First Polish Army (1920)
Encyclopedia
The First Army was a field army
of the Polish Army that existed during the Polish-Bolshevist War.
In March of 1920 the Headquarters of the Army decided to disband the Front HQs active until then and reform them into separate armies. The largest of Polish fronts, the so-called Lithuanian-Belarusian Front (otherwise known as the Northern Front) was split up onto three armies: the 1st, 4th and 7th. The new 1st Army was composed mostly of former Corps-sized operational group
s of Generals Edward Rydz and Józef Lasocki. Initially the command of the new formation was given to Gen. Józef Haller de Hallenburg
, but eventually he took command of a new Northern Front while the 1st Army was given to Gen. Stefan Majewski
. Initially it faced the Red Army
's 15th Red Banner Army under Avgust Kork.
The composition of the newly-created army changed over time. At various times the units under Majewski's command included the 1st and 2nd Lithuanian–Belarusian Division
s, the 5th, 8th, 10th
, 11th, 15th
and 17th Infantry Divisions, as well as 1st and 4th Air Groups and two cavalry brigades (the 1st and 4th).
Also the post of commanding officer was occupied by a succession of generals. Majewski was succeeded by Gustaw Zygadłowicz (May - June of 1920), then by Jan Romer
(June 23rd - June 28th, 1920), Mieczysław Kuliński (June 29th - June 31st, 1920), Władysław Jędrzejewski (until August 6th), Franciszek Latinik
(until August 22nd), Lucjan Żeligowski
(did not assume command) and finally Gen. Aleksander Osiński (from August 23rd until September 1st, 1920). The chiefs of staff
were Lt. Col. Adam Nałęcz Nieniewski (April and May of 1920), Col. Jan Kubin (until June 1920) and Col. Franciszek Kleeberg
.
Following the battle of Warsaw
, the army took part in pursuit after the fleeing Russian forces and took part in the Battle of the Niemen River
. However, its' forces were gradually reassigned to smaller formations and by the end of August of 1920 the only division under its' command was the 8th Infantry. By August 20th the unit reached the Orzyc River near Krasnosielc
and was disbanded, with the 8th Division withdrawn to Lesser Poland for regrouping.
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
of the Polish Army that existed during the Polish-Bolshevist War.
In March of 1920 the Headquarters of the Army decided to disband the Front HQs active until then and reform them into separate armies. The largest of Polish fronts, the so-called Lithuanian-Belarusian Front (otherwise known as the Northern Front) was split up onto three armies: the 1st, 4th and 7th. The new 1st Army was composed mostly of former Corps-sized operational group
Operational Group
Operational Group was the highest level of tactical division of the Polish Army before and during World War II and the Invasion of Poland. It was corps-sized, although various Operational Groups varied in size....
s of Generals Edward Rydz and Józef Lasocki. Initially the command of the new formation was given to Gen. 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...
, but eventually he took command of a new Northern Front while the 1st Army was given to Gen. Stefan Majewski
Stefan Majewski
Stefan Majewski is a retired Polish soccer player and subsequently a football manager who recently was the interim manager of the Polish national team.-Career:...
. Initially it faced the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
's 15th Red Banner Army under Avgust Kork.
The composition of the newly-created army changed over time. At various times the units under Majewski's command included the 1st and 2nd Lithuanian–Belarusian Division
2nd Lithuanian–Belarusian Division
The 2nd Lithuanian–Belarusian Division was a unit of the Polish Army formed in July 1919 from parts of the 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division during the Polish–Soviet War. The division suffered heavy casualties during the Soviet invasion in summer 1920; some soldiers were forced to retreat into...
s, the 5th, 8th, 10th
10th Infantry Division (Poland)
10th Infantry Division was a unit of the Polish Army during the interbellum period, which took part in the 1939 German Invasion of Poland. It was created in 1919 from the former Polish 4th Rifle Division. Stationed in Lodz and commanded in 1939 by General Franciszek Dindorf-Ankowicz, it was part...
, 11th, 15th
15th Infantry Division (Poland)
15th "Greater Poland" Infantry Division was a unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. Founded on February 17, 1920, it was based on the 2nd Greater Poland Rifles Division. It actively participated in the Polish-Soviet War, including the Battle of Warsaw...
and 17th Infantry Divisions, as well as 1st and 4th Air Groups and two cavalry brigades (the 1st and 4th).
Also the post of commanding officer was occupied by a succession of generals. Majewski was succeeded by Gustaw Zygadłowicz (May - June of 1920), then by Jan Romer
Jan Romer
Jan Romer was an Austrian and Polish general. Studied in Mödling and joined the Austro-Hungarian Army. During the First World War fought at the battle of Limanowa and battle of Gorlice , was wounded twice. Later he joined the newly recreated Polish Army. During Polish-Ukrainian War he fought in...
(June 23rd - June 28th, 1920), Mieczysław Kuliński (June 29th - June 31st, 1920), Władysław Jędrzejewski (until August 6th), Franciszek Latinik
Franciszek Latinik
Franciszek Ksawery Latinik was a Polish general.He graduated from the cadets school in Kraków and since 1882 served in the Austro-Hungarian Army...
(until August 22nd), Lucjan Żeligowski
Lucjan Zeligowski
Lucjan Żeligowski , was a Polish general, and veteran of World War I, the Polish-Soviet War and World War II. He is mostly remembered for his role in Żeligowski's Mutiny and as head of a short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania.-Biography:...
(did not assume command) and finally Gen. Aleksander Osiński (from August 23rd until September 1st, 1920). The chiefs of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
were Lt. Col. Adam Nałęcz Nieniewski (April and May of 1920), Col. Jan Kubin (until June 1920) and Col. Franciszek Kleeberg
Franciszek Kleeberg
Franciszek Kleeberg was a Polish general. He served in the Austro-Hungarian Army before joining the Polish Legions in World War I and later the Polish Army. During the German Invasion of Poland he commanded Independent Operational Group Polesie...
.
Following the battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
, the army took part in pursuit after the fleeing Russian forces and took part in the Battle of the Niemen River
Battle of the Niemen River
The Battle of the Niemen River was the second-greatest battle of the Polish-Soviet War. It took place near the middle Neman River between the cities of Suwałki, Grodno and Białystok...
. However, its' forces were gradually reassigned to smaller formations and by the end of August of 1920 the only division under its' command was the 8th Infantry. By August 20th the unit reached the Orzyc River near Krasnosielc
Krasnosielc
Krasnosielc is a village in Maków County , on the river Orzyc, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Krasnosielc. It lies approximately north of Maków Mazowiecki and north of Warsaw. Previous names include: Sielc, Siedlec and in...
and was disbanded, with the 8th Division withdrawn to Lesser Poland for regrouping.