Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade
Encyclopedia
Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry
unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period
, which took part in the Polish September Campaign. It was created on April 1, 1937, out of former 1st Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were in Warsaw
, with other units stationed in towns around the capital:
, was part of the Modlin Army
. On September 1, 1939, it defended positions around Mława, on the right wing of Polish lines. Facing the Poles was German 12th I.D, under Colonel Ludwig von Leyen. Facing encirclement, the Brigade had to withdraw to the second line of defence, on the night of September 1/2.
In the morning of September 2, the Wehrmacht
began a frontal attack and after several hours of heavy fights the Germans captured important Hill 190,5. The Poles tried to retake it, but their attacks failed. Later on, the Brigade retreated again, to the area of Przasnysz
. This manoeuver opened right wing of the neighboring Polish 20th Infantry Division and on September 3, the Germans broke the lines. The Brigade was attacked by Armored Brigade "Kempf", under General Werner Kempf
, as well as German 1st Cavalry Brigade under Colonel Kurt Feldt
. Soon afterwards the Poles, under pressure from the enemy, abandoned their positions.
On September 4, 1939, the Brigade withdrew towards Pułtusk. On that day it was absorbed by the Polish 5th Infantry Division
under General Juliusz Zulauf
, and ordered to defend the line of the Narew
river.
On September 7, the Brigade was ordered to withdraw across the Bug River
, but for unknown reasons it changed order and moved to Wyszków
, positioning itself on the line from Wyszków to Serock
. Then it withdrew to Kałuszyn and Mińsk Mazowiecki
, fighting the advancing German 11th I.D. of General Max Bock. In mid-September it covered activities of the 1st Legions Infantry Division. During the several skirmishes, the Brigade suffered heavy losses. It capitulated on September 26, 1939.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period
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 on April 1, 1937, out of former 1st Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, with other units stationed in towns around the capital:
- 1st Józef Piłsudski Chevau-légersChevau-légersThe Chevau-légers was a generic French name for several units of light cavalry, roughly similar to lancers in the armies of other states during the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps the most famous of all such units were the Polish 1st Light Cavalry Regiment of the Guards and the French 2nd Light Cavalry...
Regiment, garrisoned in Warsaw, - 7th General Kazimierz SosnkowskiKazimierz SosnkowskiKazimierz Sosnkowski was a Polish independence fighter, politician and Polish Army general.-Life:Sosnkowski served successively as founder and first commander of Związek Walki Czynnej , chief of staff of the 1st Brigade of the Polish Legions, Polish minister of military affairs, vice-president of...
Lublin Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Mińsk MazowieckiMinsk MazowieckiMińsk Mazowiecki is a town in central Poland with 38 181 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously in Siedlce Voivodeship...
, - 11th Legionnaire Marshall Edward Smigly-Rydz Uhlan Regiment, stationed in CiechanówCiechanówCiechanów is a town in north-central Poland with 45,900 inhabitants . It is situated in Masovian Voivodeship . It was previously the capital of Ciechanów Voivodeship.-History:The grad numbered approximately 3,000 armed men....
- 4th Łęczyca Mounted Rifles Regiment, stationed in Płock,
- 1st General Józef BemJózef BemJózef Zachariasz Bem was a Polish general, an Ottoman Pasha and a national hero of Poland and Hungary, and a figure intertwined with other European nationalisms...
Regiment of Mounted Artillery, stationed in Warsaw, - 1st Squadron of Pioneers, stationed in Warsaw,
- 1st Squadron of Communication, stationed in Warsaw,
Polish September Campaign
The Brigade, under Colonel Jan KarczJan Karcz
Jan Karcz was a Polish Army Colonel, posthumously promoted to the rank of a Brigadier General.During the Second World War he was murdered in the German concentration camp Auschwitz....
, was part of the Modlin Army
Modlin Army
Modlin Army was one of the Polish armies that took part in the Polish Defensive War of 1939. After heavy casualties in the battle of Mława , the Army was forced to abandon its positions near Warsaw around September 10; eventually it took part in the battle of Tomaszów Mazowiecki and surrendered...
. On September 1, 1939, it defended positions around Mława, on the right wing of Polish lines. Facing the Poles was German 12th I.D, under Colonel Ludwig von Leyen. Facing encirclement, the Brigade had to withdraw to the second line of defence, on the night of September 1/2.
In the morning of September 2, 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:...
began a frontal attack and after several hours of heavy fights the Germans captured important Hill 190,5. The Poles tried to retake it, but their attacks failed. Later on, the Brigade retreated again, to the area of Przasnysz
Przasnysz
Przasnysz is a town in Poland. Located in the Masovian Voivodship, about 110 km north of Warsaw and about 115 km south of Olsztyn, it's the capital of Przasnysz County. It has 18,093 inhabitants . One of the most important towns in Mazovia during the Middle Ages. City laws - 1427.-Famous...
. This manoeuver opened right wing of the neighboring Polish 20th Infantry Division and on September 3, the Germans broke the lines. The Brigade was attacked by Armored Brigade "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 ....
, as well as German 1st Cavalry Brigade under Colonel Kurt Feldt
Kurt Feldt
Kurt Feldt was a highly decorated General der Kavallerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
. Soon afterwards the Poles, under pressure from the enemy, abandoned their positions.
On September 4, 1939, the Brigade withdrew towards Pułtusk. On that day it was absorbed by the Polish 5th Infantry Division
Polish 5th Infantry Division
5th Lwów Infantry Division was a unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period, with headquarters stationed in Lwów. It was created on May 20, 1919, during the Polish-Ukrainian War in Eastern Galicia. Originally, it consisted of three infantry regiments, but later it was strengthened with...
under General Juliusz Zulauf
Juliusz Zulauf
Juliusz Zulauf was a Polish Army major general . A recipient of the Virtuti Militari, he fought with distinction during World War I, the Polish-Ukrainian War, the Polish-Soviet War, and the 1939 invasion of Poland.Juliusz Zulauf was born in Lwów, then the capital of Austro-Hungarian Galicia...
, and ordered to defend the line of the Narew
Narew
The Narew River , in western Belarus and north-eastern Poland, is a left tributary of the Vistula river...
river.
On September 7, the Brigade was ordered to withdraw across 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...
, but for unknown reasons it changed order and moved to Wyszków
Wyszków
Wyszków is a town in northeastern Poland with 26,500 inhabitants . It is the capital of Wyszków County . Wyszków is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Warsaw Voivodeship and Ostrołęka Voivodeship .-Description:The village of Wyszków was first documented in 1203. The town...
, positioning itself on the line from Wyszków to Serock
Serock
Serock is a town at the north bank of the Zegrze lake in the Legionowo County, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,616 inhabitants ....
. Then it withdrew to Kałuszyn and Mińsk Mazowiecki
Minsk Mazowiecki
Mińsk Mazowiecki is a town in central Poland with 38 181 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously in Siedlce Voivodeship...
, fighting the advancing German 11th I.D. of General Max Bock. In mid-September it covered activities of the 1st Legions Infantry Division. During the several skirmishes, the Brigade suffered heavy losses. It capitulated on September 26, 1939.