Lesnevsky, Iosif

Iosif Lesnevsky (1867–1921) was a lieutenant-general, Minister of War of Poland (1919–1920). Born in a noble family in the estate of Poznaevo near Vitebsk, he graduated from Polotsk Cadet Corps (1884) and the 2nd Military Konstantinovskaya School, after which he was sent to St. Petersburg Grenadier Regiment. He reached the ranks of lieutenant (1885), lieutenant (1889), guard lieutenant (1894), staff captain (1896), captain (1900), colonel (1907), major general (1914). He commanded the 82nd Dagestan Infantry Regiment, with which he joined the front line of the First World War. In 1915, he was appointed commander of the brigade of the 2nd Grenadier Division. In September 1917, he moved to the 1st Polish Corps as commander of the 8th Siberian Rifle Division. The headquarters was located in Minsk, the formation of the future Polish Army was taking place in Belarus. The corps commander, Lieutenant-General Dovbor-Musnitsky, appointed Lesnevsky as commander of the 3rd Polish Rifle Division, formed in the town of Yelnya, Smolensk province. Later he headed the task force near Lviv (1918). From 1919 to 1920, he was War Minister of Poland and member of the State Defense Council.

The portrait of Lesnevsky, Minister of War

Honors:
Order of St. Vladimir III degree with Swords (1915);
Order of St. Stanislav I degree with Swords (1915);
Order of St. Anne I degree with Swords (1916);
Order of St. Vladimir II degree with Swords (1916).