Valerian Tevzadze

Valerian Tevzadze (Georgian: ვალერიან თევზაძე, Polish: Walerian Tewzadze) (February 10, 1894 – December 13, 1985) was a Georgian military officer of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and later Poland, member of the Polish underground resistance movement during the occupation of Poland.

Valerian Tevzadze
Birth name	ვალერიან თევზაძე
Nickname(s)	"Tomasz"
Born	(1894-02-10)10 February 1894
Died	13 December 1985(1985-12-13) (aged 91) Dzierżoniów, Poland
Rank	infantry lieutenant colonel (Polish: podpułkownik dyplomowany piechoty)
Battles/wars	World War I World War II  • 1939 defensive war  • Operation Tempest
Awards

He was in the service of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-1921). After the Soviet forces occupied the country, he left for Poland and joined the Polish army as a colonel. During the Nazi invasion of 1939, he took part in the northern defense of Warsaw. He was later awarded with the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari. During the German occupation of Poland he joined the Polish Home Army.[1] As part of the Polish underground resistance movement he used the pseudonym Tomasz.[1] After the Red Army took control of Poland, Valerian Tevzadze joined the Polish underground against the communists until his death in 1985.

He lived in Dzierżoniów, where he died. He was buried at the local cemetery. An inscription is carved on his grave: „Jako Gruzin chciałbym być pochowany w Gruzji, ale jestem szczęśliwy, że będę pochowany w ziemi szlachetnego i dzielnego Narodu Polskiego” (As a Georgian I would like to be buried in Georgia, but I am happy to be buried in the land of the noble and brave Polish nation.)[1]