Marshal of Poland

Marshal of Poland Marszałek Polski
File:Flaga Marszałka Polski.svg Rank flag
File:Army-POL-OF-10.svg Shoulder strap
Country	Poland
Service branch	Polish Land Forces Polish Air Force Polish Navy Polish Special Forces Polish Territorial Defence Force
Rank	Five-star
NATO rank code	OF-10
Formation	19 March 1920
Next lower rank	General Admiral (Navy, JW Formoza)

Marshal of Poland (Polish: Marszałek Polski) is the highest rank in the Polish Army. It has been granted to only six officers. At present, Marshal is equivalent to a field marshal or general of the army (OF-10) in other NATO armies.

History

File:Buława Rydza-Śmigłego.JPG

Buława of a Marshal of Poland

Today there are no living Marshals of Poland, since this rank is bestowed only on military commanders who have achieved victory in war. Recently, however, the rank of four-star with the modernised name Generał has been introduced, and on August 15, 2002, was granted to Czesław Piątas, at present civilian, former Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces.

List of Marshals

In all, the following people have served as Marshals of Poland.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth-Death)	Appointed	Aged	Information
1	File:Józef Piłsudski (-1930).jpg	Józef Piłsudski (1867–1935)	19 March 1920	52 years, 105 days	First Marshal of Poland
2	File:Maarschalk Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929), Bestanddeelnr 158-1095 (cropped).jpg	Ferdinand Foch (1851–1929)	13 April 1923	71 years, 193 days	French general who was Supreme Allied Commander during World War I, also made Marshal of France and an honorary British Field Marshal
3	File:Marshal Rydz-Smigly LOC hec 27123.jpg	Edward Rydz-Śmigły (1886–1941)	10 November 1936	50 years, 244 days	Served as Marshal until World War II. He was a major figure during the invasion of Poland.
4	File:Rola-Żymierski Michał.jpg	Michał Rola-Żymierski (1890–1989)	3 May 1945	54 years, 241 days	First Marshal of the Polish People's Republic
5	File:Маршал Советского Союза дважды Герой Советского Союза Константин Константинович Рокоссовский.jpg	Konstanty Rokossowski (1896–1968)	5 November 1949	52 years, 319 days	Also Marshal of the Soviet Union
6	File:Marian Spychalski.jpg	Marian Spychalski (1906–1980)	7 October 1963	56 years, 305 days	Died in office