The 9th Infantry Division ( pl, 9 Dywizja Piechoty) was a unit of the
Polish Army
The Land Forces () are the land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 62,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military history stre ...
in the
Second Polish Republic. For most of 1919, the 9th Division's regiments were dispersed across the regions of
Podlachia
Podlachia, or Podlasie, ( pl, Podlasie, , be, Падляшша, translit=Padliašša, uk, Підляшшя, translit=Pidliashshia) is a historical region in the north-eastern part of Poland. Between 1513 and 1795 it was a voivodeship with the c ...
, Polesie and
Volhynia
Volhynia (also spelled Volynia) ( ; uk, Воли́нь, Volyn' pl, Wołyń, russian: Волы́нь, Volýnʹ, ), is a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, between south-eastern Poland, south-western Belarus, and western Ukraine. The ...
, with one battalion sent to
Dąbrowa Basin
The Dąbrowa Basin (also, Dąbrowa Coal Basin) or Zagłębie Dąbrowskie () is a geographical and historical region in southern Poland. It forms western part of Lesser Poland, though it shares some cultural and historical features with the neighbo ...
.
Formation
The division was originally formed in 1919. Stationed in
Siedlce
Siedlce [] ( yi, שעדליץ ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,354 inhabitants (). Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship (1975–1998). The city is situated b ...
. The 9th Division's history begins in the early summer of 1919. It was formed on June 12 of that year, in
Polesia
Polesia, Polesie, or Polesye, uk, Полісся (Polissia), pl, Polesie, russian: Полесье (Polesye) is a natural and historical region that starts from the farthest edge of Central Europe and encompasses Eastern Europe, including East ...
, out of units of
Operational Group
{{Unreferenced, date=October 2008
Operational Group ( pl, Grupa Operacyjna, abbreviated GO) was the highest level of tactical division of the Polish Army before and during World War II and the invasion of Poland. It was corps-sized, although variou ...
Polesie, commanded by General
Antoni Listowski. At that time, it was divided into two Infantry Brigades and one Artillery Brigade:
* 17th Infantry Brigade (
15th and 22nd Infantry Regiments),
* 18th Infantry Brigade (34th and 35th Infantry Regiments),
* 9th Artillery Brigade (9th Field Artillery Regiment, 9th Heavy Artillery Regiment).
Polish and German conflict
On February 5, 1919, the division attacked the German-occupied
Brest Fortress. After four days, the Germans decided to negotiate, and hand over the fortress, together with
Terespol
Terespol (; be, Тэрэ́спаль, Teréspaĺ) is a town in eastern Poland on the border with Belarus. It lies on the border river Bug, directly opposite the city of Brest, Belarus, making it a border town. It has 5,794 inhabitants as of ...
, to General Listowski. A commemorative parade took place in
Brześć Litewski
Brest ( be, Брэст / Берасьце, Bieraście, ; russian: Брест, ; uk, Берестя, Berestia; lt, Brasta; pl, Brześć; yi, בריסק, Brisk), formerly Brest-Litovsk (russian: Брест-Литовск, lit=Lithuanian Br ...
on February 13, and soon afterwards, the 34th Regiment was transported by rail to
Kobryn
Kobryn ( be, Кобрын; russian: Кобрин; pl, Kobryń; lt, Kobrynas; uk, Кобринь, Kobryn'; yi, קאָברין) is a city in the Brest Region of Belarus and the center of the Kobryn District. The city is located in the southwest ...
to defend the line of the
Mukhavets
__NOTOC__
The Mukhavets or Mukhovets ( be, Мухаве́ц (''Muchaviec''), , BGN/PCGN romanization: ''Mukhavyets''; russian: Мухове́ц (''Muchovec''), pl, Muchawiec) is a river in western Belarus, a tributary to the Bug.
The river ris ...
.
Polish–Soviet War
1919
On February 17, the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...
clashed with Poles near
Antopal
Antopal ( be, Антопаль) or Antopol (russian: Антополь, yi, אנטיפאליע ''Antipolie'', pl, Antopol, he, אנטופול) is an agrotown in Belarus near the towns of Kobryn and Brest (Brest-Litowski). The approximate popul ...
, which was the first battle of the
Polish–Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War (Polish–Bolshevik War, Polish–Soviet War, Polish–Russian War 1919–1921)
* russian: Советско-польская война (''Sovetsko-polskaya voyna'', Soviet-Polish War), Польский фронт (' ...
.
On February 28, the infantry units of General Listowski advanced east towards
Pinsk
Pinsk ( be, Пі́нск; russian: Пи́нск ; Polish: Pińsk; ) is a city located in the Brest Region of Belarus, in the Polesia region, at the confluence of the Pina River and the Pripyat River. The region was known as the Marsh of Pinsk ...
. Divided into three groups, the Poles captured
Drahichyn and
Janów Poleski, and then advanced along the rail line from Brześć to Pinsk. Finally, on March 5, the Poles seized Pinsk and then headed towards
Luniniec
Luninets ( be, Лунінец, russian: Лунине́ц, pl, Łuniniec, lt, Luninecas, yi, לונינייץ, Luninitz BGN/PCGN romanization: ''Luninyets'') is a town and administrative centre for the Luninets district in Brest Region, Belarus. ...
, but failed to capture this important rail junction.
On July 1, 1919, divisions of the Polish Lithuanian-Belarusian Front began an offensive to capture
Minsk
Minsk ( be, Мінск ; russian: Минск) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the admi ...
and to reach the line of the
Berezina
The Berezina or Biarezina ( be, Бярэ́зіна; ) is a river in Belarus and a right tributary of the Dnieper. The river starts in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. The length of the Berezina is 613 km. The width of the river is 15-20 m, the ...
river. The 9th Division protected the right flank of the Polish front, seizing the important rail junction of
Luniniec
Luninets ( be, Лунінец, russian: Лунине́ц, pl, Łuniniec, lt, Luninecas, yi, לונינייץ, Luninitz BGN/PCGN romanization: ''Luninyets'') is a town and administrative centre for the Luninets district in Brest Region, Belarus. ...
on July 10. The Soviets several times tried to recapture the town, but their attacks failed. Finally, in August 1919, the division captured
Sluck
Slutsk ( officially transliterated as Sluck, be, Слуцк; russian: Слуцк; pl, Słuck, lt, Sluckas, Yiddish/Hebrew: סלוצק ''Slutsk'') is a city in Belarus, located on the Sluch River south of Minsk. As of 2022, its population is ...
, reaching the line of the
Sluch river. It spent the winter of 1919/1920 keeping the positions along the Sluch.
1920
In March 1920, the 9th Division was ordered to attack and capture another important rail junction at
Mazyr
Mazyr ( be, Мазыр, ; russian: Мозырь ''Mozyr'' , pl, Mozyrz , Yiddish: מאזיר) is a city in the Gomel Region of Belarus on the Pripyat River about east of Pinsk and northwest of Chernobyl. It is located at approximately . The p ...
. The offensive began on the night of March 4, and by the afternoon of March 5, after crossing 70 kilometres, Mozyr was in Polish hands. The division then took defensive positions, repelling several Soviet raids.
On April 25, 1920, the
Kiev Offensive began. During the fighting in the
Kyiv
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe.
Kyi ...
area, the
Polesie Group of the Polish Army (General
Władysław Sikorski
Władysław Eugeniusz Sikorski (; 20 May 18814 July 1943) was a Polish military and political leader.
Prior to the First World War, Sikorski established and participated in several underground organizations that promoted the cause for Polish i ...
) was ordered to attack and reach the line of the
Dnieper
}
The Dnieper () or Dnipro (); , ; . is one of the major transboundary rivers of Europe, rising in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. It is the longest river of Ukraine and ...
near its confluence with the
Prypec. On April 26, the 9th Division seized
Czernobyl, and on May 9, it captured
Recyca. Six days later, Polish units reached the Dnieper.
In early June 1920, the
Soviet 12th Army crossed the Dnieper, threatening Polish forces in Kyiv with encirclement. On June 17, the Polish front was broken, and a general retreat was ordered. On July 4, the armies of
Mikhail Tukhachevsky
Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky ( rus, Михаил Николаевич Тухачевский, Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevskiy, p=tʊxɐˈtɕefskʲɪj; – 12 June 1937) nicknamed the Red Napoleon by foreign newspapers, was a Sovie ...
and
Semyon Budyonny
Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonnyy ( rus, Семён Миха́йлович Будённый, Semyon Mikháylovich Budyonnyy, p=sʲɪˈmʲɵn mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪdʑ bʊˈdʲɵnːɨj, a=ru-Simeon Budyonniy.ogg; – 26 October 1973) was a Russian ca ...
initiated a general offensive. The 9th Division withdrew to the
Styr line, but the Soviets crossed it on July 21. In late July, two regiments of the division were transported to the area of
Grodno, fighting the Cavalry Army of
Hayk Bzhishkyan
Hayk Bzhishkian ( hy, Հայկ Բժշկյան, Persian هایک پزشکیان, Russian: Гайк Бжишкян, also known as Guy Dmitrievich Guy, Gai Dmitrievich Gai (Гай Дмитриевич Гай), Gaya Gai (Гая Гай), or Bzhishky ...
. There, the Polish retreat continued. Near Jablonka, the 34th Infantry Regiment was almost destroyed by the enemy, with losses reaching up to 75%.
In early August, the division regrouped in the area of
Modlin, with the 41st Infantry Regiment attached to it, to replace the destroyed 34th Infantry Regiment. As part of the Fifth Army, it was tasked with protecting the left wing of the Polish Northern Front until the planned
Wieprz
The Wieprz (, ; ua, Вепр, Vepr) is a river in central-eastern Poland, a tributary of the Vistula. It is the country's ninth longest river, with a total length of 349 km and a catchment area of 10,497 km2, all within Poland. Its cour ...
river offensive.
On August 14, the division began offensive from its positions along the
Wkra river. By August 16, it captured
Nasielsk
Nasielsk is a small town in Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. It is located approximately north of the Polish capital Warsaw, on the Warsaw- Gdańsk rail line and serves as a railway junction. In 2020, the population of the town was estimated at 7, ...
and advanced towards
Ciechanów
Ciechanów is a city in north-central Poland. From 1975 to 1998, it was the capital of the Ciechanów Voivodeship. Since 1999, it has been situated in the Masovian Voivodeship. As of December 2021, it has a population of 43,495.
History
The ...
. On August 30, the division was transported by rail from Ciechanów to
Chełm
Chełm (; uk, Холм, Kholm; german: Cholm; yi, כעלם, Khelm) is a city in southeastern Poland with 60,231 inhabitants as of December 2021. It is located to the south-east of Lublin, north of Zamość and south of Biała Podlaska, some ...
, where it joined the Third Army. On September 3, Marshal
Józef Piłsudski
Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Naczelnik państwa, Chief of State (1918–1922) and Marshal of Poland, First Marshal of Second Polish Republic, Poland (from 1920). He was ...
decorated many of its soldiers with medals and awards. After a parade, the division was ordered to capture
Hrubieszów
Hrubieszów (; uk, Грубешів, Hrubeshiv; yi, הרוביעשאָוו, Hrubyeshov) is a town in southeastern Poland, with a population of around 18,212 (2016). It is the capital of Hrubieszów County within the Lublin Voivodeship.
Through ...
. The assault began on September 5, and on the next day, the town was seized. The division remained in the south until September 19, capturing
Lutsk
Lutsk ( uk, Луцьк, translit=Lutsk}, ; pl, Łuck ; yi, לוצק, Lutzk) is a city on the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast (province) and the administrative center of the surrounding Lu ...
and
Dubno
Dubno ( uk, Ду́бно) is a city and municipality located on the Ikva River in Rivne Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Dubno Raion (district). The city is located on intersection of two major ...
.
In late September 1920, the division was transported northwards to guard the Polish–Lithuanian demarcation line. It was stationed near
Wolkowysk, and two of its regiments were incorporated into the
armed forces of the Republic of Central Lithuania.
Second Polish Republic
In 1921, the headquarters and the 22nd Infantry Regiment were moved to the permanent location in the garrison of
Siedlce
Siedlce [] ( yi, שעדליץ ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,354 inhabitants (). Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship (1975–1998). The city is situated b ...
. The 34th Infantry Regiment was stationed in
Biała Podlaska, and the 35th Infantry Regiment in
Brzesc nad Bugiem
Brest ( be, Брэст / Берасьце, Bieraście, ; russian: Брест, ; uk, Берестя, Berestia; lt, Brasta; pl, Brześć; yi, בריסק, Brisk), formerly Brest-Litovsk (russian: Брест-Литовск, lit=Lithuanian Br ...
.
On November 3, 1922, during a ceremony in Siedlce, the division's flag was handed to its soldiers by
Józef Piłsudski
Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Naczelnik państwa, Chief of State (1918–1922) and Marshal of Poland, First Marshal of Second Polish Republic, Poland (from 1920). He was ...
. The flag was funded by the residents of the counties of
Siedlce
Siedlce [] ( yi, שעדליץ ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,354 inhabitants (). Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship (1975–1998). The city is situated b ...
,
Łuków
Łuków is a city in eastern Poland with 30,727 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2005). Since 1999, it has been situated in the Lublin Voivodeship, previously it had belonged to the Siedlce Voivodeship (between 1975–1998). It is the capital of ...
and
Janów Lubelski
Janów Lubelski is a town in southeastern Poland. It has 11,938 inhabitants (2006). Situated in the Lublin Voivodship (since 1999), Janów Lubelski belongs to Lesser Poland, and is located in southeastern corner of this historic Polish province. ...
. In December 1922, after the election in which
Gabriel Narutowicz
Gabriel Józef Narutowicz (; 29 March 1865 – 16 December 1922) was a Polish professor of hydroelectric engineering and politician who served as the first President of Poland from 11 December 1922 until his assassination on 16 December, five d ...
became the President of Poland, the division sent two battalions to Warsaw to prevent street fighting.
During
May Coup of 1926, the 9th Division supported the rebellion and its leader, Józef Piłsudski. Its 22nd Regiment was involved in the coup from the very beginning. Commandant of the Siedlce garrison, Colonel
Franciszek Sikorski, sent on May 12, 1926, his soldiers to guard strategic locations in the town, including its important rail junction. Two battalions of soldiers, on the way from Siedlce to Warsaw, were halted at the station in
Mińsk Mazowiecki
Mińsk Mazowiecki () "''Masovian Minsk''") is a town in eastern Poland with 40,999 inhabitants (2020). It is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999) and is a part of the Warsaw Agglomeration. It is the capital of Mińsk County. Locate ...
, by the uhlans of the
7th Regiment of Lublin Uhlans
7th Lublin Uhlan Regiment of General Kazimierz Sosnkowski (Polish language: 7 Pułk Ułanów Lubelskich im. gen. Kazimierza Sosnkowskiego, 7 puł) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic and in the Polish Armed Forces in ...
. After brief negotiations, the uhlans joined the infantry from Siedlce, and the whole group reached
Rembertów in the early afternoon. In the evening, soldiers of the 9th Division fought on the streets of Warsaw, and after the coup, officers of the unit were decorated by Piłsudski for their loyalty.
In 1933, the 9th Light Artillery Regiment was garrisoned in Siedlce.
1939 Invasion of Poland
As part of
Pomorze Army The Pomeranian Army ( pl, Armia Pomorze) was one of the Polish armies defending against the 1939 Invasion of Poland. It was officially created on March 23, 1939. Led by General dywizji Władysław Bortnowski, it consisted of 5 infantry divisions, ...
[ Steven Zaloga, ''Poland 1939: The Birth Of Blitzkrieg'', Osprey Publishing, 2002, ] the 9th I.D. defended the 70-kilometer line between the town of
Pruszcz and the village of
Gostycyn
Gostycyn (german: Liebenau) is a village in Tuchola County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Gostycyn. It lies approximately south of Tuchola and north ...
in Polish Pomerania. The division fought in the
1939 Defensive War
The invasion of Poland (1 September – 6 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 Septem ...
under Colonel
Józef Werobej
Józef Werobej was a Polish infantry officer who served in the Imperial Russian Army and a colonel in the Polish Army appointed by the Polish authorities in exile as a brigadier general. Knight of the Order of Virtuti Militari.
Biography
After ...
. In the morning of September 1, 1939, it was attacked by three
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...
divisions –
2nd Armored-Motorized,
3rd Armored and 32nd I.D. After heavy fighting, the Poles withdrew in the evening to the area of
Cekcyn
Cekcyn (Polish pronunciation: ) is a village in Tuchola County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Cekcyn. It lies approximately east of Tuchola and north ...
. Another defence line was established there, but the Germans broke it, and the 9th I.D. retreated over the
Brda and to the suburbs of
Bydgoszcz.
The
2nd Motorized Infantry Division advanced in the north, facing Polish 35th Infantry Regiment. The
3rd Panzer Division in the middle, and the
32nd Infantry Division in the south, along the
Brda river, where it faced Polish 22nd Infantry Regiment.
On the night of September 1/2, Polish units retreated behind the Brda, concentrating near
Bysławek. The 22nd Regiment was transferred to the 15th Infantry Division and sent to
Bydgoszcz, while remaining subunits of the 9th Division were ordered to join forces with the
27th Infantry Division, and to attack German panzer columns, heading towards the Brda.
Since the 27th Division did not arrive on time, General
Władysław Bortnowski
Władysław Bortnowski (12 November 1891 – 21 November 1966) was a Polish historian, military commander and one of the highest ranking generals of the Polish Army. He is most famous for commanding the Pomorze Army in the Battle of Bzura during ...
ordered both units to attack simultaneously, with the support of
Czersk Operational Group Czersk Operational Group ( pl, Grupa Operacyjna Czersk, otherwise known as ''Shielding Group Czersk''; named after the town of Czersk, Poland) was an Operational Group (a type of tactical military unit) of the Polish Army. Formed in 1939 under the n ...
. Thus, the Polish attack was set to begin on the morning of September 3, and the objective was to push the Germans back behind the Brda. However, since both Polish divisions failed to cooperate as their communication failed, the assault turned into a failure, with the German 3rd Armored Division managing to halt it.
After the defeat, the 9th I.D. gathered in the forests north of Bydgoszcz. Soon afterwards, it was attacked by the
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
. Unable to defend itself and without air support, the division scattered and ceased to exist. Only the 35th Infantry Regiment remained as a unit and managed to break out of the German encirclement on September 5.
Later in World War II
A 9th Infantry Division was also formed as part of the
Anders Army
Anders' Army was the informal yet common name of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in the 1941–42 period, in recognition of its commander Władysław Anders. The army was created in the Soviet Union but, in March 1942, based on an understand ...
briefly in 1942, and there was a 9th
Home Army
The Home Army ( pl, Armia Krajowa, abbreviated AK; ) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) est ...
Infantry Division active in 1944.
Cold War
Additionally, the
Polish People's Army
The Polish People's Army ( pl, Ludowe Wojsko Polskie , LWP) constituted the second formation of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in 1943–1945, and in 1945–1989 the armed forces of the Polish communist state ( from 1952, the Polish Pe ...
formed a 9th Infantry Division, which was active from 1944 to 1962, after which it became the 9th Mechanised Division.
See also
*
Polish army order of battle in 1939
This article discusses the Polish order of battle during the invasion of Poland. In the late 1930s Polish headquarters prepared "Plan Zachód" (''Plan "West''), a plan of mobilization of Polish Army in case of war with Germany. Earlier, the Poles ...
*
Polish contribution to World War II
In World War Two, the Polish armed forces were the fourth largest Allied forces in Europe, after those of the Soviet Union, United States, and Britain. Poles made substantial contributions to the Allied effort throughout the war, fighting on lan ...
*
List of Polish divisions in World War II
This is a list of Polish divisions in World War II.
Polish divisions in September 1939 Campaign
* 1st Legions Infantry Division of Józef Piłsudski (stationed in Wilno) - Brig. Gen. Wincenty Kowalski
* 2nd Legions Infantry Division (stationed ...
References
Bibliography
*
* Tadeusz Jurga: Wojsko Polskie : krótki informator historyczny o Wojsku Polskim w latach II wojny światowej. 7, Regularne jednostki Wojska Polskiego w 1939 : organizacja, działania bojowe, uzbrojenie, metryki związków operacyjnych, dywizji i brygad. Warszawa : Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej 1975.
*
* {{cite book , last= Jagiełło , first=Zdzisław , title=Piechota Wojska Polskiego 1918–1939 , year=2007 , publisher=Bellona , location=Warszawa , isbn=978-83-11-10206-4
* "Almanach oficerski": praca zbiorowa, Wojskowy Instytut Naukowo-Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1923
* "Księga chwały piechoty": komitet redakcyjny pod przewodnictwem płk. dypl. Bolesława Prugara Ketlinga, Departament Piechoty MSWojsk, Warszawa 1937–1939. Reprint: Wydawnictwo Bellona Warszawa 1992
09th
9th
Military units and formations established in 1919
Military units and formations disestablished in 1939