Kraków Cavalry Brigade
Encyclopedia
Kraków Cavalry Brigade was a unit of the Polish Army), created on April 1, 1937. Its headquarters were located in Kraków
, but some units were stationed in other places:
During the Polish September Campaign, the Brigade, under General Zygmunt Piasecki, was part of Armia Kraków, defending the area between Zabkowice and Częstochowa
. In the first days of September 1939, its defence lines were broken by the German XV Army Corps under General Hermann Hoth
. The battle took place around Zawiercie
and Woźniki
, and after the defeat, the Poles withdrew towards the line of the Nida River
and to the towns of Miechów
and Pińczów
. The Poles were continuously chased and attacked by German 2nd Light Division
.
On September 10, the Division crossed the Vistula
near Baranów Sandomierski
. Then, it fought in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
, in the area of Biłgoraj and Tarnogrod
. Surrounded by the enemy, it capitulated together with remnants of the Army Kraków.
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, but some units were stationed in other places:
- 3rd Silesian Uhlans Regiment in Tarnowskie GóryTarnowskie GóryTarnowskie 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....
, - 5th Regiment of Mounted Rifles in TarnówTarnówTarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
, since 1938 in DębicaDebicaDębica is a town in southeastern Poland with 46,693 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009. It is the capital of Dębica County. Since 1999 it has been situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship; it had previously been in the Tarnów Voivodeship .-Area:...
, - 5th Regiment of Mounted Artillery - in OświęcimOswiecimOświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
.
During the Polish September Campaign, the Brigade, under General Zygmunt Piasecki, was part of Armia Kraków, defending the area between Zabkowice and Częstochowa
Czestochowa
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants . It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship...
. In the first days of September 1939, its defence lines were broken by the German XV Army Corps under General Hermann Hoth
Hermann Hoth
Hermann "Papa" Hoth was an officer in the German military from 1903 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generaloberst during World War II. He fought in France, but is most noted for his later exploits as a panzer commander on the Eastern Front...
. The battle took place around Zawiercie
Zawiercie
Zawiercie is a city in the Silesian Voivodeship of southern Poland with 55,800 inhabitants . It is situated in the Kraków-Częstochowa highland near the source of the Warta River...
and Woźniki
Wozniki
Woźniki is a town in Lubliniec County, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,420 inhabitants .It is situated in the historic Upper Silesia region, close to the border with Lesser Poland. According to legend, a Silesian fortress on the nearby Grojec mountain was devastated during the Mongol...
, and after the defeat, the Poles withdrew towards the line of 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;...
and to the towns of Miechów
Miechów
Miechów is a town in Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, about 40 km north of Kraków. It is the capital of Miechów County. Population is 11,852 ....
and Pińczów
Pinczów
Pińczów is a town in Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodship, about 40 km south of Kielce. It is the capital of Pińczów County. Population is 12,304 .-History:...
. The Poles were continuously chased and attacked by German 2nd Light Division
German 2nd Light Division
The 2nd Light Division was created in November 1938. In 1939 it fought in the Invasion of Poland...
.
On September 10, the Division crossed the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
near Baranów Sandomierski
Baranów Sandomierski
Baranów Sandomierski is a small town in southern Poland, in the Subcarpathian Voivodship, Tarnobrzeg County on the Vistula River, with 1,440 inhabitants .-Castle:...
. Then, it fought in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski
Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski took place from 17 September to 26 September 1939 near the town of Tomaszów Lubelski. It was the second largest battle of the Invasion of Poland and also the largest tank battle of the campaign. It resulted in the destruction of the Polish forces...
, in the area of Biłgoraj and Tarnogrod
Tarnogród
Tarnogród is a town in Biłgoraj County, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland. It has a population of 3,399 .The history of the town dates back to the Middle Ages settlement, then known as Cierniogród...
. Surrounded by the enemy, it capitulated together with remnants of the Army Kraków.