14th Infantry Division (Poland)
Encyclopedia
14 Greater Poland Infantry Division (Polish: 14 Wielkopolska Dywizja Piechoty) was a unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period
, which took part in the Polish September Campaign.
It was created in January 1919 in Poznan
, as part of Polish forces fighting in the Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
). Its organizer and first commandant was General Filip Dubiski. In the following months, several regiments creater in the Greater Poland
towns joined the unit, and in the summer of 1919, the Division was sent to the east, to fight the Red Army
south of Polotsk. On December 19, 1919, its name was changed from 1st Division of Greater Poland rifles into 14 Greater Poland Infantry Division.
The unit fought in the Polish-Soviet war
, and in December 1920, after the truce, it returned to its homeland, to Poznan. According to the Plan Wschod
, the Division was supposed to serve as a rear unit, but as in late 1930s German threat became real, on March 23, 1939, the Division became part of newly created Poznan Army
, under General Tadeusz Kutrzeba
(see: Plan Zachod). Mobilization took place between August 24 and 27.
As the Wehrmacht
did not cary out attacks on Greater Poland in the first days of the Polish September Campaign, the Division did not engage in combat until Sept. 8. Then, it took part in the Battle of Bzura, fighting near the town of Piatek
and breaking German lines. During the skirmishes, commandant of German 30 I.D, General Kurt von Briesen
was injured and the Wehrmacht ordered a retreat. However, the Poles, without air and artillery support, did not take advantage of this breakthrough. Soon afterwards, the Germans counterattacked.
In mid-September the Division tried to cross the Bzura
and reach the Kampinos Forest
but without success. Only few soldiers managed to do so and hide in the forest. On September 19, the remaining forces broke into besieged Warsaw. There, they fought until capitulation, on Sept. 28.
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
, which took part in the Polish September Campaign.
It was created in January 1919 in Poznan
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, as part of Polish forces fighting in the Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region against Germany...
). Its organizer and first commandant was General Filip Dubiski. In the following months, several regiments creater in the Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
towns joined the unit, and in the summer of 1919, the Division was sent to the east, to fight the 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...
south of Polotsk. On December 19, 1919, its name was changed from 1st Division of Greater Poland rifles into 14 Greater Poland Infantry Division.
The unit fought in the Polish-Soviet war
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
, and in December 1920, after the truce, it returned to its homeland, to Poznan. According to the Plan Wschod
Plan Wschód
Plan East was a Polish defensive military plan, created in the 1920s and 1930s in case of war with the Soviet Union. Unlike Plan Zachód , it was being prepared during the whole Interwar period, as the government of the Second Polish Republic treated the Soviet Union as the greatest potential...
, the Division was supposed to serve as a rear unit, but as in late 1930s German threat became real, on March 23, 1939, the Division became part of newly created Poznan Army
Poznan Army
Army Poznań led by mj. gen. Tadeusz Kutrzeba was one of the Polish Armies during the Polish Defensive War in 1939.-Tasks:Flanked by Armia Pomorze to the north and Armia Łódź to the south, the Army was to provide flanking operations in Grand Poland region, defend it and withdraw towards lines of...
, under General Tadeusz Kutrzeba
Tadeusz Kutrzeba
Tadeusz Kutrzeba was an army general of the Second Polish Republic.Kutrzeba was born in Kraków, then part of Austria-Hungary...
(see: Plan Zachod). Mobilization took place between August 24 and 27.
As the 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:...
did not cary out attacks on Greater Poland in the first days of the Polish September Campaign, the Division did not engage in combat until Sept. 8. Then, it took part in the Battle of Bzura, fighting near the town of Piatek
Piatek
The Piatek exists in Armenian folklore as a large mammal from very ancient times. This animal had a very large beak and strange hair which stood on end. This is all that remains today of any description of such a creature, as it can be found only in one Armenian tablet...
and breaking German lines. During the skirmishes, commandant of German 30 I.D, General Kurt von Briesen
Kurt von Briesen
Kurt von Briesen was a General of Infantry awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross by Hitler for gallantry in the Polish campaign.-Early Years and World War I:...
was injured and the Wehrmacht ordered a retreat. However, the Poles, without air and artillery support, did not take advantage of this breakthrough. Soon afterwards, the Germans counterattacked.
In mid-September the Division tried to cross the Bzura
Bzura
Bzura is a river in central Poland, a tributary of the Vistula river , with a length of 166 kilometres and the basin area of 7,788 km2.-Towns and townships:*Zgierz*Aleksandrów Łódzki*Ozorków*Łęczyca*Łowicz*Sochaczew...
and reach the Kampinos Forest
Kampinos Forest
Kampinos Forest is a large forest complex located to the west of Warsaw in Poland. It covers a large part of the ancient valley of Vistula, between Vistula and Bzura rivers. Once a gigantic forest covering 670 km² of central Poland, it currently covers roughly 240 km².Most of the...
but without success. Only few soldiers managed to do so and hide in the forest. On September 19, the remaining forces broke into besieged Warsaw. There, they fought until capitulation, on Sept. 28.
TO&E
- HQ
- 55th Infantry Regiment
- 57th Infantry Regiment
- 58th Infantry Regiment
- 14th Light Artillery Regiment
- 14th Heavy Artillery Battalion
- 71st AA Artillery Battery
- 14th Telephone Company
- 71st Mobile HMG Company
- Bicycle Infantry Company
- Divisional Cavalry
See also
- Polish army order of battle in 1939Polish army order of battle in 1939Polish OOB during the Invasion of Poland. In the late thirties Polish headquarters prepared "Plan Zachód" , a plan of mobilization of Polish Army in case of war with Germany...
- Polish contribution to WWII
- 1939 Infantry Regiment (Poland)1939 Infantry Regiment (Poland)The 1939 Polish Infantry Regiment comprised some 2900 men and 60 officers organised around 3 Rifle Battalions whose principal weapon was the Mauser 98k, a 7.92 mm bolt-action rifle. Each 19-man squad was also issued the RKM wz.28, a licensed Polish version of the American Browning Automatic...