Edward Śmigły-Rydz

Edward Śmigły Rydz was an important leader of Poland.
He was born in 1886 when Poland did not exist anymore and was partitioned between Austria, Prussia and Russia. Edward was born in the Austrian part. 
Śmigły was studied painting in Cracow and became a painter. During World War 1 he joined Józef Piłsudski's Legions that fought to bring Poland back.
Piłsudski respected him a lot and made him General of the Polish Army. After Piłsudski, the leader of Poland died in 1935, he became the new leader. When World War 2 broke out in 1939 he defended Poland against the Nazi and Soviet invasion.
He lost and had to leave Poland. During World War 2 Śmigły returned to Poland secretly and led a resistance group against the Nazis.
He died in Warsaw in december of 1941.