Podlaska Cavalry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The Podlaska Cavalry Brigade (Polish: Podlaska Brygada Kawalerii) was a military unit of the Polish Army, created on April 1, 1937. Its headquarters were located in Białystok, it was based on the Cavalry Brigade "Białystok", existing between February 1929, and March 30, 1937.
, the 9th Regiment of Mounted Rifles from Grajewo
, the 14th Brigade of Mounted Artillery from Białystok and a Squadron of Pioneers of the 1st Cavalry Division, also from Białystok.
On April 1, 1937, the Białystok Cavalry Brigade was renamed the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade, which resulted in some changes. A neighboring unit, the Suwalska Cavalry Brigade
, absorbed the 1st Regiment of Krechowce Uhlans, while the 5th Regiment of Zaslaw Uhlans was transferred to the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. In the same year, the 10th Squadron of Communication was created.
of General Czesław Młot-Fijałkowski. It did not engage in combat until September 3, covering the area of Łomża, and sporadically attacking Wehrmacht
units advancing from East Prussia
. In the night of September 3/4, the Brigade withdrew towards lower Narew
, it was located near Ostrów Mazowiecka
on September 8, where it attacked Panzer Division Kempf, under General Werner Kempf
. In the evening of September 9, the Brigade engaged in heavy fighting, trying to recapture the town of Brok
, with its bridge over the Bug River
. The Poles managed to capture the eastern part of the town, but then their advance was stopped.
On September 11, the Brigade withdrew towards Zambrów
, next day it joined forces with the Suwalska Cavalry Brigade, creating the so-called 'Group' of General Zygmunt Podhorski. Depleted in continuous fighting, it headed eastwards to Białowieża, reaching the Białowieża Forest on September 16. After the Soviet invasion of Poland, remnants of the Brigade fought both Wehrmacht and Red Army
troops, capitulating on October 6.
History
In February 1929, the Polish Army created the "Białystok" Cavalry Brigade; which gathered such units as the 10th Regiment of Lithuanian Uhlans from Białystok, the 1st Regiment of Krechowce Uhlans from AugustówAugustów
Augustów is a town in north-eastern Poland with 29,600 inhabitants . It lies on the Netta River and the Augustów Canal. It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship , having previously been in Suwałki Voivodeship . It is the seat of Augustów County and of Gmina Augustów.In 1970 Augustów became...
, the 9th Regiment of Mounted Rifles from Grajewo
Grajewo
Grajewo , is a town in north-eastern Poland with 23,302 inhabitants .It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Łomża Voivodeship...
, the 14th Brigade of Mounted Artillery from Białystok and a Squadron of Pioneers of the 1st Cavalry Division, also from Białystok.
On April 1, 1937, the Białystok Cavalry Brigade was renamed the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade, which resulted in some changes. A neighboring unit, the Suwalska Cavalry Brigade
Suwalska Cavalry Brigade
Suwalska Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937 out of the 4th Independent Cavalry Brigade...
, absorbed the 1st Regiment of Krechowce Uhlans, while the 5th Regiment of Zaslaw Uhlans was transferred to the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. In the same year, the 10th Squadron of Communication was created.
Structure (1937 - 1939)
- Headquarters in Białystok,
- 5th Regiment of Zaslaw Uhlans from Ostrołęka,
- 10th Regiment of Lithuanian Uhlans from Białystok,
- 9th Regiment of Mounted Rifles of Kazimierz PulaskiKazimierz PulaskiCasimir Pulaski, or Kazimierz Pułaski in Polish of Ślepowron coat-of-arms , was a Polish soldier, nobleman, and politician who has been called "the father of American cavalry"....
from Grajewo, - 14th Brigade of Mounted Artillery from Białystok,
- 1st Squadron of Pioneers from Białystok,
- 10th Squadron of Communication from Białystok.
Polish September Campaign 1939
The Podlaska Cavalry Brigade, under General Ludwik Kmicic-Skrzynski, was part of the Narew Independent Operational GroupIndependent Operational Group Narew
Independent Operational Group Narew was one of the Polish Army Corps that defended Poland during the Invasion of Poland in 1939...
of General Czesław Młot-Fijałkowski. It did not engage in combat until September 3, covering the area of Łomża, and sporadically attacking Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
units advancing from East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
. In the night of September 3/4, the Brigade withdrew towards lower Narew
Narew
The Narew River , in western Belarus and north-eastern Poland, is a left tributary of the Vistula river...
, it was located near Ostrów Mazowiecka
Ostrów Mazowiecka
Ostrów Mazowiecka is a town in northeastern Poland with 23,486 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously in Ostroleka Voivodeship . It is the capital of Ostrów Mazowiecka County....
on September 8, where it attacked Panzer Division Kempf, under General Werner Kempf
Werner Kempf
General Werner Kempf was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ....
. In the evening of September 9, the Brigade engaged in heavy fighting, trying to recapture the town of Brok
Brok
Brok is a town in Ostrów Mazowiecka County, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland, with 1,882 inhabitants .-External links:*...
, with its bridge over the Bug River
Bug River
The Bug River is a left tributary of the Narew river flows from central Ukraine to the west, passing along the Ukraine-Polish and Polish-Belarusian border and into Poland, where it empties into the Narew river near Serock. The part between the lake and the Vistula River is sometimes referred to as...
. The Poles managed to capture the eastern part of the town, but then their advance was stopped.
On September 11, the Brigade withdrew towards Zambrów
Zambrów
Zambrów is a town in northeastern Poland with 22,933 inhabitants . It is the capital of Zambrów County. Situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship , previously in Łomża Voivodeship .-History:...
, next day it joined forces with the Suwalska Cavalry Brigade, creating the so-called 'Group' of General Zygmunt Podhorski. Depleted in continuous fighting, it headed eastwards to Białowieża, reaching the Białowieża Forest on September 16. After the Soviet invasion of Poland, remnants of the Brigade fought both Wehrmacht and Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
troops, capitulating on October 6.