berek joselewicz

Berek Joselewicz (1764-1809), was a Jewish-Polish merchant and a colonel of the Polish Army during the Kościuszko Uprising. He joined the uprising and initially served in Polish militia. Later he formed and equipped a Jewish cavalry regiment and commanded it in the forces of Tadeusz Kościuszko. His unit took part in the 1794 defence of Praga, in which they suffered heavy casualties. After the Uprising has been defeated, Joselewicz left for Galicia and then for Italy. There he joined the Polish Legions under Henryk Dąbrowski. As a commander of sabre company in Polish cavalry units he fought in various battles of the Napoleonic period. Among them were the battles of Trevia, Novi, Hohenlinden, Austerlitz and Friedland. He was awarded with Virtuti Militari medal for his merits. From 1807 he fought in various battles in Poland. He was killed in the Battle of Kock in 1809.

Berek Joselewicz

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