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Polish Legions in World War I

 

 
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Polish Legions in World War I
 
 
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Polish Legions (Polish
Polish language

Polish , an official language of Poland, has the largest number of speakers of any West Slavic languages. Polish-speakers use the language in a uniform manner through most of Poland, and it has a regular orthography....
 Legiony Polskie) was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia
Galicia (Central Europe)

Galicia is a historical region in East Central Europe, currently divided between Poland and Ukraine, named after Ukra?ni?n city of Halych.The nucleus of historic Galicia is formed of three regions of western Ukraine: Lvivska oblast, Ternopilska oblast and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast....
. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN
Komisja Tymczasowa Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodleglosciowych

Komisja Tymczasowa Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodleglosciowych later just Komisja Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodleglosciowych was an alliance of Polish political parties from Galicia in Austro-Hungary, created on 10 November 1912 in Vienna....
 and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army

The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austria Hungary Dual Monarchy . It was composed of the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honv?ds?g ....
. They were composed mostly of former members of various scouting
Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society....
 organisations, including Druzyny Strzeleckie and Zwiazek Strzelecki
Zwiazek Strzelecki

Zwiazek Strzelecki "Strzelec" was a Poland paramilitary cultural and educational organization created in 1910 in Lw?w as a legal front of Zwiazek Walki Czynnej, and revived in Poland in 1991....
, as well as volunteers from all around the empire.

Józef Pilsudski
Józef Pilsudski

]]In 1892 Pilsudski returned from exile. In 1893 he joined the Polish Socialist Party and helped organize its Lithuanian branch. Initially he sided with the Socialists' more radical wing, but despite the socialist movement's ostensible internationalism he remained a Polish nationalist....
 in his order of 22 August declared formations of the Legions, but Austrian government officially agreed to it only on 27 August.

Initially the Polish Legions were composed of two legions: the Eastern and the Western, both formed on 27 August.






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Polish Legions (Polish
Polish language

Polish , an official language of Poland, has the largest number of speakers of any West Slavic languages. Polish-speakers use the language in a uniform manner through most of Poland, and it has a regular orthography....
 Legiony Polskie) was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia
Galicia (Central Europe)

Galicia is a historical region in East Central Europe, currently divided between Poland and Ukraine, named after Ukra?ni?n city of Halych.The nucleus of historic Galicia is formed of three regions of western Ukraine: Lvivska oblast, Ternopilska oblast and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast....
. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN
Komisja Tymczasowa Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodleglosciowych

Komisja Tymczasowa Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodleglosciowych later just Komisja Skonfederowanych Stronnictw Niepodleglosciowych was an alliance of Polish political parties from Galicia in Austro-Hungary, created on 10 November 1912 in Vienna....
 and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army

The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austria Hungary Dual Monarchy . It was composed of the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honv?ds?g ....
. They were composed mostly of former members of various scouting
Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society....
 organisations, including Druzyny Strzeleckie and Zwiazek Strzelecki
Zwiazek Strzelecki

Zwiazek Strzelecki "Strzelec" was a Poland paramilitary cultural and educational organization created in 1910 in Lw?w as a legal front of Zwiazek Walki Czynnej, and revived in Poland in 1991....
, as well as volunteers from all around the empire.

Józef Pilsudski
Józef Pilsudski

]]In 1892 Pilsudski returned from exile. In 1893 he joined the Polish Socialist Party and helped organize its Lithuanian branch. Initially he sided with the Socialists' more radical wing, but despite the socialist movement's ostensible internationalism he remained a Polish nationalist....
 in his order of 22 August declared formations of the Legions, but Austrian government officially agreed to it only on 27 August.

Initially the Polish Legions were composed of two legions: the Eastern and the Western, both formed on 27 August. After Russian victory in the Battle of Galicia Eastern Polish legion refused to fight against Russia and was disbanded on 21 September. On 19 December Western legion was transformed into three brigade
Brigade

A brigade is a military unit that is typically composed of two to five regiments or battalions, depending on the era and nationality of a given army....
s.
  • I Brigade of the Polish Legions
    I Brigade of the Polish Legions

    Brigade I of the Polish Legions was a Polish military unit, subordinate to the Austro-Hungarian Army, part of the Polish Legions in World War I, existing from 1914 to 1917....
     under Józef Pilsudski
    Józef Pilsudski

    ]]In 1892 Pilsudski returned from exile. In 1893 he joined the Polish Socialist Party and helped organize its Lithuanian branch. Initially he sided with the Socialists' more radical wing, but despite the socialist movement's ostensible internationalism he remained a Polish nationalist....
    , formed in mid-December
  • II Brigade of the Polish Legions under Józef Haller de Hallenburg
    Józef Haller de Hallenburg

    J?zef Haller de Hallenburg was a Lieutenant General of the Polish Army, legionary in Polish Legions in World War I, harcmistrz , the President of The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association , political and social activism, Stanislaw Haller de Hallenburg's cousin....
    , formed between mid-December and March (sources vary)
  • III Brigade of the Polish Legions under Zygmunt Zielinski and later Boleslaw Roja
    Boleslaw Roja

    Boleslaw Roja was an officer of the Polish Legions in World War I, general and politician in the Second Polish Republic. Opponent of J?zef Pilsudski and his sanacja regime....
    , formed on 8 May 1915
    • Artillery Battalions-served in I, II, and III Brigades
    • Cavalry Regiments-1st served in I Brigade; 2nd served in II Brigade; 3rd served in III Brigade
    • Infantry Regiments-1st, 5th, 7th served in I Brigade; 2nd, 3rd served in II Brigade; 4th served in both II and III Brigades; 5th, 6th served in III Brigade


The commanders of the Legions were:
  1. Gen. Karol Trzaska-Durski (September 1914 – February 1916)
  2. Gen. Stanislaw Puchalski (until November 1916)
  3. Col. Stanislaw Szeptycki
    Stanislaw Szeptycki

    Stanislaw Maria Szeptycki was a Polish general and military commander.Born in 1867 in Galicia , Austro-Hungary, he was a grandson of Aleksander Fredro and brother of Andrey Sheptytsky, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church....
     (until April 1917)
  4. Col. Zygmunt Zielinski (until August 1917)


The Legions took part in many battles against the forces of Imperial Russia, both in Galicia
Galicia (Central Europe)

Galicia is a historical region in East Central Europe, currently divided between Poland and Ukraine, named after Ukra?ni?n city of Halych.The nucleus of historic Galicia is formed of three regions of western Ukraine: Lvivska oblast, Ternopilska oblast and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast....
 and in the Carpathian Mountains. Initially both the number of troops and the composition of units were changing rapidly. This changed after Pilsudski resigned his post in September 1916 and the Polish Legions were renamed to Polish Auxiliary Corps (Polski Korpus Posilkowy). In June 1916 the unit had approximately 25 000 soldiers.

After the Act of November 5 and the creation of puppet Kingdom of Poland, the Polish Legions were transferred under German command. However, most of the members of legionists denied to swear allegiance to the emperor and were interned in Beniaminów
Beniaminów

Beniamin?w is a village in Poland. It has approximately 190 inhabitants and is located in the Masovian Voivodship, east of Warsaw, between Legionowo and Nieporet....
 and Szczypiorno (Oath crisis
Oath crisis

The Oath crisis was a World War I political conflict between the Austro-Hungarian Army command and the J?zef Pilsudski-led Polish Legions in World War I....
). Approximately 3 000 of them were drafted into the Austro-Hungarian army or the German Polnische Wehrmacht
Polnische Wehrmacht

File:Uniform of lieutenant of Poniche Wehrmacht.PNGPolnische Wehrmacht was a military formation created by Imperial Germany during World War I as the armed forces of their puppet Kingdom of Poland ....
 and sent to the Italian Front, while approximately 7 500 stayed in the Austrian Polish Auxiliary Corps
Polish Auxiliary Corps

Polish Auxiliary Corps was the name of the Polish military formation in the Austro-Hungarian Army, based on the Polish Legions in World War I. It was created in the aftermath of the Oath crisis from the Legions on 20 September 1916 and existed until 19 February 1918....
.

After the war the officers of the Polish Legions became the backbone of the Polish Army.

Photo Gallery of Polish Legion members


Battles

  • Battle of Nowy Korczyn (23-24 September 1914)
  • Battle of Anielin-Laski (October 21–October 26 1914)
  • Battle of Molotkowo (October 29, 1914)
  • Battle of Krzywoploty (17-18 November 1914)
  • Battle of Marcinkowice (5-6 December 1914)
  • Battle of Lowczówek (December 22–December 25, 1914)
  • Battle of Pustki (2 May 1915)
  • Battle of Konary
    Battle of Konary

    Konary is a small village in the region of Sandomierz Uplands, near the town of Klimont?w. During the World War I, in May and June 1915 it was a site of a major battle between the Russian Army and the forces of J?zef Pilsudski's Polish Legions in World War I....
     (May 16–May 25, 1915)
  • Battles of Rafajlowa, Kirlibaba and Rarancza
    Battle of Rarancza

    The Battle of Rarancza was fought between Polish Legions in World War I, and Austria-Hungary, from February 15 to 16, 1918, near Rarancza in Bukovina, and ended with a Polish victory....
     (June 13, 1915)
  • Battle of Rokitna (15 June 1915)
  • Battle of Jastków (July 29–July 31, 1915)
  • Battle of Kostiuchnówka
    Battle of Kostiuchnówka

    The Battle of Kostiuchn?wka took place from July 4 to July 6, 1916, near the village of Kostyukhnivka and the Styr River, in the Volhynia region of modern Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire....
     (July 4–July 6, 1916)
  • Battle of Krechowce (24 July 1917)
  • Battle of Rarancza
    Battle of Rarancza

    The Battle of Rarancza was fought between Polish Legions in World War I, and Austria-Hungary, from February 15 to 16, 1918, near Rarancza in Bukovina, and ended with a Polish victory....
     (15-16 February 1918)


Generals who had served in Polish Legions

  • Wladyslaw Bortnowski
    Wladyslaw Bortnowski

    Wladyslaw Bortnowski was a Poland historian, military commander and one of the highest ranking generals of the Polish Army Polish Army. He is most famous as the commander of the Pomorze Army to take part in the battle of Bzura during the Invasion of Poland in 1939....
  • Walerian Czuma
    Walerian Czuma

    Walerian Czuma was a Poland general and military commander. He is notable for his command over a Polish unit in Siberia during the Russian Civil War and the commander of the defence of Warsaw during the Siege of Warsaw ....
  • Boleslaw Wieniawa-Dlugoszowski
    Boleslaw Wieniawa-Dlugoszowski

    Boleslaw Ignacy Florian Wieniawa-Dlugoszowski was a Polish general, politician, poet and diplomat, as well as formally President of the Republic of Poland for one day....
  • Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer
    Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer

    Gustaw Konstanty Orlicz-Dreszer was a Poland general, and a political and social activist.Before World War I, Orlicz-Dreszer was involved in pro-independence activities in partitions of Poland....
  • Boleslaw Bronislaw Duch
    Boleslaw Bronislaw Duch

    Boleslaw Bronislaw Duch was a Poland Major General.Duch served during World War I, 1914-18, in the Polish Legions. After Poland regained independence, he served in the Polish Army....
  • Karol Durski-Trzaska
    Karol Durski-Trzaska

    Karol Durski-Trzaska was an officer in Austro-Hungarian Army and later, Polish Army. Reached the rank of Lieutenant General in Austrian-Hungarian Army; commander of Austrian Polish Legions in World War I from 23 September 1914 to December 1915....
  • Kazimierz Fabrycy
    Kazimierz Fabrycy

    Kazimierz Fabrycy was a Polish general. Member of Polish Legions in World War I, fought in the Polish Soviet War. Viceminister of military affairs from 1926 to 1934 and commander of several infantry divisions during the interwar period in the Second Polish Republic....
  • Emil August Fieldorf
  • Tadeusz Kasprzycki
    Tadeusz Kasprzycki

    Tadeusz Kasprzycki was a member of the Polish Legions in First World War, general of the Polish Army from 1929 and Minister of Military Affairs of Poland from 1935 to 1939....
  • Alojzy Wir-Konas
    Alojzy Wir-Konas

    Alojzy Wir-Konas was a Poland military commander and a pulkownik of the Polish Army. Divisional commander during the Invasion of Poland , he was murdered in the Katyn massacre....
  • Wladyslaw Belina-Prazmowski
    Wladyslaw Belina-Prazmowski

    Wladyslaw Zygmunt Belina-Prazmowski was a Polish cavalryman, colonel and politician.Born on 3 May 1888 in Ruszkowiec. Member of Zwiazek Walki Czynnej since 1909, later Zwiazek Strzelecki....
  • Bronislaw Rakowski
    Bronislaw Rakowski

    Bronislaw Rakowski was a Poland general. Fought in the Polish Legions in World War I, imprisoned by the Soviets during Soviet invasion of Poland , fought in the Anders Army and Polish Armed Forces in the West....
  • Michal Rola-Zymierski
    Michal Rola-Zymierski

    Michal Zymierski was an avowed communist, Poland military officer and communist regime Marshal of Poland since 1945....
  • Edward Rydz-Smigly
    Edward Rydz-Smigly

    Edward Rydz-Smigly sometimes Edward Smigly-Rydz ; nom de guerre Smigly, Tarlowski, Adam Zawisza) was a Marshal of Poland, Poland political figure, Commander-in-Chief of Poland's armed forces, and a Artist and poet....
  • Kazimierz Sosnkowski
    Kazimierz Sosnkowski

    'Kazimierz Sosnkowski' was a Poland independence fighter, politician and Polish Army general.Sosnkowski served successively as founder and first commander of Zwiazek Walki Czynnej , chief of staff of the Polish Legions in World War I, Polish minister of military affairs, vice-president of Poland, commander of the Zwiazek Walki Zbrojnej...
  • Julian Stachiewicz
    Julian Stachiewicz

    Brigadier General Julian Stachiewicz was an officer of the Polish Army, Polish historian and writer. Brother to General Waclaw Stachiewicz. Joined the Riflemen's Association before World War I....
  • Waclaw Stachiewicz
    Waclaw Stachiewicz

    Brigadier General Waclaw Stachiewicz was an officer of the Polish Army, geologist and a Polish writer. Brother to General Julian Stachiewicz and husband to Gen....
  • Aleksander Stawarz
    Aleksander Stawarz

    Aleksander Stawarz codename: Lesnik, Baca was a Polish Army Colonel.In the First World War Stawarz served in Polish Legions in World War I....
  • Wiktor Thommée
    Wiktor Thommée

    Wiktor Thomm?e was a Poland military commander and a Major General of the Polish Army. A veteran of the World War I and the Russian Civil War, he is best known for his command over Piotrk?w Operational Group and the battle of the Bzura during the Invasion of Poland of 1939....
  • Michal Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski
    Michal Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski

    Michal Tadeusz Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski, Coat of arms of Traby pseudonym Doktor, Stolarski, Torwid was a Poland general, founder of the resistance movement "Polish Victory Service"....
  • Ferdynand_Zarzycki
  • Marian Januszajtis-Zegota
    Marian Januszajtis-Zegota

    File:Plk. Marian Januszajtis.jpgMarian Januszajtis-Zegota was a Polish soldier and politician. One of the founders of Polish paramilitary pro-independence organizations in Austro-Hungarian partition, last commander of the 1st Brigade of Polish Legions, organizer of Polish Coup , general in the Second Polish Republic and Polish Armed Forces...


See also

  • Tomasz Arciszewski
    Tomasz Arciszewski

    Tomasz Arciszewski was a Poland socialist politician, a member of the Polish Socialist Party and the Prime Minister of Poland of the Polish government-in-exile in London from 1944 to 1947, presiding over the period when the government lost the recognition of the Western powers....
  • List of Polish divisions in World War I
    List of Polish divisions in World War I

    The following is a list of Polish brigade and division-sized military units during World War I and the subsequent Russian Civil War. See also list of military divisions. Official names are given in parentheses....
  • Polnische Wehrmacht
    Polnische Wehrmacht

    File:Uniform of lieutenant of Poniche Wehrmacht.PNGPolnische Wehrmacht was a military formation created by Imperial Germany during World War I as the armed forces of their puppet Kingdom of Poland ....
  • Blue Army
    Blue Army

    The Blue Army, or Haller's Army, are informal names given to the Polish Army units formed in France during the later stages of World War I....
  • First Cadre Company
    First Cadre Company

    First Cadre Company was a military formation created by J?zef Pilsudski at the outbreak of World War I, on August 3, 1914 in Krak?w, from members of the Riflemen's Association and the Polish Rifle Squads....
  • My Pierwsza Brygada
  • Polish Legions
    Polish Legions

    Polish Legions may refer to, in chronological order:* Polish Legion in Turkey, formed around 1770s, as part of the Confederation of Bar* Polish Legions in Italy, created by Henryk Dabrowski during the Napoleonic Wars...
  • Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division
    Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division

    Poland 1st Polish Legions Infantry Division was a tactical unit of the Polish Army between the World Wars. Formed on February 20, 1919, partially of veterans of the Polish Legions in World War I, the unit saw extensive action during the Polish-Bolshevik War and World War II....