Włodzimierz Zagórski

Who was Włodzimierz Zagórski?

Włodzimierz Zagórski of Ostoja coat of arms was an Austro-Hungary military intelligence soldier, Polish general, staff officer, aviator.

He was born in France in a noble family that was part of the Clan of Ostoja and was educated there. He spoke fluently several languages and was trained as a pilot at the very beginnings of the aviation. Served as a military intelligence officer (Evidenzbureau) in the Austro-Hungarian army as an officer responsible for the activities against Russia. During the years of 1914–1916 he was a chief of staff of Polish Legions. Since November 1918 in Polish Armed Forces. He took part in the Battle of Warsaw against the Soviet invader in 1920 under the command of general Rozwadowski.

His informant was Józef Piłsudski then Russian Empire citizen.

In 1921-1923 he was in reserve, then from March 1923 he was chief of Military Industry Department. From 17 August 1924 until 18 March 1926 he was chief of Air Force Department in the War Ministry. An important figure in the development of the Polish air force, he was accused of mismanagement and corruption centered around the Francopol company, as a result of press campaign. During the May 1926 coup d'état, on the orders of general Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski, Zagórski took command of the Warsaw Air Group from Ludomił Rayski on May 12 and decided to use the airplanes against the forces of Józef Piłsudski. Arrested on May 15, 1926 in Warsaw with four other generals, who during the Piłsudski armed coup took the side of the legal government, and imprisoned in Wilno. As he was a skilled pilot himself, he was also falsely accused of personally flying on missions to bomb the Piłsudski soldiers.