Polish–Soviet War Polish order of battle explained

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. Each infantry division had two brigades, each one having three regiments. Frequently, the infantry divisions were divided for specific tasks, with the resulting brigade-sized formations being called 'groups'. Larger ad hoc formations of more than a single division were called operational groups rather than corps.

List of divisions

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

Legions Infantry Divisions

Formation nameDate createdDate ceased to existNotable battle(s)Polish nameNotesSource(s)
1st Legions Infantry Division21 February 191923 September 1939Niemen RiverFormed from the 1st Brigade, Polish Legions.
2nd Legions Infantry Division21 February 191929 September 1939Niemen River
3rd Legions Infantry Division12 April 19198-9 September 1939Brzostowica, Niemen River

Infantry Divisions

Formation nameDate createdDate ceased to existNotable battle(s)Polish nameNotesSource(s)
4th Infantry Division16 April 191921 September 1939Later renamed 26th Infantry Division.
5th Infantry Division4 April 1919September 1939
6th Infantry Division9 May 191920 September 1939
7th Infantry Division14 May 1919September 1939
8th Infantry Division9 May 1919September 1939
9th Infantry Division12 June 1919September 1939
10th Infantry Division2 June 1919September 1939Formerly 4th Rifle Division (Poland) and the 2nd Brigade, Polish Legions.
11th Infantry Division16 September 191918 September 1939Formed from the 2nd Rifle Division.
12th Infantry Division1 September 1919September 1939Formed from the 6th Rifle Division.
13th Infantry Division9 September 191928 September 1939Formed from the 1st Rifle Division.
14th Infantry Division10 December 1919September 1939Formed from the 1st Greater Poland Rifle Division, which was formed on 22 January 1919.
15th Infantry Division17 January 1920September 1939Formed from the 2nd Greater Poland Rifle Division, which was formed in March 1919.
16th Infantry Division5 March 192019 September 1939Formed from the 4th Pomeranian Rifle Division, formed on 30 July 1919.
17th Infantry Division1 February 1920September 1939Formed from the 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Division, formed on 6 June 1919.
18th Infantry Division23 January 192013 September 1939Formed from Haller's Blue Army.

Lithuanian–Belarusian, Mountain and Volunteer Divisions

Formation nameDate createdDate ceased to existNotable battle(s)Polish nameNotesSource(s)
(19th) 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division26 November 191812 October 1921Głębokie, Niemen River, Krwawy BórThe division was renamed the 19th Infantry Division on 12 October 1921.
(20th) 2nd Lithuanian–Belarusian Division21 October 191912 October 1921Głębokie, Niemen RiverThe 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 Division9 February 192016 September 1939
(22nd) Volunteer Division22 July 1920November 1920

Mounted Division

Formations

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

Order of battle in August 1920

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

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Kozacy, Rosjanie i Ukraińcy po stronie polskiej w wojnie 1920 r. . Cossacks, Russians, and Ukrainians on the Polish side in the War of the 1920 . Jarosław . Gdański . Magazyn IOH . Inne Oblicza Historii . 2017.
  2. Death Squadron of the Polish–Bolshevik War of 1920 . Huzarzy Śmierci w wojnie polsko-bolszewickiej 1920 r. . Piotr . Kołodziej . Dzieje.pl . Muzeum Historii Polski . 2017.

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