Soldier, trainer, artist in painting, drawing and horse riding. Three-time Olympian (1912 - Stockholm, 1924 - Paris, 1928 - Amsterdam). He was active in KJK in Łódź (1937) and JLKS Sopot (after the war).
Born on May 22, 1888 in Grodno.
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Decorated: silver cross of the War Order of Virttuti Militari, Medal for the War 1918-1921, Gold Cross of Merit, Knight's Cross of the House Order of St. Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy),
Medal of the 1912th Olympiad (XNUMX, Stockholm, Sweden) - here, if Ziablik had not stumbled on the last ditch, which caused the rider to fall and break several ribs, he would most likely have won this competition. For excellent riding, he was awarded an Olympic medal, which he had the right to wear along with his orders.
Three-time Olympian
– Stockholm 1912 (in the Russian national team): show jumping individually – 9th place, horse Ziablik.
– Paris 1924: show jumping individually – 10th place, team – 6th place, horse Favorite; Eventing: individually - 10th place, team - 7th place, Krechowiak;
– Amsterdam 1928: Eventing: individually 26th place, team – 3rd place (bronze medal), horse Donneuse.
Karol Rómmel on horse Revcliffe was a member of the team (Królikiewicz/PICADOR, Kazimierz Szosland/CEZAR, Henryk Dobrzański/MUM EXTRA-DRY), which won the first Nations Cup for Poland in Nice (France) on April 26, 1925.
He contributed to winning the Nations Cup for Poland in 1927 in New York and 1928 in Nice.
He was the Polish Champion in 1935 on the mare Sachar and in 1937 on the gelding Dyngus. He also won a silver medal on the same horse in 1938. He won the MP bronze medal in 1934 on Allied.
Baron Karol Rómmel graduated from the Cadet Corps in Odessa in 1906 and from the Pavlovsk Junker Infantry School in St. Petersburg in 1908.
He began his service as a second lieutenant in the Izmailovsky Foot Guards Regiment in St. Petersburg. There, with the help of the commander, he began to study painting and drawing in the battle class of NS Samokisza at the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg.
As an infantry officer (!!) he represented Russia in the equestrian Olympic team (Stockholm 1912). In 1913, Karol Rómmel set a record in St. Petersburg for a jump in width - 694 cm, on the English Thoroughbred mare MONNA VANNA.
In the Russian Army until 1917 in the rank of colonel. He was admitted to the Polish Army on July 15.07.1919, XNUMX, in the rank of major. In Poland, he managed, among others, the Cavalry Training Center in Grudziądz (a Polish training center for the equestrian team).
In 1938, the Military Institute of Science and Education published a book: "Training and racing - practical tips for training a horse for obstacle races and cross-country running" (we are applying for a license to digitize this book, which will be published on our website) .
In 1939, he set a Polish record in a jump to a height of 198 cm, on the horse DYNGUS. In the years 1919-1939 he participated in over 490 competitions and obstacle course races, winning first place over 200 times.
In 1937, he organized a Horse Riding Club in Łódź, which he managed until the outbreak of the war (1939). After the war, he was, among others, a trainer at the Equestrian People's Sports Club in Sopot and a collaborator and consultant to directors making battle films: "Krzyżacy" (1960), "Lotna" (1959).
In the film "Lotna" he played the role of a parish priest. As Fr. Andrzej Luther (Gazeta Wyborcza, February 6.02.2014, XNUMX) - " 'Lotna' was in fact a farewell to a national tradition symbolized by a cavalry squadron - moving, but at the same time completely anachronistic. It is impossible to preserve the traditions and faith of the ancestors by looking only at the past. The old priest on horseback was a symbol of something invigorating, joyful, even in the face of death, not scratching his wounds and wrongs, but moving forward into the world - as it is."
Karol Rómmel was a man of many talents. He fulfilled himself as a soldier, horseman, artist, trainer, writer and even an actor.
His son, Karol Rómmel J., born on February 9.02.1959, 25.07.2003, inherited his father's artistic skills and, like his father, was a great companion. A valued cross-country builder, he died tragically on July XNUMX, XNUMX in a car accident, returning from Moscow, where he was putting up field obstacles for international eventing competitions.
Charles Rommel died in Elbląg on March 7, 1967, at the age of 79. He was buried at the Srebrzysko cemetery in Gdańsk Wrzeszcz.
1st Regiment of Light Cavalry of Józef Piłsudski
(mp. Warsaw, amaranth border).
The regiment referred to the tradition of the 1st Light Horse Regiment of the Polish Guard of Emperor Napoleon I and the 1st Uhlan Regiment of the Polish Legions "Belina". It was recreated in November 1918 by officers of the former 1st Light Horse Regiment of the Polish Legions, headed by Capt. Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer. From 1921, the regiment was stationed in Warsaw near Belweder. It was said to be one of the elite cavalry regiments of the interwar period. It was popularly called the "National Guard", although it never officially received this name.
Rejoice, brave cavalryman,
You have protection at Belweder.
The cavalrymen shake their heads,
They want to be the National Guard.
They shake their asses, they shake their heads,
They want to be the National Guard.
They want to have guardsman manners.
Be Be ery, cavalry.
Always proud of his boss,
This is Piłsudski's cavalryman.
The cavalryman takes the upper hand,
Under the patronage of the Belweder Palace.
In the Belweder Palace, in the quarters
Sleep, brother cavalryman.
And remember, cavalryman,
That you are on guard at Belweder.
From the parade and the celebration,
For the protection of the President.
They are sitting like this in Warsaw
With a glass and a coffee.
The whole bunch are suckers
In the First Cavalry Regiment.
More gentlemen than suckers,
This is the first cavalry.
Some gentlemen and painters,
This is the first horse regiment.
From aides and doctors
Warsaw has a regiment of brats.
Source: Żurawiejki (1995) – Stanisław Radomyski
Polish Digital Equestrian Library:
Click on the links below to access related materials in the Polish Digital Equestrian Library (will open in a new tab):
Publications
"Karol Rómmel" (2023) - Witold Sikorski
"1st Józef Piłsudski Light Cavalry Regiment" (2022)
"One driving school, different fates" (2019) - Hanna Łysakowska
"Polish Olympic riders of the interwar period, part II" (2019) - Hanna Łysakowska
"Polish Olympic riders of the interwar period, part I" (2018) - Hanna Łysakowska
"Lancemen, Uhlans and Mounted Riflemen in Photography..." (2013)
"Riders-Olympians of the Second Republic" (2012) - Renata Urban
“With Col. Karol Rómmel unfinished conversations” (2002) – Witold Domański
"Olympic Riders" (2000) - Hanna Łysakowska
"History of horse riding, part XXI” (1996) – Witold Domański
"History of horse riding, part XIV” (1993) – Witold Domański
"History of horse riding, part XII” (1992) – Witold Domański
"History of horse riding, part IX” (1991) – Witold Domański
"History of horse riding, part VIII” (1991) – Witold Domański
"History of horse riding, part VII” (1990) – Witold Domański
"History of horse riding, part VI” (1990) – Witold Domański
“Paris Olympics 1924” (1990) – Leon Kon
"History of horse riding, part IV” (1989) – Witold Domański
"History of horse riding, part III” (1989) – Witold Domański
"Poles in the Nations Cup, 1923-1982" (1982) - Witold Domański
"Equestrian sport in the horse weapons of the Second Polish Republic" (1974) - Zygmunt Bielecki
"Equestrian for everyone" (1957) - Karol Rómmel
"Torment and racing" (1938) - Karol Rómmel
"Preparing a horse for equestrian competitions" (1933) - Karol Rómmel
"Lt. Col. Charles bar. Rómmel is a jubilarian” (1932) – Editors of the Rider and Breeder magazine
"Impressions from Pignerolo and Tor di Quinto" (1922) - Sergiusz Zahorski
“Amsterdam – Hilversum” (1928) – Leon Kon
links
"Karl Rommel. Colonel, painter, actor and Olympian” [link] (2021) – Athletes for independence
Movies
Andrzej Lohman and his world - Karol Rómmel continued - part III | MOVIE
Andrzej Lohman and his world - Karol Rómmel - part II | MOVIE
See related articles:
Tadeusz Komorowski
Colonel of the Polish Army cavalry. Commander in Chief of the Home Army. Commander of the Warsaw Uprising. Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile.
Sergiusz Zahorski
Brigadier General of the Polish Army, head of the Military Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Poland, co-founder of Polish equestrian sports, participant of the 1912 Olympic Games in the Russian national team.
Rider and Breeder, 1922-1939
A pre-war weekly magazine addressed to breeders, athletes, racing and horse enthusiasts. Poles for whom the history of our country is inextricably linked with horse breeding and equestrian sports.
Jacek Woźniakowski
Polish art historian, writer, essayist, publicist, journalist, editor, publisher, translator of fiction. The first democratically elected president of Krakow (in 1990–1991). Professor at the Catholic University of Lublin.
ALLI (NN–NN)
He was born as Kaktus in 1920, bred by Stefan Walewski from Inczew, owned by the Polish Army. In 1931 and 1933 he won at Szosland PN in Warsaw. IO Amsterdam 1928, team silver. in jumping. He made one mistake at the Olympics. Rider Capt. K. Szosland – 2 points. penalties, XNUMXth place ind.
MYLORD (NN–NN)
Bred in Ireland. Its owner was captain. art. Józef Szilagyi. The army probably bought it from him before the games. IO Amsterdam 1928, team silver. in jumping. He made one mistake in the game. Rider Lt. K. Gzowski – 0/2 points. penalties in the match, XNUMXth place ind.
Gallery:
A document probably from the Dachau camp. Source: https://collections.arolsen-archives.org/
