Kresowa Cavalry Brigade
Encyclopedia
Kresowa Cavalry Brigade was a unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was organized on April 1, 1937 and was based on the Second Cavalry Brigade. Stationed in the town of Brody
, it consisted of several regiments:
During the Polish September Campaign the Brigade, under Colonel Stefan Hanka-Kulesza was part of the Łódź Army. In the first two days of the conflict it remained in the rear, however, Luftwaffe
attacks on the unit inflicted heavy losses.
In the morning of September 3, 1939, the Brigade took positions around the town of Szadek
, strengthening the 10th Infantry Division. The two units merged together, creating "Sieradz
" Operational Group under General Franciszek Dindorf-Ankowicz. Next day, it attacked German 24th I.D. of General Friedrich Olbricht
, west of the town of Warta. After first contact with the enemy, the Brigade withdrew for unknown reasons, leaving a gap in the northern wing of the Łódź Army. As a consequence, Colonel Hanka-Kulesza was dismissed and replaced by Colonel Jerzy Grobicki.
On September 5 the Brigade defended the line of the Warta river, near Sieradz. Threatened with encirclement, it withdrew eastwards, crossing the Ner
to the area of Zgierz
. On September 8, as a result of German attacks, it dispersed. Remnants crossed the Vistula
on September 10 and joined the Northern Front of General Stefan Dąb-Biernacki
, fighting in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
. Last units of the Brigade capitulated on September 26, after skirmishes in the area of Sadowa Wisznia.
Brody
Brody is a city in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Brody Raion , and is located in the valley of the upper Styr River, approximately 90 kilometres northeast of the oblast capital, Lviv...
, it consisted of several regiments:
- 20th King Jan III Sobieski UhlanUhlanUhlans were Polish light cavalry armed with lances, sabres and pistols. The title was later used by lancer regiments in the Russian, Prussian, and Austrian armies....
Regiment, stationed in RzeszówRzeszówRzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
, - 22nd Subcarpathian Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Brody,
- 6th Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski Mounted Rifles Regiment Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski, stationed in Zolkiew,
- 13th Mounted Artillery Regiment, stationed in Kamionka Strumilowa,
- 4th Squadron of Pioneers, stationed in Lwów,
- 2nd Squadron of Communication, stationed in Lwów.
During the Polish September Campaign the Brigade, under Colonel Stefan Hanka-Kulesza was part of the Łódź Army. In the first two days of the conflict it remained in the rear, however, Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
attacks on the unit inflicted heavy losses.
In the morning of September 3, 1939, the Brigade took positions around the town of Szadek
Szadek
Szadek is a town in Zduńska Wola County, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,050 inhabitants .-External links:*...
, strengthening the 10th Infantry Division. The two units merged together, creating "Sieradz
Sieradz
Sieradz is a town on the Warta river in central Poland with 44,326 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodship , but was previously the eponymous capital of the Sieradz Voivodship , and historically one of the minor duchies in Greater Poland.It is one of the oldest towns in Poland,...
" Operational Group under General Franciszek Dindorf-Ankowicz. Next day, it attacked German 24th I.D. of General Friedrich Olbricht
Friedrich Olbricht
General Friedrich Olbricht was a German general and one of the plotters involved in the attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler at the Wolfsschanze in East Prussia on 20 July 1944.-Early life:...
, west of the town of Warta. After first contact with the enemy, the Brigade withdrew for unknown reasons, leaving a gap in the northern wing of the Łódź Army. As a consequence, Colonel Hanka-Kulesza was dismissed and replaced by Colonel Jerzy Grobicki.
On September 5 the Brigade defended the line of the Warta river, near Sieradz. Threatened with encirclement, it withdrew eastwards, crossing the Ner
Ner
The Ner is a river in central Poland, with sources to the south east of Łódź. It is one of the tributaries of the Warta River....
to the area of Zgierz
Zgierz
Zgierz is a town in central Poland, located just to the north of Łódź and part of the metropolitan area centered on that city. As of 2007, it had a population of 58,164....
. On September 8, as a result of German attacks, it dispersed. Remnants crossed the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
on September 10 and joined the Northern Front of General Stefan Dąb-Biernacki
Stefan Dab-Biernacki
Stefan Dąb-Biernacki was a Polish general.Members of the Polish Legions in World War I, fought in the Polish-Soviet War commanding regiments and later 1DPLeg...
, fighting in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski took place from 17 September to 26 September 1939 near the town of Tomaszów Lubelski. It was the second largest battle of the Invasion of Poland and also the largest tank battle of the campaign. It resulted in the destruction of the Polish forces...
. Last units of the Brigade capitulated on September 26, after skirmishes in the area of Sadowa Wisznia.