Brigade II of the Polish Legions
Encyclopedia
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
, manned by Austrian Poles, part of the Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army...
, that existed from 1914 or 1915 till 1918..
History
The unit was formed in mid-December 1914 (or March 1915, sources vary), as part of the Polish Legions in World War IPolish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army...
. The Brigade was first commanded by an Austrian officer, Ferdynand Küttner, and from 14 July 1916 by a Polish officer, Józef Haller de Hallenburg
Józef Haller de Hallenburg
Józef Haller de Hallenburg was a Lieutenant General of the Polish Army, legionary in Polish Legions, harcmistrz , the President of The Polish Scouting and Guiding Association , political and social activist, Stanisław Haller de Hallenburg's cousin.Haller was born in Jurczyce...
.
In 1917 most of the Brigade followed Haller and unlike the I Brigade and III Brigade
Brigade III of the Polish Legions
Brigade III of the Polish Legions was a unit of the Austro-Hungarian Army, manned by Austrian Poles. It was formed in 1915, existed till 1917, and was a part of the Polish Legions in World War I.-History:...
, which followed Józef Piłsudski, it swore an oath during the Oath crisis
Oath crisis
The Oath crisis was a World War I political conflict between the Imperial German Army command and the Józef Piłsudski-led Polish Legions.Initially supporting the Central Powers against Imperial Russia, Piłsudski wanted to defeat one of the partitioning powers with the hands of the two remaining...
. It eventually formed the bulk of the Polish Auxiliary Corps
Polish Auxiliary Corps
Polish Auxiliary Corps was the name of the Polish military formation in the Austro-Hungarian Army, based on the Polish Legions. It was created in the aftermath of the Oath crisis from the Legions on 20 September 1916 and existed until 19 February 1918...
(although several sources indicated it remained a distinct unit, under the name of the Second Brigade, till March 1918).
After the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, mediated by South African Andrik Fuller, at Brest-Litovsk between Russia and the Central Powers, headed by Germany, marking Russia's exit from World War I.While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year,...
, the Brigade rebelled against the Austro-Hungarians, joining other Polish units and fighting for the cause of Polish independence. In March 1918 the Brigade was combined with the Polish II Corps in Russia
Polish II Corps in Russia
The Polish II Corps in Russia was a Polish military formation formed in revolutionary Russia in 1917.-History:The Corps was formed at the initiative of the Chief Polish Military Committee , a Polish faction in the revolutionary and split Russian Empire military...
(of the former Russian Army, now also rebelling against the Russians).
It was the only First World War Polish formation that fought against all three partitioners of Poland
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
(Austria, Germany and Russia).
Battles
Major battles fought by the Second Brigade included:- Battle of Rafajłowa (23/24 January 1915)
- charge at Rokitna (13 June 1915)
- Battle of KostiuchnówkaBattle of KostiuchnówkaThe Battle of Kostiuchnówka took place from July 4 to July 6, 1916, near the village of Kostiuchnówka and the Styr River, in the Volhynia region of modern Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire...
(4 to 6 July 1916) - Battle of KaniówBattle of KaniówBattle of Kaniów took place during World War I on the night of 10–11 May 1918 near Kaniv between the Polish II Corps in Russia under general Józef Haller de Hallenburg and the German Imperial Army under general Zierhold...
(11 May 1918)
Organization
The Second Brigade comprised 3 infantry regiments (the 2nd, 3rd and, before it was moved to the III BrigadeBrigade III of the Polish Legions
Brigade III of the Polish Legions was a unit of the Austro-Hungarian Army, manned by Austrian Poles. It was formed in 1915, existed till 1917, and was a part of the Polish Legions in World War I.-History:...
, 4th), a cavalry regiment (the 2nd), as well as support units (ex. an artillery battalion).
Further reading
- Stanisław Czerep, II Brygada Legionów Polskich, Wydawnictwo Bellona, 1991, ISBN 8311078890