Jerzy Sosnowski

Jerzy Ksawery Franciszek Sosnowski (Lemberg, Austrian Galicia, 3 December 1896 – 1942, 1944, or 1945, in Poland or the Soviet Union) was a Major in Section II ("Dwójka") of the Polish General Staff and a Polish spymaster in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany (1926–1934), where he used the pseudonyms Georg von Nałęcz-Sosnowski and Ritter von Nalecz. In the Soviet Union, he was known as Jurek Sosnowski, and some sources call him Stanislaw Sosnowski. Jerzy Sosnowski was born into a well-to-do family. His father was an engineer who owned a construction company in Lemberg, capital city of Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In August 1914 Jerzy Sosnowski joined the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in the Austrian army, and late in the same year he was transferred to the cavalry officers’ academy in Holice. On graduation, he was sent to the Eastern Front. Later he completed a machine-gunner course; and in March 1918, an aviation course in Wiener Neustadt's Theresian Military Academy. After Poland regained independence in November 1918, Sosnowski joined the newly created Polish Army. He fought with distinction in the Polish–Soviet War, as a soldier of the 8th Uhlan Regiment of Prince Józef Poniatowski. Promoted to rotmistrz, he became commander of a horse squadron of the 8th Regiment. Sosnowski was an excellent horseman, taking part in international competitions in Paris and Berlin. In 1926 Sosnowski, following advice of his friend, captain Marian Chodacki, became a member of the Second Department of Polish General Staff, which was responsible for military intelligence as well as espionage activities (see: History of Polish intelligence services). After completing a course, he was sent to Berlin, becoming director of the In-3 office of Polish intelligence. Upon arriving in German capital, Sosnowski presented himself as a Polish Baron Ritter von Nalecz, who deeply disliked Jozef Pilsudski and wanted to closely cooperate with Germany. Furthermore, he was presenting himself as a rabid anti-communist, member of a secret anti-Bolshevik military organization.