32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group
Encyclopedia
32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group (pl: 32 Dywizjon Pancerny) - polish reconnaissance unit in the Polish September Campaign.
The 32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group was mobilised in August 1939 by the 7th Armoured Battalion stationed in Grodno, for the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade
. Mjr Stanislaw Szostak
was given the command of the group. The group consisted of one tankette squadron with 13 TKS
tankettes armed with heavy machine guns, 1 armoured car squadron with 8 type 34-II armoured cars
armed with a 37 mm cannon and 2 machine guns and one transport squadron with a repair vehicle, tankers and lorries. On 2nd September the tankette squadron supported the 9th Mounted Rifle Regiment to capture Gross Brzosken in East Prussia defended by German border guards and units of the Landwehr. As there were no major German units in the area Polish forces withdrew back into Poland. On 3rd/4th September Germans broke through the Polish defence lines West of the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. The brigade was ordered to slow down the German advance. From that day the armoured squadrons of the group gave mobile machine gun and cannon support to the units of the brigade , fighting Panzer Division Kempf and Wehrmacht. The group suffered losses both in armour and men. On 13th September, covering the fighting retreat of the brigade, the group found itself behind German lines near Wyliny-Rus
, which was burnt by the Germans as a reprisal for a successful attack by the group.In the village there are graves of two Polish soldiers killed in 1939. The group managed to break through the German lines suffering further losses and, on 14th September, rejoined the brigade, in the Pietkowo forest near Lapy . Gen. Kmicic –Skrzynski,C O of the brigade, decided to withdraw to Bialowieza forest and allowed the group to cross the Narew
and proceed to Wolkowysk (Vavkavysk). The river was crossed on 15th September over a railway bridge near Strabla. It reached the town on 16th September having lost the remnants of its armour. On 17th September the Soviets attacked Poland and Mjr Szostak was ordered to drive to Wilno to join the defence of the town. As Wilno was captured by the Soviets, a new order was issued, on 19th September, for the Polish troops to cross the Lithuanian border
. Mjr Szostak refused to cross the border and decided to drive to Grodno to fight the Soviets with his men having been joined by a platoon of anti-aircraft artillery(Bofors, 40 mm gun) of the 94th Anti-aircraft Battery commanded by 2nd Lt. Musial. In the morning of the 20th September they reached Grodno which was under attack by Soviet forces.
In the morning of 21st September, from the barracks of the 7th Armoured Battalion, they machine gunned advancing Soviet infantry who found[ themselves in the cross fire and retreated suffering heavy losses. Later in the day, on the orders of Gen. Przezdziecki, the group started to withdraw towards the Lithuanian Border. On 22nd September Mjr Szostak organised the defence of Giby
but having not received requested anti-tank weapons and explosives decided to continue the withdrawal to Lithuania. On 24th September, Mjr Szostak and his men crossed the border near Szypliszki
. About an hour later, Soviet tanks arrived at the Lithuanian border.
Subsequently, the officers and soldiers of the 32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group served in the 2nd Polish Corps
of the 8th British Army
. Lt. Strokowski was killed by a Lithuanian internment camp guard.
Tankette Squadron:
Armoured Car Squadron
Transport Repair Squadron
The 32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group was mobilised in August 1939 by the 7th Armoured Battalion stationed in Grodno, for the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade
Podlaska Cavalry Brigade
The Podlaska Cavalry Brigade was a military unit of the Polish Army, created on April 1, 1937. Its headquarters were located in Białystok, it was based on the Cavalry Brigade "Białystok", existing between February 1929, and March 30, 1937.- History :In February 1929, the Polish Army created the...
. Mjr Stanislaw Szostak
Stanislaw Szostak
Stanislaw Szostak was a colonel of the Polish Armoured Corps.He was born in Berazino, today's Belarus, the son of Władysław and Maria Nieciejowska of Hrynica. He was injured in a car accident and died in 1961...
was given the command of the group. The group consisted of one tankette squadron with 13 TKS
TKS
The TK and TKS were Polish tankettes during the Second World War.-Design and development:The TK tankette was a Polish design produced from 1931 that was based upon an improved chassis of the British Carden Loyd tankette. The TKS was an improved model with a new hull and a more powerful engine...
tankettes armed with heavy machine guns, 1 armoured car squadron with 8 type 34-II armoured cars
Samochód pancerny wz. 34
Samochód pancerny wz. 34 , was a standard light armored car used by the Polish Army during the September Campaign of 1939.The vehicle was based on the earlier half track samochód pancerny wz. 28, which entered service in 1928...
armed with a 37 mm cannon and 2 machine guns and one transport squadron with a repair vehicle, tankers and lorries. On 2nd September the tankette squadron supported the 9th Mounted Rifle Regiment to capture Gross Brzosken in East Prussia defended by German border guards and units of the Landwehr. As there were no major German units in the area Polish forces withdrew back into Poland. On 3rd/4th September Germans broke through the Polish defence lines West of the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. The brigade was ordered to slow down the German advance. From that day the armoured squadrons of the group gave mobile machine gun and cannon support to the units of the brigade , fighting Panzer Division Kempf and Wehrmacht. The group suffered losses both in armour and men. On 13th September, covering the fighting retreat of the brigade, the group found itself behind German lines near Wyliny-Rus
Wyliny-Rus
Wyliny-Ruś is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Szepietowo, within Wysokie Mazowieckie County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland.The village has a population of 120.Graves of 2 Polish soldiers killed in 1939-References:...
, which was burnt by the Germans as a reprisal for a successful attack by the group.In the village there are graves of two Polish soldiers killed in 1939. The group managed to break through the German lines suffering further losses and, on 14th September, rejoined the brigade, in the Pietkowo forest near Lapy . Gen. Kmicic –Skrzynski,C O of the brigade, decided to withdraw to Bialowieza forest and allowed the group to cross the Narew
Narew
The Narew River , in western Belarus and north-eastern Poland, is a left tributary of the Vistula river...
and proceed to Wolkowysk (Vavkavysk). The river was crossed on 15th September over a railway bridge near Strabla. It reached the town on 16th September having lost the remnants of its armour. On 17th September the Soviets attacked Poland and Mjr Szostak was ordered to drive to Wilno to join the defence of the town. As Wilno was captured by the Soviets, a new order was issued, on 19th September, for the Polish troops to cross the Lithuanian border
Border
Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions, such as governments, sovereign states, federated states and other subnational entities. Some borders—such as a state's internal administrative borders, or inter-state borders within the Schengen Area—are open and...
. Mjr Szostak refused to cross the border and decided to drive to Grodno to fight the Soviets with his men having been joined by a platoon of anti-aircraft artillery(Bofors, 40 mm gun) of the 94th Anti-aircraft Battery commanded by 2nd Lt. Musial. In the morning of the 20th September they reached Grodno which was under attack by Soviet forces.
In the morning of 21st September, from the barracks of the 7th Armoured Battalion, they machine gunned advancing Soviet infantry who found[ themselves in the cross fire and retreated suffering heavy losses. Later in the day, on the orders of Gen. Przezdziecki, the group started to withdraw towards the Lithuanian Border. On 22nd September Mjr Szostak organised the defence of Giby
Giby
Giby , is a village in Sejny County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the borders with Belarus and Lithuania. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Giby. It lies approximately south of Sejny and north of the regional capital Białystok.The village has an approximate...
but having not received requested anti-tank weapons and explosives decided to continue the withdrawal to Lithuania. On 24th September, Mjr Szostak and his men crossed the border near Szypliszki
Szypliszki
Szypliszki is a village in Suwałki County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the border with Lithuania. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Szypliszki. It lies approximately north-east of Suwałki and north of the regional capital Białystok.The village has a...
. About an hour later, Soviet tanks arrived at the Lithuanian border.
Subsequently, the officers and soldiers of the 32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group served in the 2nd Polish Corps
Anders Army
The Anders Army was the informal yet common name of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in the period 1941-1942, in recognition of its commander Władysław Anders...
of the 8th British Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
. Lt. Strokowski was killed by a Lithuanian internment camp guard.
Command Structure
- Commander: Mjr Stanislaw SzostakStanislaw SzostakStanislaw Szostak was a colonel of the Polish Armoured Corps.He was born in Berazino, today's Belarus, the son of Władysław and Maria Nieciejowska of Hrynica. He was injured in a car accident and died in 1961...
- Adjutant: Lt Wlodzimierz Zeltzer
Tankette Squadron:
- C.O. Lt Janusz Zongollowich
- C.O. 1st Platoon: Lt Jerzy Rudolph
- (C.O. 2nd Platoon: Officer Cadet (sergeant) Wereszczaka
Armoured Car Squadron
- C.O.: Lt Alexander Strokowski
- C.O. 1st Platoon: 2nd Lt Tadeusz Stopczyk
- C.O. 2nd Platoon: Officer Cadet (sergeant) Zoledziewski
Transport Repair Squadron
- C.O.: 2nd Lt Wladyslaw Kitowski