staff and appointed Chief of Station No. 4 in Katowice. The station was responsible for tactical and operational reconnaissance along the German border, monitoring German military districts in Lower and Upper Silesia, Breslau, and Oppeln. On 17 January 1933, he was promoted to Lieutenant colonel of artillery, with seniority from 1 January 1933. In Katowice, he developed reporting networks across the border area and expanded coordination with the Border Guard and State Police counterespionage units.
In May 1935, Piasecki handed over command of Station No. 4 to Major Kazimierz Szpądrowski. On 30 June 1935, he was placed on the retired list due to permanent medical unfitness for active military service. In civilian life, he lived in Gdynia, working as a director of the trading company "Progress".
World War II Defense of Poland and the Siege of Warsaw In August 1939, Piasecki was mobilized as Chief of Section II (Intelligence) on the Staff of Łódź Army, commanded by Major General Juliusz Rómmel.
Following the withdrawal of Łódź Army toward the central front, Piasecki reached Warsaw with the army headquarters. On 8 September 1939, Rómmel assumed command of Warszawa Army, with Piasecki continuing as Chief of Section II of the army staff throughout the Siege of Warsaw (1939). For his service during the siege, he was awarded the Cross of Valour twice more by General Rómmel on 29 September 1939, bringing his total to six citations.
Aerial evacuation on the PZL.46 "Sum"
On the morning of 27 September 1939, as Warsaw prepared for capitulation, General Rómmel dispatched a courier flight to deliver command reports and military dispatches to the Polish Supreme Commander, Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły, who was interned in Romania.
At 04:30 AM, the second prototype of the PZL.46/II "Sum" light reconnaissance bomber took off from the damaged runway at Pole Mokotowskie airfield in central Warsaw. Piloted by test pilot Stanisław Riess, with observer Jerzy Fabisiak and mechanic Wiktor Szumowski, the aircraft carried Lieutenant Colonel Piasecki as the official courier of the army command.
With southern flight routes cut off by German forces, Riess flew northeast toward neutral Lithuania, landing at Aleksotas aerodrome in Kaunas. Lithuanian authorities impounded the aircraft and interned Piasecki and the crew.
Internment and German POW captivity Piasecki remained interned in Lithuania through late 1939 and early 1940. Following the Soviet annexation of Lithuania in June 1940 and the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941, the area came under German control. Piasecki was taken into German custody and held for the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war in an Oflag for Polish officers.
Emigration and life in Los Angeles In 1945, Piasecki was liberated from German captivity by Western Allied forces. Like many pre-war Polish officers and intelligence personnel, he chose not to return to post-war Poland and remained in exile.
He emigrated to the United States, settling in Southern California. In Los Angeles, he entered the hospitality trade as the owner and operator of the Ham and Eggs Restaurant.
He was married to Alina Piasecka, who survived him. In Los Angeles, he was associated with Our Lady of the Bright Mount Church, the Polish-American parish located on West Adams Boulevard.
Death Karol Piasecki died on 11 July 1953 in Los Angeles, at the age of 56.
Funeral services were held at Our Lady of the Bright Mount Church, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Military ranks Rank Date of rank Seniority Second lieutenant 18 March 1919 1 March 1919 Captain 20 September 1920 1 April 1920 Major 18 February 1928 1 January 1928 (rank 35) Lieutenant colonel 17 January 1933 1 January 1933 (rank 22)
Honours and awards Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross (Fifth Class, No. 558) – awarded 1 September 1920, confirmed 16 February 1921 Cross of Independence – 6 June 1931, "for dedicated service in the cause of Poland's independence" Cross of Valour, awarded six times: Four citations for actions during the 1918–1921 campaigns Two citations for the Siege of Warsaw (1939), awarded 29 September 1939 by General Juliusz Rómmel Gold Cross of Merit – 10 November 1928 Commemorative Badge "For Faithful Service" of the 1st Brigade of the Polish Legions
See also Station No. 4 of the Polish General Staff Second Department of Polish General Staff PZL.46 Sum Juliusz Rómmel Kazimierz Szpądrowski
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