1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division
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The Polish 1st Tadeusz Kościuszko Infantry Division (
Formation
An
When the division started being organised, there were many Jewish volunteers, but they stopped accepting any more Jews, according to Azriel Eiseneberg
"so as to not become propaganda targets of the London Government-in-exile which might be tempted to revive the old story of the connection between Communism and the Jews."[3]
. According to Krystyna Kersten, Stalin had in June 1943, Commander in Chief and Prime Minister General Sikorski declared Berling's army as a communist Polish division, subversive, and its author as a traitor, a deserter from the Polish Army.[4]
On July 7, 1943 the Polish military attaché to the United States, Colonel. Vladimir Onacewicz, issued a statement in which he wrote that the division does not belong to the Polish Army and is a Red Army Division under the command of the Soviet authorities.[5]
Frontline service
The division was ready for operations on July 15, 1943. Its first engagement took place on October 12, 1943 at the battle of Lenino. The 33rd Army commander Gen. Gordov asked the division to break the German defense, in the section Polzukhi, and then move in the direction of Łosiewa and Czurniłowa.[6] From October 12 to 14, 1943, sustained twenty-five percent losses. After the battle the division regrouped in the Smolensk region, where further training took place.
By March 1944 the division had been expanded into the basis of the 1st Polish Army Corps, part of the
In subsequent days, the division was regrouped to the north and on August 26, 1944 continued battles on the Vistula River in the area between the rivers: Wilga and
Later, the division fought in the
Poland's official Flag Day is held each year on 2 May, the last day of the battle in Berlin, when the Polish Army hoisted its flag on the Berlin Victory Column.[8]
Components:
- 1 Praski Pułk Piechoty (1st Infantry Regiment)
- 2 Berliński Pułk Piechoty (2nd Infantry Regiment)
- 3 Berliński Pułk Piechoty (3rd Infantry Regiment)
- 1 Berliński Pułk Artylerii Lekkiej (1st Light Artillery Regiment)
- support units
For participation in the war, the division was awarded the Golden Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari.
Postwar
In 1955 it was reorganized into the 1st "Warsaw" Mechanised Division. The 1st Warsaw Mechanised Division was part of the Warsaw Military District from 1955–1998. In the mid-1990s mechanized regiments of the division were reorganised as brigades. In 2001 the division was subordinated to the commander of the 2nd Mechanised Corps and its components included three Mechanised Brigade and 21 Podhale Rifle Brigade. In 2004 the division was subordinated directly to the Land Forces Command. It was disbanded on September 1, 2011.
Maps of the engagements
References
- Slawomir Cenckiewicz, Long arm of Moscow. Polish People's Military Intelligence 1943–1991 (introduction to synthesis), Poznań2011, p.44
- ISBN 978-83-7558-506-3.
- ISBN 0-8298-0614-8.
- Slawomir Cenckiewicz, long arm of Moscow. Polish People's Military Intelligence 1943–1991 (introduction to synthesis), Poznań2011, pp. 44–46.
- Slawomir Cenckiewicz, long arm of Moscow. Polish People's Military Intelligence 1943–1991 (introduction to synthesis), Poznań2011, p. 46
- ^ Glantz,p.189-190
- ^ "Ѕоевой состав —оветской јрмии на 1 марта 1944 г". Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
- ^ Kutylowski 2011.
Bibliography
- Stanisław Komornicki: Wojsko Polskie : krótki informator historyczny o Wojsku Polskim w latach II wojny światowej. Cz.1, Regularne jednostki ludowego Wojska Polskiego : formowanie, działania bojowe, organizacja, uzbrojenie, metryki jednostek piechoty. Warszawa : Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej (Ministry of National Defence) Warszawa 1965
- Glantz, D.M., Soviet Military Deception in the Second World War, Frank Cass, London (1989). ISBN 0-7146-3347-X.
- Kutylowski, Denny (November 21, 2011), Polish Holidays, Polish Toledo, archived from the original on September 15, 2019, retrieved March 22, 2012