Józef Montwiłł-Mirecki, a militant of the Polish Socialist Party

On 27 February 1879, Józef Montwiłł-Mirecki, a militant of the Polish Socialist Party, was born a forgotten hero of the conflict for independency from the time of partitions.

As his underground companions recalled, he was privately secretive and speechless, even shy. "Truth, I am shy but brave," Mirecki said. He didn't say anything like that. His courage passed to the legend of the conflict for independence.

Before going into battle, Mirecki had the habit of instructing his subordinates: “Boys, you must fight the last one, regardless of the wounds, with the silage out, holding 1 hand to the gut, you can shoot the another perfectly and effectively. If I fall down, let everyone proceed to do their job, I ask you only on the outside, put a noodle in my mouth and light it.” At the same time, he did his best to spare unnecessary casualties during combat action. He felt that as the commander he had to go into the fire first and that he had to come down last.

“The velocity of the decision, the self-control, the unwavering calm at the most dangerous moments were astonishing to the bravest of the brave” – as the celebrated author Gustav Daniłowski recalled.

How he lived, how he died. His last cry, before the death of the Czarski azipers, was: “Long live Poland Independent!”.

He utilized to be a widely respected symbol of the conflict for independence. In the interwar his name was even named the full settlement in Łódź.

Today Mirecki is forgotten. The fearless fighter for independency and socialism completely does not fit the propaganda needs of modern historical politics.

author: Przemysław Kmieciak