Walerian Czuma

Walerian Czuma (January 24, 1890 – April 7, 1962) was a Polish general and military commander. He is best known for commanding the Polish forces during the Siege of Lwów in September 1939, during the German invasion of Poland.

Czuma joined the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1914 and served in World War I. After Poland regained independence, he joined the Polish Army and served in the Polish-Soviet War.

During the interwar period, Czuma held various military posts, including commander of the Border Guard (Straż Graniczna) from 1927 to 1929. In 1938, he was promoted to general.

In 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, Czuma was appointed commander of the defense of Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine). Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Czuma's forces held the city against German attacks for over two weeks. After Soviet forces invaded Poland from the east, the city eventually surrendered to the Soviets.

Czuma was taken prisoner by the Soviets and held in various POW camps. Following the Sikorski-Mayski Agreement in 1941, he was released and joined the Polish Armed Forces in the Soviet Union (Anders Army). He later served with the Polish II Corps in Italy, participating in the Italian Campaign.

After the war, Czuma remained in exile in Great Britain. He died in 1962 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.