Zouave - Polish Zouaves of Death

Polish Zouaves of Death

In 1863, during the Lithuanian and Polish uprising against the Russian Empire, a French ex-officer who had served previously in one of the French zouave regiments, François Rochebrune, organised the Zouaves of Death. Members of this Polish unit swore "to conquer or to die" and not to surrender. They wore a black uniform with white cross and red fez.

The unit's baptism by fire occurred at the Battle of Miechów, where under the command of adjutant Wojciech Komorowski, they successfully charged Russian forces defending the local cemetery. However, the overall engagement was a defeat for the Poles. On February 17, 1863. Lt. Tytus O'Brien de Lacy escaped with 400 zouaves to Galicia in March 1863. In the Battle of Chroberz the Zouaves covered the retreat of the main body of Polish forces under Marian Langiewicz. They also fought at the follow-up Battle of Grochowiska where they captured Russian artillery positions but suffered very high casualties.

Commanding officers of the regiment were:

• Colonel François Rochebrune;
• Lieutenant Count Wojciech Komorowski;
• Lieutenant Tytus O'Brien de Lacy;
• Lieutenant Antoni Wojcicki; and
• Lieutenant Tenente Bella.

Chronology of the Zouaves of Death:

• clashed with Russian dragoons at the Battle of Chroberz on March 17, 1863;
• captured six cannon at the Battle of Grochowiska on March 18, 1863;
• following the Battle of Grochowiska 400 zouaves escaped to Galicia.
• twenty-one remaining zouaves were killed in the Battle of Igołomia on May 5, 1863.

See January Uprising