Wladyslaw Raginis

Władysław Raginis (1908-1939) was a Polish military commander during the Polish Defence War of 1939. He commanded the heroic defence of Polish fortified positions in the Battle of Wizna.

Biography

Władysław Raginis was born June 27, 1908, in Dyneburg in Latvia. 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.

Soon before the World War II started his unit was moved to the Wizna Fortified Area and on September 2 Raginis took command over all the Polish forces in the area. On September 8 his forces (numbering 720 men) were attacked by more than 40 000 German soldiers. To keep the morale of his men high, captain Raginis pledged that he will not leave his post alive.

The defence of Wizna against overwhelming odds lasted for three days. On September 10, 1939, the bunker of captain 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 the Poles that all POWss will be shot if the defence of the bunker will not end. Władysław Raginis decided to end the resistance and committed suicide by throwing himself on a grenade.

His symbolic grave is located just next to the ruins of the bunker he died in. Local primary school is named after him, as well as many streets in many Polish cities. On May 13, 1970, Władysław Raginis was awarded posthumously with the Virtuti Militari medal.