Drawsko Training Ground Explained

Unit Name:	Colonel Franciszek Sadowski Land Forces Training Centre in Drawsko
Native Name:	Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych Drawsko im. płk. dypl. Franciszka Sadowskiego
End Date:	-->
Country:	Poland
Allegiance:	Poland,
Branch:	Polish Land Forces
Type:	Training and proving ground
Size:	339.68km2
Garrison:	Office in Oleszno, West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Nickname:	Poligon Drawski
Colours:	-->
Colours Label:	-->
Patron:	Franciszek Sadowski
Anniversaries:	29 May^[1]
Website:	cswldrawsko.wp.mil.pl
Current Commander:	See § Commanders

The Colonel Franciszek Sadowski Land Forces Training Centre in Drawsko (Polish: Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych Drawsko im. płk. dypl. Franciszka Sadowskiego), commonly known as the Drawsko Training Ground (Polish: Poligon Drawski) is a training and proving ground located approximately 4km (02miles) southwest of Drawsko Pomorskie, West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The training ground was called the Flugplatz Gabbert of the German Reichswehr.^{[2] [3]} Aside from being used by the Polish Army, it is also used by all member states of NATO.^[4]

History

The unit originated in Jelenino, a village near Szczecinek and was created on 2 February 1946 as the Command of the Artillery Proving Ground (Polish: Komenda Poligonu Artyleryjnego). The unit was moved on 12 January 1949 to Oleszno, where it currently lies. The base was then changed to both a proving and training ground. Eventually, the name of the ground changed to the 2nd District Artillery Training Ground (Polish: II Okręgowy Poligon Artylerii).

Many military events happened and happen in the area, most notably "Odra - Nysa 69", "Tarcza 76" and "Tarcza 88". In October 2000, the V Corps of the United States participated in a field exercise codenamed "VICTORY STRIKE". More than 2 thousand soldiers participated in the event.^{[5] [6]}

Settlements located in the area

The training ground's area itself is located in Drawsko County, on the border of Gmina Kalisz Pomorski and Gmina Drawsko Pomorskie. The settlements on the area are:

• Gmina Kalisz Pomorski
  • Głębokie
  • Prostynia
  • Jaworze
  • Borowo
  • Czertyń
• Gmina Drawsko Pomorskie
  • Oleszno (headquarters)
  • Ziemsko
  • Żołędowo
  • Dzikowo
  • Konotop

Commanders

The commanders of the area were and are:^[7]

• Maj. (1946 - 1950)
• Lt. Col. Jan Sementz (1950 - 1962)
• Brig. Gen. Leon Dubicki (March - September 1962)
• Lt. Franciszek Raban (1962 - 1964)
• Brig. Gen. Józef Kolasa (1964 - 1966)
• Lt. Jan Bodylewicz (1966 - 1974)
• Lt. Franciszek Sadowski (1974 - 1979)
• Lt. Jan Matejuk (1988 - 1996)
• Lt. Jan Krupa (1996 - 1998)
• Lt. Robert Jabłoński (1998 - 2001)
• Lt. Antoni Budkowski (2001 - 2004)
• Lt. Michał Wałęza (2004 - 2010)
• COL (Colonel) Marek Gmurski (2010 - Jan 2022)
• COL Andrzej Negmanski (Jan 2022 - present)

^[8]

Notes and references

1. 81/MON . 15 March 2011 . . Decyzja nr. 81/MON Ministra Obrony Narodowej z 5 marca 2011 r. w sprawie ustanowienia dorocznego święta Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych Drawsko . Decision No. 81/MON of the Minister of Defence of 5 March 2011 on establishing an annual holiday of the Land Forces Training Centre in Drawsko . pl.
2. https://www.saatzig.de/gabbert.html
3. Web site: Urodziny poligonu drawskiego . Włodarczyk . Sławomir . 2 February 2010 . GS24 . Głos Szczeciński . 3 February 2022 .
4. Web site: Drawsko Pomorskie  - największy poligon w Europie . GS24 . Głos Szczeciński . 3 February 2022 .
5. Web site: Victory Strike . Pike . John . 2002 . . 3 February 2022 .
6. Web site: Poligon w Drawsku Pomorskim obchodzi 70-lecie . 4 February 2016 . Dzieje.pl . 3 February 2022 .
7. Web site: Tradycje . 16 January 2017 . Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych . Drawsko Training Ground . 3 February 2022 .
8. https://www.piemags.com/military/left-col-marek-gmurski-outgoing-commander-28323795.html