Pomeranian Cavalry Brigade (Polish: ''Pomorska Brygada Kawalerii'') was a cavalry 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 stret ...

in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937 out of the Cavalry Brigade "Bydgoszcz". Its headquarters were stationed in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

and the brigade consisted of these units: * 2nd Rokitno Chevau-légers Regiment, garrisoned in Starogard, * 16th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment of General

Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer Gustaw Konstanty Orlicz-Dreszer (October 2, 1889 − July 16, 1936) was a Polish general, and a political and social activist. Before World War I, Orlicz-Dreszer was involved in pro-independence activities in partitioned Poland. On 3 August 1914 ...

, stationed in Bydgoszcz, * 18th Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment, stationed in

Grudziądz Grudziądz ( la, Graudentum, Graudentium, german: Graudenz) is a city in northern Poland, with 92,552 inhabitants (2021). Located on the Vistula River, it lies within the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and is the fourth-largest city in its prov ...

, * 8th Mounted Rifles Regiment, stationed in

Chełmno Chełmno (; older en, Culm; formerly ) is a town in northern Poland near the Vistula river with 18,915 inhabitants as of December 2021. It is the seat of the Chełmno County in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Due to its regional importan ...

, * 11th Mounted Artillery Regiment, stationed in Bydgoszcz, * 10th Pioneers Squadron, stationed in Bydgoszcz, * 8th Communications Squadron, stationed in Bydgoszcz. Pomorska BK w 1938

Polish September Campaign

The Brigade, under Colonel Adam Zakrzewski, was part of the

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, ...

. On September 1, 1939, parts of the 18th Regiment of Pomeranian Uhlans made the legendary

charge at Krojanty The charge at Krojanty, battle of Krojanty, the riding of Krojanty or skirmish of Krojanty was a Polish cavalry charge on the evening of 1 September 1939, the first day of the Second World War, near the Pomeranian village of Krojanty. It occurred ...

, during which unit's commandant, Colonel Kazimierz Mastalerz was killed.{{Cite news, url=http://www.polamjournal.com/Library/APHistory/Cavalry_Myth/cavalry_myth.html, title=The Mythical Polish Cavalry Charge, last=Mros, first=Gilbert J, date=July 2008, work=Polish American Journal, access-date=6 April 2019 On September 2, the Brigade was ordered to attack the town of

Koronowo Koronowo (Polish pronunciation: ; , archaic ''Polnisch Krone'') is a town on the Brda River in Poland, located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, 25 km from Bydgoszcz, with 11,029 inhabitants (2010). It is located in the historic regi ...

, which was defended by the German 3rd Armored Division of General

Leo Geyr von Schweppenburg Leo Dietrich Franz Reichsfreiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg (2 March 1886 – 27 January 1974), was a German general during World War II, noted for his pioneering stance and expertise in the field of armoured warfare. He commanded the 5th Panzer Arm ...

. This move was necessary, as it would help the withdrawing 9th Infantry Division, which had been engaged in bitter fighting. The cavalrymen, with heavy losses, managed to halt the Germans. However, at Bukowiec the

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 previous ...

forces destroyed the 16th Regiment of Greater Poland Uhlans, soon afterwards the 18th Regiment of Pomeranian Uhlans shared same fate. The remaining forces managed to withdraw from the

Tuchola Forest The Tuchola Forest, also known as Tuchola Pinewoods or Tuchola Conifer Woods, (the latter a literal translation of pl, Bory Tucholskie; csb, Tëchòlsczé Bòrë; german: Tuchler or Tucheler Heide) is a large forest complex near the town of Tuch ...

and on September 5, became part of the Operational Group of General

Juliusz Drapella Juliusz Alfred Drapella was a Polish brigadier general of the Polish Armed Forces who was most notable during his service in World War II. Biography Juliusz Alfred Drapella was born on November 3, 1886, in Wieprz, to the family of Ludwik Drapella ...

. After a few days, these units, together with

Podolska Cavalry Brigade Podolska Cavalry Brigade (Polish: ''Podolska Brygada Kawalerii'') was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937 out of the 6th Independent Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were stationed in Stani ...

, took part in the

Battle of Bzura The Battle of the Bzura (or the Battle of Kutno) was the largest Polish counter-attack of the German invasion of Poland and was fought from 9 to 19 September.''The Second World War: An Illustrated History '', Putnam, 1975, Google Print snippet ...

. Then they managed to break to the

Kampinos Forest Kampinos Forest () is a large forest complex located in Masovian Voivodeship, west of Warsaw in Poland. It covers a part of the ancient valley of the Vistula basin, between the Vistula and the Bzura rivers. Once a forest covering 670 km2 of ...

, where, together with Podolska Cavalry Brigade and

Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade (Polish: ''Wielkopolska Brygada Kawalerii'') was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937 out of the Cavalry Brigade "Poznań". Its headquarters were stationed in Pozn ...

they created the Joint Cavalry Brigade of General

Roman Abraham Roman Józef Abraham (28 February 1891, Lwów – 26 August 1976, Warsaw) was a Polish cavalry general, commander of the Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade during the German and Soviet Invasion of Poland in September 1939, and Battle of Bzura comman ...

. On September 20, these forces broke into besieged

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...

, where they capitulated together with the city, on September 28, 1939.

References

Polish Cavalry Brigades Military units and formations of Poland in World War II Military units and formations established in 1937

Polish September Campaign

See also

References