Aleksandra Zagórska

Lt. Col. Aleksandra Zagórska, primo voto Bitschan, secundo voto Zagórska, aka Aleksandra Bednarz (born 24 April 1884 in Lublin, died 14 April 1965 in Warsaw) – Lieutenant Colonel of Polish Armed Forces, soldier of Legions, organizer and commandant of Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet, independence activist.

In 1904 she enrolled at Jagiellonian University. At the same year she joined Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party. In 1906, together with Czesław Świrski, she established secret manufactory, where they produced explosives for Combat Organization. Later she joined Union of Armed Struggle and Riflemen's Association. She organized women's squads within Polish Military Organisation. In World War I she organized and commanded women's intelligence service within Brigade I of the Polish Legions. With the rank of major she took part in Battle of Lwów in which she lost her son Jerzy Bitschan. On 4 November 1918 she formed women's paramilitary organization Ochotnicza Legia Kobiet. The organization took active role in Polish–Ukrainian War and Polish–Soviet War. She eventually reached rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

With her first husband she had son Jerzy Bitschan. Her second husband was a physician. They lived in Lwów. In Interwar period she lived in Warsaw. After World War II, to avoid communist repressions because of her history she adopted name Aleksandra Bednarz for a some time. She died on 14 April 1965 at age of 79. She is buried at Bródno Cemetery (alley 71B, row III, grave 11).

Military and civilian decorations

 * Knight's Cross of Order of Polonia Restituta
 * Cross of Independence with Swords
 * Gold Cross of Valour (twice)
 * Gold Cross of Merit
 * Cross of Defence of Lwów
 * Commemorative Medal for War 1918–1921
 * Medal "Orlęta"