Polish–Soviet War Polish order of battle

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During the Polish–Soviet War fought from February 1919 to October 1920 (ended by armistice in March 1921) between Soviet Russia and the Second Polish Republic – in the aftermath of World War I in Europe – the Polish order of battle included broad disposition of personnel, strength, organization, and command structure.[1][2]

In late 1920, the Polish Army had a total of 23 infantry divisions and nine cavalry brigades.[3] Each infantry division had two brigades, each one having three regiments.[3] Frequently, the infantry divisions were divided for specific tasks, with the resulting brigade-sized formations being called 'groups'.[3] Larger ad hoc formations of more than a single division were called operational groups (Grupa operacyjna) rather than corps.[3]

List of divisions[edit]

The numbering of the large infantry units in August 1920 was then as follows: 1st-18th Infantry Divisions, 1st and 2nd LithuanianBelarusian Divisions, the (21st) Mountain Division, the (22nd) Volunteer Division.

Legions Infantry Divisions[edit]

Formation name Date created Date ceased to exist Notable battle(s) Polish name Notes Source(s)
1st Legions Infantry Division 21 February 1919 23 September 1939 Niemen River 1 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów Formed from the 1st Brigade, Polish Legions.
2nd Legions Infantry Division 21 February 1919 29 September 1939 Niemen River 2 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów
3rd Legions Infantry Division 12 April 1919 8-9 September 1939 Brzostowica, Niemen River 3 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów

Infantry Divisions[edit]

Formation name Date created Date ceased to exist Notable battle(s) Polish name Notes Source(s)
4th Infantry Division 16 April 1919 21 September 1939 4 Dywizja Piechoty Later renamed 26th Infantry Division.
5th Infantry Division 4 April 1919 September 1939 5 Dywizja Piechoty
6th Infantry Division 9 May 1919 20 September 1939 6 Dywizja Piechoty
7th Infantry Division 14 May 1919 September 1939 7 Dywizja Piechoty
8th Infantry Division 9 May 1919 September 1939 8 Dywizja Piechoty
9th Infantry Division 12 June 1919 September 1939 9 Dywizja Piechoty
10th Infantry Division 2 June 1919 September 1939 10 Dywizja Piechoty Formerly 4th Rifle Division (Poland) and the 2nd Brigade, Polish Legions.
11th Infantry Division 16 September 1919 18 September 1939 11 Karpacka Dywizja Piechoty Formed from the 2nd Rifle Division.
12th Infantry Division 1 September 1919 September 1939 12 Dywizja Piechoty Formed from the 6th Rifle Division.
13th Infantry Division 9 September 1919 28 September 1939 13 Kresowa Dywizja Piechoty Formed from the 1st Rifle Division.
14th Infantry Division 10 December 1919 September 1939 14 Wielkopolska Dywizja Piechoty Formed from the 1st Greater Poland Rifle Division, which was formed on 22 January 1919.
15th Infantry Division 17 January 1920 September 1939 15 Wielkopolska Dywizja Piechoty Formed from the 2nd Greater Poland Rifle Division, which was formed in March 1919.
16th Infantry Division 5 March 1920 19 September 1939 16 Pomorska Dywizja Piechoty Formed from the 4th Pomeranian Rifle Division, formed on 30 July 1919.
17th Infantry Division 1 February 1920 September 1939 17 Wielkopolska Dywizja Piechoty Formed from the 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Division, formed on 6 June 1919.
18th Infantry Division 23 January 1920 13 September 1939 18 Dywizja Piechoty Formed from Haller's Blue Army.

Lithuanian–Belarusian, Mountain and Volunteer Divisions[edit]

Formation name Date created Date ceased to exist Notable battle(s) Polish name Notes Source(s)
(19th) 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division 26 November 1918 12 October 1921 Głębokie, Niemen River, Krwawy Bór 1 Dywizja Litewsko-Białoruska The division was renamed the 19th Infantry Division on 12 October 1921.
(20th) 2nd Lithuanian–Belarusian Division 21 October 1919 12 October 1921 Głębokie, Niemen River 2 Dywizja Litewsko-Białoruska The division was created from elements of the 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division. On 12 October 1921, the division was renamed the 20th Infantry Division.
(21st) Mountain Infantry Division 9 February 1920 16 September 1939 21 Dywizja Piechoty Górskiej
(22nd) Volunteer Division 22 July 1920 November 1920 Dywizja Ochotnicza

Mounted Division[edit]

Formation name Date created Date ceased to exist Notable battle(s) Polish name Notes Source(s)
1st Mounted Division mid-July 1920 1924 1 Dywizja Jazdy The division was renamed the 1st Cavalry Division in 1924.

Formations[edit]

The following units and named commanders fought in the Polish–Soviet War on the Polish side.

Polish volunteer so-called 'Death Squadron' (named unofficially) in Lviv, 1920.[2]
Scythemen (Kosynierzy), 1920
Battle of Niemen
Command of Polish Regiment during Polish–Soviet war

Order of battle in August 1920[edit]

At the time of the Battle of Warsaw (1920), the Polish Army was organised in 3 Fronts and 7 Armies, in this manner:[4]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Gdański, Jarosław (2017). "Cossacks, Russians, and Ukrainians on the Polish side in the War of the 1920" [Kozacy, Rosjanie i Ukraińcy po stronie polskiej w wojnie 1920 r.]. Magazyn IOH. Inne Oblicza Historii.
  2. ^ a b Kołodziej, Piotr (2017). "Death Squadron of the Polish–Bolshevik War of 1920" [Huzarzy Śmierci w wojnie polsko-bolszewickiej 1920 r.]. Dzieje.pl. Muzeum Historii Polski.
  3. ^ a b c d Zaloga 2020, p. 30.
  4. ^ Zaloga 2020, p. 33.
  5. ^ Zaloga 2020, p. 35.

Bibliography[edit]