Wanda Gertz

Major Wanda Gertz (13 April 1896 – 10 November 1958) was a Polish soldier who served in the Polish Legion during World War I while masquerading as a man, under the name "Kazimierz 'Kazik' Zuchowicz". She subsequently served in the Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet ("Women's Voluntary Legion") of the Polish Army during the Polish–Soviet War, and was an officer of the Armia Krajowa ("Home Army"), codenamed "Lena", during World War II.

Early life and background

She was born Wanda Gertz von Schliess in Warsaw, the daughter of Jana and Florentyny Gertz von Schliess. Her family originated in Saxony, but had settled in Poland during the eighteenth century during the rule of the House of Wettin. Gertz's father had taken part in the January Uprising in 1863-64, and Gertz grew up hearing the stories of her father and his friends. Years later she wrote: "As a five-year-old girl I had never had any dolls, only innumerable toy soldiers, which my older brother, his friends and I played with. Even then, I knew that high rank was not for girls. My fondest dream was to become an officer. However, as a girl I could only be a private."