Polish 1st Tadeusz Kosciuszko Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The Polish 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division was an infantry division in the Soviet-organized Polish
armed forces (as opposed to the existing Anders Army
) formed in 1943 and named for the Polish and American revolutionary Tadeusz Kościuszko
. It was the first division formed of the First Army
(Berling Army), and of what later became the post-war Polish Armed Forces
(Ludowe Wojsko Polskie).
An infantry division, it was formed in May 1943 in Sielce (near the Oka River
) under the command of general Zygmunt Berling
. It was organised according to the Shtat (Table of Organisation and Equipment
) of a Red Army Guards Rifle Division, with minor amendments. In accordance with a decision of Joseph Stalin
, Col. Zygmunt Berling
took over the command of the division. Political control of the division was held by the Union of Polish Patriots
. On July 15, 1943, the anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald
, the soldiers of the division took the Military Oath. The oath sworn obligated, amongst other things Confidentiality of fidelity to the alliance to the Soviet Union and adherence to the brotherhood of arms [of the] allied Red Army. In late August shortages still existed - 20% of the the standard complement of officers were missing and 36% of NCOs.
In June 1943, Commander in Chief and Prime Minister General Sikorski declared Berling's army as a communist Polish division, subversive, and its author as a traitor, a deserter from the Polish Army.
On 7 July 1943 the Polish military attaché
to the United States
, Colonel. Vladimir Onacewicz, issued a statement in which he wrote that the division does not belong to the Polish Army and is a Red Army Division under the command of the Soviet authorities.
The division was ready for operations on 15 July 1943. Its first engagement took place on 12 October 1943 at the battle of Lenino
. The 33rd Army
commander Gen. Gordowa asked the division to break the German defense, in the section Połzuchy, and then move in the direction of Łosiewa and Czurniłowa. From October 12 to 14, 1943, sustained twenty-five percent losses. After its completion the division regrouped in the Smolensk region, where further training took place.
By March 1944 the division had been expanded into the basis of the 1st Polish Army Corps, part of the Western Front. As part of the 1st Polish Army Corps, the division was in the vicinity of Zhytomyr
and Berdichev
. According to a Directive of 29 April 1944, it was part of the structure of the Belarusian Front. In the following days with the troops, Division marched in a westerly direction, and on July 23, 1944 crossed the river Bug
. After a march lasting from 15 to 27 July 1944, the division reached the boundary of the Vistula and on August 2, 1944 made an attempt to capture a foothold in the Deblin
region.
In subsequent days, the division was regrouped to the north and on 26 August 1944 continued battles on the Vistula River in the area between the rivers: Wilga and Auger. September 5, 1944 the division was temporarily reassigned from the First Army
commander and resubordinated to the 47th Army
. Between 10 - 15 September 1944 bloody battles were fought for the liberation of right-bank Warsaw - Prague.
Later, the division fought in Berlin around the Reich Chancellery and the Reichstag
.
Components:
For participation in the war, the division was awarded the Golden Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari
.
In 1955 it was reorganized into the 1st "Warsaw" Mechanised Division
. The 1st Warsaw Mechanised Division was part of the Warsaw Military District from 1955-1998. In the mid-90s mechanized regiments of the division were reorganised as brigades. In 2001 the division was subordinated to the commander of the 2nd Mechanised Corps and its components included three Mechanised Brigade and 21 Podhale Rifle Brigade. In 2004 the division was subordinated directly to the Land Forces Command. It was disbanded on September 1, 2011.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
armed forces (as opposed to the existing 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...
) formed in 1943 and named for the Polish and American revolutionary Tadeusz Kościuszko
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish–Lithuanian and American general and military leader during the Kościuszko Uprising. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Belarus...
. It was the first division formed of the First Army
First Polish Army (1944-1945)
The Polish First Army was a Polish Army unit formed in the Soviet Union in 1944, from the previously existing Polish I Corps as part of the People's Army of Poland . The First Army fought westward, subordinated to the Soviet 1st Belorussian Front, during the offensive against Germany that led to...
(Berling Army), and of what later became the post-war Polish Armed Forces
Polish Armed Forces
Siły Zbrojne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej are the national defense forces of Poland...
(Ludowe Wojsko Polskie).
An infantry division, it was formed in May 1943 in Sielce (near the Oka River
Oka River
Oka is a river in central Russia, the largest right tributary of the Volga. It flows through the regions of Oryol, Tula, Kaluga, Moscow, Ryazan, Vladimir, and Nizhny Novgorod and is navigable over a large part of its total length, as far upstream as to the town of Kaluga. Its length exceeds...
) under the command of general Zygmunt Berling
Zygmunt Berling
Zygmunt Henryk Berling was a Polish general and politician. He fought for the independence of Poland in the early 20th century. During Second World War he was sentenced to death in absentia for desertion from the Polish Army of General Władysław Anders...
. It was organised according to the Shtat (Table of Organisation and Equipment
Table of Organization and Equipment
A table of organization and equipment is a document published by the U.S. Department of Defense which prescribes the organization, staffing, and equippage of units. Also used in acronyms as 'T/O' and 'T/E'....
) of a Red Army Guards Rifle Division, with minor amendments. In accordance with a decision of Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
, Col. Zygmunt Berling
Zygmunt Berling
Zygmunt Henryk Berling was a Polish general and politician. He fought for the independence of Poland in the early 20th century. During Second World War he was sentenced to death in absentia for desertion from the Polish Army of General Władysław Anders...
took over the command of the division. Political control of the division was held by the Union of Polish Patriots
Union of Polish Patriots
Union of Polish Patriots was a political body created by Polish communists and Joseph Stalin in Soviet Union in 1943...
. On July 15, 1943, the anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
, the soldiers of the division took the Military Oath. The oath sworn obligated, amongst other things Confidentiality of fidelity to the alliance to the Soviet Union and adherence to the brotherhood of arms [of the] allied Red Army. In late August shortages still existed - 20% of the the standard complement of officers were missing and 36% of NCOs.
In June 1943, Commander in Chief and Prime Minister General Sikorski declared Berling's army as a communist Polish division, subversive, and its author as a traitor, a deserter from the Polish Army.
On 7 July 1943 the Polish military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Colonel. Vladimir Onacewicz, issued a statement in which he wrote that the division does not belong to the Polish Army and is a Red Army Division under the command of the Soviet authorities.
The division was ready for operations on 15 July 1943. Its first engagement took place on 12 October 1943 at the battle of Lenino
Battle of Lenino
The Battle of Lenino was a tactical World War II engagement that took place between October 12 and October 13th, 1943, north of the village of Lenino in the Mogilev region of Byelorussia...
. The 33rd Army
33rd Army (Soviet Union)
The Red Army's 33rd Army was a Soviet field army during the Second World War. It was disbanded by being redesignated HQ Smolensk Military District in 1945.-Initial Operations:...
commander Gen. Gordowa asked the division to break the German defense, in the section Połzuchy, and then move in the direction of Łosiewa and Czurniłowa. From October 12 to 14, 1943, sustained twenty-five percent losses. After its completion the division regrouped in the Smolensk region, where further training took place.
By March 1944 the division had been expanded into the basis of the 1st Polish Army Corps, part of the Western Front. As part of the 1st Polish Army Corps, the division was in the vicinity of Zhytomyr
Zhytomyr
Zhytomyr is a city in the North of the western half of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zhytomyr Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Zhytomyr Raion...
and Berdichev
Berdychiv
Berdychiv is a historic city in the Zhytomyr Oblast of northern Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Berdychiv Raion , the city itself is of direct oblast subordinance, and is located south of the oblast capital, Zhytomyr, at around .The current estimated population is around...
. According to a Directive of 29 April 1944, it was part of the structure of the Belarusian Front. In the following days with the troops, Division marched in a westerly direction, and on July 23, 1944 crossed the river Bug
Bug
A bug is an insect of the order Hemiptera, known as the "true bugs".Bug or BUG may also refer to:-Biology:* Informally, most arthropods, except marine crustaceans, including individuals or species of** centipede** insect** millipede** mite...
. After a march lasting from 15 to 27 July 1944, the division reached the boundary of the Vistula and on August 2, 1944 made an attempt to capture a foothold in the Deblin
Deblin
Dęblin is a town, population 19,500 , at the confluence of Vistula and Wieprz rivers, in Lublin Voivodeship, Poland. Dęblin is the part of the agglomeration with adjacent towns of Ryki and Puławy, which altogether has over 100 000 inhabitants....
region.
In subsequent days, the division was regrouped to the north and on 26 August 1944 continued battles on the Vistula River in the area between the rivers: Wilga and Auger. September 5, 1944 the division was temporarily reassigned from the First Army
First Army
The military of a number of countries had or have a First Army:* Australian First Army* Austro-Hungarian First Army* British First Army* Bulgarian First Army* Canadian First Army* Republic of China First Army and New First Army* French First Army...
commander and resubordinated to the 47th Army
47th Army
The 47th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was an army-level command active from 1941 to 1946.The 47th Army was formed in late July 1941 in the Transcaucasian Military District as part of the Soviet Union's border defenses with Iran...
. Between 10 - 15 September 1944 bloody battles were fought for the liberation of right-bank Warsaw - Prague.
Later, the division fought in Berlin around the Reich Chancellery and the Reichstag
Reichstag
Reichstag may refer to:*Reichstag – the diets or parliaments of the Holy Roman Empire, of the Austrian-Hungarian monarchy, and of Germany from 1871 to 1945** Reichstag ** Reichstag...
.
Components:
- 1 Praski Pułk Piechoty (1st Infantry Regiment)
- 2 Berliński Pułk Piechoty (2nd Infantry Regiment)
- 3 Berliński Pułk Piechoty (3rd Infantry Regiment)
- 1 Berliński Pułk Artylerii Lekkiej, (1st Light Artillery Regiment)
- support units
For participation in the war, the division was awarded the Golden Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
.
In 1955 it was reorganized into the 1st "Warsaw" Mechanised Division
1st Mechanised Division (Poland)
The 1st "Warsaw" Mechanised Division was a mechanized infantry formation of the Polish Land Forces that existed from 1955 until September 1, 2011. During this entire period, the division was headquartered in Legionowo...
. The 1st Warsaw Mechanised Division was part of the Warsaw Military District from 1955-1998. In the mid-90s mechanized regiments of the division were reorganised as brigades. In 2001 the division was subordinated to the commander of the 2nd Mechanised Corps and its components included three Mechanised Brigade and 21 Podhale Rifle Brigade. In 2004 the division was subordinated directly to the Land Forces Command. It was disbanded on September 1, 2011.