23rd Infantry Division (Poland)
Encyclopedia
23rd Infantry Division was a unit of the Polish Army in the interwar period (1921-1939). Created in 1921, its headquarters were stationed in Upper Silesian town of Tarnowskie Góry
. Also, some other units were located in garrisons across the Polish part of Upper Silesia
:
In October 1938 the Division, under General Jan Jagmin-Sadowski
, participated in the annexation of Zaolzie
. A year later, in September 1939, it took part in the Polish September Campaign. Commanded by Colonel Wladyslaw Powierza, it was part of Operational Group "Silesia"/"Jagmin" of the Army Kraków gen. A.Szyling.
On September 1 and 2, the unit defended (flank's) the so-called Fortified Silesian Area, then it was ordered to support the 55th I.D., which was fighting around Wyry
and Kobiór
. After several skirmishes with German 28th I.D., the Poles withdrew towards the Nida River
. Between September 4 and 20, the Division retreated eastwards, repelling German attacks and beating the enemy in Biłgoraj. On September 19, the Division joined units attacking Tomaszów Lubelski
, but these efforts were fruitless. It fought until the capitulation of Army Kraków, September 20.
Tarnowskie Góry
Tarnowskie Góry is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands....
. Also, some other units were located in garrisons across the Polish part of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
:
- in KatowiceKatowiceKatowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
- 73rd Infantry Regiment,
- - 11rd Infantry Regiment
- in ChorzówChorzówChorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
, RybnikRybnikRybnik is a city in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship. Rybnik is located close to the border with the Czech Republic and just outside the southern border of the largest urban area in Poland, the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union...
and Wielkie Hajduki - 75th Infantry Regiment,
- in ŻoryZoryŻory is a town and city county in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland with 62,625 inhabitants . Previously it was in Katowice Voivodeship . It is located in the historic Upper Silesia region about southwest of Katowice.- History :...
and BędzinBedzinBędzin is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Czarna Przemsza river , the city borders the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metro area with a population of about 2 million.It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since its...
- 23rd Light Artillery Regiment.
- in the structure of the division was "hide" "Fortres Grup" Colonel Klaczyński.
In October 1938 the Division, under General Jan Jagmin-Sadowski
Jan Jagmin-Sadowski
Jan Jagmin-Sadowski , was a general of the Polish Army, having served in World War One as a member of Józef Piłsudski's legions, as well as commanding Polish forces during the invasion of Poland in 1939....
, participated in the annexation of Zaolzie
Zaolzie
Zaolzie is the Polish name for an area now in the Czech Republic which was disputed between interwar Poland and Czechoslovakia. The name means "lands beyond the Olza River"; it is also called Śląsk zaolziański, meaning "trans-Olza Silesia". Equivalent terms in other languages include Zaolší in...
. A year later, in September 1939, it took part in the Polish September Campaign. Commanded by Colonel Wladyslaw Powierza, it was part of Operational Group "Silesia"/"Jagmin" of the Army Kraków gen. A.Szyling.
On September 1 and 2, the unit defended (flank's) the so-called Fortified Silesian Area, then it was ordered to support the 55th I.D., which was fighting around Wyry
Wyry
Wyry is a village in Mikołów County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wyry. It lies approximately south of Mikołów and south-west of the regional capital Katowice....
and Kobiór
Kobiór
Kobiór is a village in Pszczyna County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Kobiór. It lies approximately north of Pszczyna and south of the regional capital Katowice.The village has a population of 4,702.-References:Notes...
. After several skirmishes with German 28th I.D., the Poles withdrew towards the Nida River
Nida River
Nida is a river in central Poland, a tributary of the Vistula river , with a length of 151 kilometres and a basin area of 3,865 km2. This includes the protected area called Nida Landscape Park.Towns and townships;...
. Between September 4 and 20, the Division retreated eastwards, repelling German attacks and beating the enemy in Biłgoraj. On September 19, the Division joined units attacking Tomaszów Lubelski
Tomaszów Lubelski
Tomaszów Lubelski is a town in south-eastern Poland with 20,261 inhabitants . Situated in the Lublin Voivodeship , previously in Zamość Voivodeship . It is the capital of Tomaszów Lubelski County.-History:...
, but these efforts were fruitless. It fought until the capitulation of Army Kraków, September 20.
Further reading
- 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.