Polish 38th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 38th Infantry Division (Reserve) was a unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period (see: Second Polish Republic
). It was created by merging several units of the Border Defence Corps, and its purpose was to support activities of Army Kraków and Army Karpaty, which guarded southern border of Poland. Its commandant was Colonel Alojzy Wir-Konas
.
The Division was formed on September 9, 1939 (see: Polish September Campaign). After concentration, which took place in the area of Nizankowice
, it was transferred to the Army Karpaty and on September 11, it began withdrawal towards the Romanian Bridgehead
. On the road, it recaptured the town of Sadowa Wisznia, which had been occupied by German 1st Mountain Division.
On September 17 the Division found itself in the area of Janów Lubelski
, where it was surrounded by the Germans. A battle ensued, in the evening the Division reached Brzuchowice in the suburbs of Lwów. Two days later the survivors managed to enter Lwów.
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...
). It was created by merging several units of the Border Defence Corps, and its purpose was to support activities of Army Kraków and Army Karpaty, which guarded southern border of Poland. Its commandant was Colonel Alojzy Wir-Konas
Alojzy Wir-Konas
Alojzy Wir-Konas was a Polish military commander and a Colonel of the Polish Army. Divisional commander during the Invasion of Poland, he was murdered in the Katyn massacre....
.
The Division was formed on September 9, 1939 (see: Polish September Campaign). After concentration, which took place in the area of Nizankowice
Nizankowice
Niżankowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Działoszyn, within Pajęczno County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Działoszyn, west of Pajęczno, and south-west of the regional capital Łódź....
, it was transferred to the Army Karpaty and on September 11, it began withdrawal towards the Romanian Bridgehead
Romanian Bridgehead
The Romanian Bridgehead was an area in southeastern Poland, now located in Ukraine. During the Polish Defensive War of 1939 , on September 14 the Polish Commander in Chief Marshal of Poland Edward Rydz-Śmigły ordered all Polish troops fighting east of the Vistula to withdraw towards Lwów, and...
. On the road, it recaptured the town of Sadowa Wisznia, which had been occupied by German 1st Mountain Division.
On September 17 the Division found itself in the area of Janów Lubelski
Janów Lubelski
Janów Lubelski is a town in eastern Poland. It has 11,882 inhabitants .Situated in the Lublin Voivodship . It is the capital of Janów Lubelski County.It has a large hospital...
, where it was surrounded by the Germans. A battle ensued, in the evening the Division reached Brzuchowice in the suburbs of Lwów. Two days later the survivors managed to enter Lwów.