Polish 2nd Mountain Brigade
Encyclopedia
2nd Mountain Brigade was a unit of the Polish Army, which took part in the Polish September Campaign. Commanded by Colonel Aleksander Stawarz
, it was part of Operational Group "Jasło" of Army Karpaty. Its purpose was to defend a 80-kilometer section of Polish-Slovakian border, from Czorsztyn
to the Beskid Mountain Pass. Facing the Poles to the south, in Slovakia
, were two German Mountain Divisions and one Slovakian division, which would attack north, along valleys of the Dunajec and the Biała
rivers.
In the morning of 1 September 1939, 2nd Mountain Brigade was attacked both by the Slovaks (in the area of Mniszek
) and the Wehrmacht
(in the area of Spisz). Slovak units did not succeed, but the Germans managed to capture such towns as Zakopane
, Czorsztyn and Szczawnica
. Thus, the Brigade was forced to retreat north, fighting continuously along the way.
In the morning of 5 September, units of the Brigade were located in Nowy Sącz
. In the chaotic retreat, commanders did not cooperate with each other and chaos ensued. Soon afterwards, the Germans, taking advantage of the situation, captured Nowy Sącz, together with bridges, which Polish troops had not destroyed in time. The Brigade withdrew to Gorlice
and on 8 September - to Krosno
. When tired soldiers recuperated, German motorized troops suddenly entered the city, capturing most of PFC's and officers. Thus, the Brigade ceased to exist, its remnants withdrew towards Brzozów
and Bircza
, fighting several skirmishes with advancing Wehrmacht.
Aleksander Stawarz
Aleksander Stawarz codename: Leśnik, Baca was a Polish Army Colonel.In the First World War Stawarz served in Polish Legions...
, it was part of Operational Group "Jasło" of Army Karpaty. Its purpose was to defend a 80-kilometer section of Polish-Slovakian border, from Czorsztyn
Czorsztyn
Czorsztyn is a village in Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Nowy Targ County. The village lies in Pieniny, is located in the mountain range on the current Polish-Slovakian border...
to the Beskid Mountain Pass. Facing the Poles to the south, in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, were two German Mountain Divisions and one Slovakian division, which would attack north, along valleys of the Dunajec and the Biała
Biała
Biała is a Polish word for white. It appears in many Polish toponyms:-Towns:* Biała, also called Biała Prudnicka, in Opole Voivodeship* Biała Piska, in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship* Biała Podlaska, in Lublin Voivodeship...
rivers.
In the morning of 1 September 1939, 2nd Mountain Brigade was attacked both by the Slovaks (in the area of Mniszek
Mniszek
Mniszek may refer to the following places:*Mniszek, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Mniszek, Lublin Voivodeship *Mniszek, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship...
) and 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:...
(in the area of Spisz). Slovak units did not succeed, but the Germans managed to capture such towns as Zakopane
Zakopane
Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...
, Czorsztyn and Szczawnica
Szczawnica
Szczawnica is a resort town in Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. As of June 30, 2007, its population was 7,378....
. Thus, the Brigade was forced to retreat north, fighting continuously along the way.
In the morning of 5 September, units of the Brigade were located in Nowy Sącz
Nowy Sacz
Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
. In the chaotic retreat, commanders did not cooperate with each other and chaos ensued. Soon afterwards, the Germans, taking advantage of the situation, captured Nowy Sącz, together with bridges, which Polish troops had not destroyed in time. The Brigade withdrew to Gorlice
Gorlice
Gorlice is a city and an urban municipality in south eastern Poland with around 29,500 inhabitants . It is situated south east of Kraków and south of Tarnów between Jasło and Nowy Sącz in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Nowy Sącz Voivodeship...
and on 8 September - to Krosno
Krosno
Krosno is a town and county in Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland with 47,455 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009.Notably Krosno is the site of the first oil well in the world....
. When tired soldiers recuperated, German motorized troops suddenly entered the city, capturing most of PFC's and officers. Thus, the Brigade ceased to exist, its remnants withdrew towards Brzozów
Brzozów
Brzozów is a town in south-eastern Poland, with 7,677 inhabitants . It is situated in Subcarpathian Voivodeship and is the seat of both Brzozów County and the smaller administrative district of Gmina Brzozów...
and Bircza
Bircza
Bircza is a village in Przemyśl County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Bircza. It lies approximately south-west of Przemyśl and south-east of the regional capital Rzeszów...
, fighting several skirmishes with advancing Wehrmacht.