18th Infantry Division (Poland): Difference between revisions
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| branch = [[Polish Land Forces]] |
| branch = [[Polish Land Forces]] |
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| type = [[Mechanized infantry]] |
| type = [[Mechanized infantry]] |
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| size= [[Division (military|Division]] |
| size= [[Division (military)|Division]] |
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| command_structure = [[Armed Forces General Command (Poland)|Armed Forces General Command]] |
| command_structure = [[Armed Forces General Command (Poland)|Armed Forces General Command]] |
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| garrison = [[Siedlce]] |
| garrison = [[Siedlce]] |
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Revision as of 17:29, 8 December 2019
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| 18th "Żelazna" Mechanised Division | |
|---|---|
| 18 Dywizja Zmechanizowana | |
 | |
| Active | 2018–present (traditions from 1919) |
| Country | Poland |
| Branch | Polish Land Forces |
| Type | Mechanized infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Armed Forces General Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Siedlce |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Jarosław Gromadziński |
The 18th "Żelazna" Mechanised Division (18. Dywizja Piechoty) is a division of the polish Armed Forces. The division was originally part of Polish Army during the interbellum period, which took part in the Polish September Campaign. Stationed in Łomża and commanded in 1939 by Colonel Stefan Kossecki, it was part of the Narew Independent Operational Group.
History
It was formed in 1919 from the units of the Blue Army.
Between 1919 and 1939, Łomża and neighboring towns were located very close to the border of Poland and German province of East Prussia. Defense of this area was regarded as crucial in any future conflict, so 18th Division was regarded as an elite unit. More than 50% of its soldiers were local conscripts from northern Mazovia and Podlasie, whose patriotism was highly appreciated.
The Division assembled on August 30, 1939, and the next day it occupied defense positions along the Narew river. Until September 3, it had a limited contact with the Wehrmacht. It was then ordered to take positions previously held by the Polish 41st Infantry Division. On September 7, it left Ostrołęka and was ordered to halt the advance of German 21st Infantry Division near Nowogrod. The efforts of Polish soldiers were mixed, but on the night of Sept 9-10, it attacked a German armored column, destroying several vehicles and tanks.
During the next days the Division was engaged in heavy fights with units of General Heinz Guderian's XIX Panzer Corps. After several bloody skirmishes, the Germans severely wounded Colonel Kossecki. Twenty volunteers, who wanted to take his body from the battleground, were killed by a German machine gun. Kossecki himself survived, but was captured by the Soviets and killed by them probably in 1940 (see: Katyn Massacre). The division effectively ceased to exist.[1]
In the night of September 13–14 the Germans massacred 200 Polish POWs, gathered in the courtyard in the barracks in Zambrów (the Zambrów massacre).[2]
See also
- Polish army order of battle in 1939
- Polish contribution to World War II
- List of Polish divisions in World War II
References
- ^ Boje Polskie 1939-1945. Przewodnik Encyklopedyczny (in Polish). Bellona. pp. 474–476.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Tomasz Sudoł, ZBRODNIE WEHRMACHTU NA JEŃCACH POLSKICH WE WRZEŚNIU 1939 ROKU, Biuro Edukacji Publicznej IPN