Polish 36th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 36th Reserve Infantry Division (36 Rezerwowa Dywizja Piechoty) was a unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period
, which took part in the Polish September Campaign.
It was formed out of several brigades of the Border Defence Corps of the Podolia
region, which had guarded southeastern border of Poland (see: Kresy
). In the first days of September 1939, under Colonel Boleslaw Ostrowski, the Division was concentrated in the area of Szydłowiec, as part of the Prusy Army
. Facing the Poles was the Second Armored Division of the Wehrmacht
, whose units attacked Przedborz
on September 3 and after heavy fights managed to capture the town.
On September 6, the German First Light Division crossed the Pilica River in Przedborz, which forced the Poles to withdraw towards Skarżysko-Kamienna
. At the same time, Polish divisions on the right wing of the Prusy Army were destroyed and the 36th I.D. retreated to Końskie
. In the morning of September 7, the Germans attacked Polish positions near Kazanów
, and in the battle Polish regiments lost up to 40% of KIA, MIA and wounded.
On September 8, Colonel Ostrowski, after finding out that the Germans had captured Skarżysko-Kamienna, decided to move northwards, to Szydłowiec. However, on the same day the Germans attacked at noon. The marching Division was split and its units were separated. Ostrowski himself got to Kozienice
and later crossed the Vistula
. Meanwhile, the Germans attacked Polish units in the nearby forests of the Holy Cross Mountains, with heavy losses of both sides.
On September 9, remaining parts of the 36th I.D. reached Iłża and then headed towards the Vistula. However, the Germans had already been on the western bank of the river. Under the circumstances, the Poles split into smaller groups and crossed the river, joining the Lublin Army
. This was the end of the 36th I.D.
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 formed out of several brigades of the Border Defence Corps of the Podolia
Podolia
The region of Podolia is an historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day Ukraine, corresponding to Khmelnytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast. Northern Transnistria, in Moldova, is also a part of Podolia...
region, which had guarded southeastern border of Poland (see: Kresy
Kresy
The Polish term Kresy refers to a land considered by Poles as historical eastern provinces of their country. Today, it makes western Ukraine, western Belarus, as well as eastern Lithuania, with such major cities, as Lviv, Vilnius, and Hrodna. This territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian...
). In the first days of September 1939, under Colonel Boleslaw Ostrowski, the Division was concentrated in the area of Szydłowiec, as part of the Prusy Army
Prusy Army
The Prusy Army was one of the Polish armies to fight during the Invasion of Poland in 1939. Created in the summer of 1939 as the main reserve of the Commander in Chief, it was commanded by Gen. Stefan Dąb-Biernacki. One of the meanings of Prusy in Polish is Prussia, but this name only served as a...
. Facing the Poles was the Second Armored Division of 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:...
, whose units attacked Przedborz
Przedbórz
Przedbórz is a town in Radomsko County, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,835 inhabitants . Przedbórz is situated on the Pilica River....
on September 3 and after heavy fights managed to capture the town.
On September 6, the German First Light Division crossed the Pilica River in Przedborz, which forced the Poles to withdraw towards Skarżysko-Kamienna
Skarzysko-Kamienna
Skarżysko-Kamienna is a town in northern Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in Poland by Kamienna river, to the north of Świętokrzyskie Mountains; one of the voivodship's major towns...
. At the same time, Polish divisions on the right wing of the Prusy Army were destroyed and the 36th I.D. retreated to Końskie
Konskie
Końskie is a town in central Poland with 20,328 inhabitants , situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Kielce Voivodeship . Most of the town labour force was employed in the local foundry in the late 80s and early 90s...
. In the morning of September 7, the Germans attacked Polish positions near Kazanów
Kazanów
Kazanów may refer to the following places in Poland:*Kazanów, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Kazanów, Masovian Voivodeship...
, and in the battle Polish regiments lost up to 40% of KIA, MIA and wounded.
On September 8, Colonel Ostrowski, after finding out that the Germans had captured Skarżysko-Kamienna, decided to move northwards, to Szydłowiec. However, on the same day the Germans attacked at noon. The marching Division was split and its units were separated. Ostrowski himself got to Kozienice
Kozienice
Kozienice is a town in central Poland with 21,500 inhabitants . It is the capital of Kozienice County .-Description:...
and later crossed the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
. Meanwhile, the Germans attacked Polish units in the nearby forests of the Holy Cross Mountains, with heavy losses of both sides.
On September 9, remaining parts of the 36th I.D. reached Iłża and then headed towards the Vistula. However, the Germans had already been on the western bank of the river. Under the circumstances, the Poles split into smaller groups and crossed the river, joining the Lublin Army
Lublin Army
Lublin Army was an improvised Polish Army created on September 4 1939 from 1 motorized brigade and various smaller units concentrated around cities of Lublin, Sandomierz and upper Vistula river. It was commanded by Maj. Gen...
. This was the end of the 36th I.D.
Structure
Headquarters of the 36th was based on the Border Defence Corps Brigade Podole.- 163rd Infantry Regiment, based on Border Defence Corps Brigades Czortkow, Borszczow, SkalatSkalatSkalat is a small city in the Ternopil Oblast of western Ukraine. It is located in the Pidvolochysk Raion , at around .-External links:* - Transcripts of eyewitness testimonies...
and Turylcze, - 164th Infantry Regiment, was based on parts of the 38th Infantry Regiment from PrzemyślPrzemyslPrzemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
, with additional units from StanisławówIvano-FrankivskIvano-Frankivsk is a historic city located in the western Ukraine. It is the administrative centre of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast , and is designated as its own separate raion within the oblast, municipality....
and StryjStryiStryi is a city located on the left bank of the river Stryi in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine . Serving as the administrative center of the Stryi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast. Thus, the city has two administrations - the city and the raion...
, - 165th Infantry Regiment, was based on parts of the 17th Infantry Regiment from RzeszówRzeszówRzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
and the Border Defence Corps Brigade Kopczynce - 40th Light Artillery Regiment was based on the 24th Light Artillery Regiment from Jarosław as well as units from Czortkow and Przemyśl.