Zdzisław Latawiec

Zdzisław Latawiec was a leading middle-distance runner in Galicia and Lodomeria, until World War I a part of Austria-Hungary. In 1912, he became the Austrian Champion in the 1,500 m race and set the Austro-Hungarian record in the 3,000 m. After Poland gained independence, he won three golds at the inaugural Polish Championships in the 1,500 m, the 3,000 m, and the 3,000 m team event, adding silver in the 800 m. Five records from the time between 1910 and 1912 were officially recognised in 1921, when the Polish Athletics Association conducted its first verification of national records. In 1912, he was entered for the Olympic Games to represent Austria in the middle distances but did not start. Eight years later, he was again selected for the Polish team at the 1920 Olympic Games. However, due to the Polish-Soviet War, Poland ultimately did not send a team.

Latawiec graduated from the gymnasium in Lvív in 1911 and attended the Academy of Commerce until 1914. He also studied law for two years at Jan Kazimierz University (now University of Lviv). From 1912 to 1918, he served in the Austro-Hungarian Army, initiated by the war in the Balkans. In World War I, he was promoted to lieutenant of the mountain artillery officer corps. After Polish independence he enlisted as a volunteer in the Polish Army and was formally accepted into the Polish Army in 1919 while his rank of lieutenant was also confirmed. In the Polish-Soviet War, he fought on the Eastern Front from 1919–20, eventually in the rank of captain.

After the war, Latawiec was promoted to the rank of major in the 17th Field Artillery Regiment. In 1923, he was transferred to the 6th Horse Artillery Squadron in Lvív as deputy commander. One year later, he became the first commander of the new 13th Horse Artillery Squadron. In 1926 and 1927 he commanded squadrons of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment. Subsequently, he was appointed deputy commander of the 27th Field Artillery Regiment in Volodymyr. In 1928, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1932, he was transferred to the 31st Light Artillery Regiment in Toruń as deputy commander and was appointed the regiment’s commander one year later. From 1936-39 he held the position of commandant of the Dęba Training Camp. The precise circumstances of his death are unknown.

Amongst other decorations, he was awarded the Cross of Valour twice, the Gold Cross of Merit, the Independence Medal and Silver Medal for Bravery.