9th Infantry Division (Poland) (interwar)
Encyclopedia
The 9th Infantry Division was a unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic
. The division was originally formed in 1919. Stationed in Siedlce
, it took part in the Polish September Campaign under Colonel Józef Werobej.
As part of Pomorze Army
, the 9th I.D. defended the 70-kilometer line between the town of Pruszcz
and the village of Gostycyn
in Polish Pomerania. In the morning of September 1, 1939, it was attacked by three Wehrmacht
divisions - 2nd Armored-Motorized, 3rd Armored and 32nd I.D. After heavy fighting, the Poles withdrew in the evening to the area of Cekcyn
. Another defense line was established there, but the Germans broke it and the 9th I.D. retreated over the Brda
and to the suburbs of Bydgoszcz.
There, General Władysław Bortnowski ordered three Polish units - 9th I.D., the 27th Infantry Division
, and Operational Group “Czersk” - to counterattack on the morning of September. However, communication between 9th I.D. and 27th I.D. failed and the offensive was a failure, with the German 3rd Armored Division managing to halt it.
After the defeat, the 9th I.D. gathered in the forests north of Bydgoszcz. Soon afterwards, it was attacked by the Luftwaffe
. Unable to defend itself and without air support, the division scattered and ceased to exist. Only the 35th Infantry Regiment remained as a unit and managed to break out of the German encirclement on September 5.
A 9th Infantry Division was also formed as part of the Anders Army
briefly in 1942, and there was a 9th Home Army Infantry Division active in 1944. Additionally, the People's Army of Poland formed a 9th Infantry Division which was active from 1944 to 1962, after which it became the 9th Mechanised Division.
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...
. The division was originally formed in 1919. Stationed in Siedlce
Siedlce
Siedlce ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,392 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship ....
, it took part in the Polish September Campaign under Colonel Józef Werobej.
As part of Pomorze Army
Pomorze Army
The Pomeranian Army was one of the Polish armies to take part in the Polish Defensive War of 1939. It was officially created on March 23, 1939. Led by Gen.dyw...
, the 9th I.D. defended the 70-kilometer line between the town of Pruszcz
Pruszcz, Tuchola County
Pruszcz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gostycyn, within Tuchola County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south of Gostycyn, south of Tuchola, and north of Bydgoszcz....
and the village of Gostycyn
Gostycyn
Gostycyn is a village in Tuchola County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Gostycyn. It lies approximately south of Tuchola and north of Bydgoszcz....
in Polish Pomerania. In the morning of September 1, 1939, it was attacked by three 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:...
divisions - 2nd Armored-Motorized, 3rd Armored and 32nd I.D. After heavy fighting, the Poles withdrew in the evening to the area of Cekcyn
Cekcyn
Cekcyn is a village in Tuchola County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Cekcyn. It lies approximately east of Tuchola and north of Bydgoszcz....
. Another defense line was established there, but the Germans broke it and the 9th I.D. retreated over the Brda
Brda
Brda, meaning Hill, may refer to:* Brda region, Montenegro* Brda, Slovenj Gradec Slovenia* Brda, Slovenia, a municipality* Brda, a municipality in Croatia* Brda , a river in Poland*Brda, Pomeranian Voivodeship...
and to the suburbs of Bydgoszcz.
There, General Władysław Bortnowski ordered three Polish units - 9th I.D., the 27th Infantry Division
27th Infantry Division (Poland)
The 27 Infantry Division , was a unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on 18 October 1920, as a result of reorganization of the Army, from units of the 2nd I.D., 3rd I.D., and 13th I.D. Its headquarters were located in Kowel, with units stationed in other Volhynian...
, and Operational Group “Czersk” - to counterattack on the morning of September. However, communication between 9th I.D. and 27th I.D. failed and the offensive was a failure, with the German 3rd Armored Division managing to halt it.
After the defeat, the 9th I.D. gathered in the forests north of Bydgoszcz. Soon afterwards, it was attacked by the 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....
. Unable to defend itself and without air support, the division scattered and ceased to exist. Only the 35th Infantry Regiment remained as a unit and managed to break out of the German encirclement on September 5.
A 9th Infantry Division was also formed as part of the Anders Army
Anders Army
The Anders Army was the informal yet common name of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in the period 1941-1942, in recognition of its commander Władysław Anders...
briefly in 1942, and there was a 9th Home Army Infantry Division active in 1944. Additionally, the People's Army of Poland formed a 9th Infantry Division which was active from 1944 to 1962, after which it became the 9th Mechanised Division.