Polish 2nd Legions Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
Polish
2nd Legions Infantry Division (2. Dywizja Piechoty Legionów) was a tactical unit of the Polish Army between the World Wars. Formed on Febryary 21, 1919 in the town of Zegrze
, as a second unit
, composed mostly of veterans of the Polish Legions in World War I
, the unit saw extensive action during the Polish-Bolshevik War and World War II.
During the Polish-Bolshevik War it was commanded by Henryk Minkiewicz
(and others). In a later stage, it took part in the battle of Niemen as part of the Polish 3rd Army.
During the interwar period, the unit's headquarters were stationed in Kielce
, with some regiments in the garrisons of Sandomierz
and Jarosław. During that time its commanders included Juliusz Zulauf
.
During the Polish Defensive War it was a reinforcement of Army Łódź under command of col. Edward Dojan-Surówka. During the Battle of the Border
the unit fought at the Battle of Borowa Góra
. Later, it took part in the Battle of Wola Cyrusowa
and Battle of Jarosław, and finally, it was part of the defence of Modlin
, where it capitulated on September 29, 1939.
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...
2nd Legions Infantry Division (2. Dywizja Piechoty Legionów) was a tactical unit of the Polish Army between the World Wars. Formed on Febryary 21, 1919 in the town of Zegrze
Zegrze
Zegrze is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Serock, within Legionowo County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Serock, north-east of Legionowo, and north of Warsaw....
, as a second unit
Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division
Polish 1st 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 I Brigade of the Polish Legions, the unit saw extensive action during the Polish-Bolshevik War and World War II.As one of the most...
, composed mostly of veterans of the Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army...
, the unit saw extensive action during the Polish-Bolshevik War and World War II.
During the Polish-Bolshevik War it was commanded by Henryk Minkiewicz
Henryk Minkiewicz
Henryk Minkiewicz was a Polish socialist politician and a General of the Polish Army. Former commander of the Border Defence Corps, he was among the Polish officers murdered in the Katyń massacre.-Early life:...
(and others). In a later stage, it took part in the battle of Niemen as part of the Polish 3rd Army.
During the interwar period, the unit's headquarters were stationed in Kielce
Kielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
, with some regiments in the garrisons of Sandomierz
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
and Jarosław. During that time its commanders included 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...
.
During the Polish Defensive War it was a reinforcement of Army Łódź under command of col. Edward Dojan-Surówka. During the Battle of the Border
Battle of the Border
The Battle of the Border refers to the battles that occurred in the first days of the Nazi Germany invasion of Poland in September, 1939...
the unit fought at the Battle of Borowa Góra
Battle of Borowa Góra
Battle of Borowa Góra refers to the series of battles from 2nd to 5 September of 1939 that took place near the hills of Góry Borowskie, south west from Piotrków Trybunalski and east of Bełchatów....
. Later, it took part in the Battle of Wola Cyrusowa
Battle of Wola Cyrusowa
The Battle of Wola Cyrusowa took place on September 8, 1939 near the village of Wola Cyrusowa near Stryków in Poland. It was fought between the forces of the Polish Piotrków Operational Group under Gen. Wiktor Thommée and the German 10th Infantry Division...
and Battle of Jarosław, and finally, it was part of the defence of Modlin
Battle of Modlin
The Battle of Modlin took place during the German invasion of Poland at the beginning of the Second World War. Modlin Fortress was initially the headquarters of the Modlin Army until its retreat eastwards. From 13 September to 29 September in 1939 it served as a defensive citadel for Polish forces...
, where it capitulated on September 29, 1939.