Wanda Gertz
| Wanda Gertz | |
|---|---|
Wanda Gertz
|
|
| Birth name | Wanda Gertz von Schliess |
| Born |
13 April 1896 Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire |
| Died | 10 November 1958 (aged 62) London, England |
| Buried at | Powązki Military Cemetery, Warsaw, Poland (52°15′30″N 20°57′11″E / 52.25833°N 20.95306°ECoordinates: 52°15′30″N 20°57′11″E / 52.25833°N 20.95306°E) |
| Allegiance |
 Poland
|
| Service/branch |
 Polish Land Forces
|
| Years of service |
|
| Rank | Major |
| Commands held |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | See Awards section |
Major Wanda Gertz (13 April 1896 – 10 November 1958) was a Polish soldier who served in the Polish Legion during World War I while masquerading as a man, under the name "Kazimierz 'Kazik' Zuchowicz". She subsequently served in the Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet ("Women's Voluntary Legion") of the Polish Army during the Polish–Soviet War, and was an officer of the Armia Krajowa ("Home Army"), codenamed "Lena", during World War II.
She was born Wanda Gertz von Schliess in Warsaw, the daughter of Jana and Florentyny Gertz von Schliess. Her family originated in Saxony, but had settled in Poland during the eighteenth century during the rule of the House of Wettin. Gertz's father had taken part in the January Uprising in 1863-64, and Gertz grew up hearing the stories of her father and his friends. Years later she wrote: "As a five-year-old girl I had never had any dolls, only innumerable toy soldiers, which my older brother, his friends and I played with. Even then, I knew that high rank was not for girls. My fondest dream was to become an officer. However, as a girl I could only be a private."
In 1913, Gertz graduated from the Gimnazjum Kuzienkowej in Warsaw. While still at school Gertz had joined the then illegal Girl Guides, belonging to the 4th Troop "Emilia Plater". After the beginning of World War I in 1914, she joined the Konfederacji Polskiej, an independent morale-raising organization. Gertz delivered propaganda leaflets and made clothes for prisoners of war. She then joined the 4th Warsaw Battalion, but in August 1915 when the Battalion joined the 1st Brigade of the Polish Legion, women were prohibited from serving in the front lines.
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Wikipedia