Polish 11th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
11th Carpathian Infantry Division (Polish 11 Karpacka Dywizja Piechoty), was a tactical unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period, which resisted the Invasion of Poland in 1939. Its headquarters were located in Stanisławów
, with some regiments stationed in nearby locations, such as Stryi
and Kolomyia
. It consisted of these regiments:
as a rear unit. It was supposed to concentrate in the area of Zawiercie
, to cover activities of the neighboring units - Polish 7th Infantry Division
and the Slask Operational Group. However, original plans had been changed, because of the Luftwaffe
bombing of Polish rail connections.
On September 3 and 4, parts of the Division left train near Bochnia
and was ordered to protect the line of the Dunajec river. Lacking artillery, antiaircraft and field hospital (which had been stuck in Rzeszów
), the unit entered the battle immediately, but German pressure was too hard. On September 7, the Division began retreat towards the Wisłoka and from there - eastwards, towards Przemyśl
. There, on September 11 and 12, it was engaged in bloody fighting with the Germans. On September 17, the Division fought in the Janów Forest, halting advance of German 7th I.D. and 57 I.D. Remnants of the unit, numbered at no more than 1000 men, managed to break into besieged Lwów, where it capitulated.
. A 1944 formation of the division was originally intended to become part of the Third Army, which was never fully formed. After 1945 it became successively the 11th Motorised Division (1949), the 11th Mechanised Division (1950), the 11th Armoured Division (1963), and finally the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division
in 1992, which still serves the Polish Army today. The 11th Armoured Cavalry Division is part of the 2nd Mechanised Corps.
Ivano-Frankivsk
Ivano-Frankivsk is a historic city located in the western Ukraine. It is the administrative centre of the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast , and is designated as its own separate raion within the oblast, municipality....
, with some regiments stationed in nearby locations, such as Stryi
Stryi
Stryi is a city located on the left bank of the river Stryi in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine . Serving as the administrative center of the Stryi Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast. Thus, the city has two administrations - the city and the raion...
and Kolomyia
Kolomyia
Kolomyia or Kolomyya, formerly known as Kolomea , is a city located on the Prut River in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast , in western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Kolomyia Raion , the city is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
. It consisted of these regiments:
- 48th Kresy Rifle Regiment, stationed in Stanisławów, commanded by Colonel Walenty Nowak,
- 49th Hutsul Rifle Regiment49th Hutsul Rifle RegimentThe 49th Hutsul Rifle Regiment was a unit of the Polish Army, which belonged to the 11th Carpathian Infantry Division . Stationed in the interbellum in the garrison in Kolomyja, it participated in the Polish September Campaign, fighting in southern Poland...
, stationed in Kolomyja, - 53rd Kresy Rifle Regiment, stationed in Stryj,
- 11th Carpathian Light Artillery Regiment, stationed in Stanisławów,
- 11th Heavy Artillery Regiment,
- 11th Sapper Battalion,
- 11th Motor Battery of Antiaircraft Artillery,
- squadron of cavalry, made up of soldiers of Border Defence Corps from Zaleszczyki.
Polish September Campaign
The Division, under Colonel Bronisław Prugar-Ketling, was part of the Kraków ArmyKraków Army
Kraków Army was one of the Polish armies to take part in the Polish Defensive War of 1939. It was officially created on March 23, 1939 as the main pivot of Polish defence. It was commanded by Gen...
as a rear unit. It was supposed to concentrate in the area of 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...
, to cover activities of the neighboring units - Polish 7th Infantry Division
Polish 7th Infantry Division
The 7th Infantry Division was the name of several units of the Polish Army.The original division was formed in 1918 and took part in shielding the Polish borders during the Polish-Ukrainian War. During the Polish-Bolshevik War it was commanded by Col. Szubert and reinforced to three brigades...
and the Slask Operational Group. However, original plans had been changed, because of the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
bombing of Polish rail connections.
On September 3 and 4, parts of the Division left train near Bochnia
Bochnia
Bochnia is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland. The town lies approximately in halfway [] between Tarnów and the regional capital Kraków . Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built circa 1248...
and was ordered to protect the line of the Dunajec river. Lacking artillery, antiaircraft and field hospital (which had been stuck in Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
), the unit entered the battle immediately, but German pressure was too hard. On September 7, the Division began retreat towards the Wisłoka and from there - eastwards, towards Przemyśl
Przemysl
Przemyśl is a city in south-eastern Poland with 66,756 inhabitants, as of June 2009. In 1999, it became part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship; it was previously the capital of Przemyśl Voivodeship....
. There, on September 11 and 12, it was engaged in bloody fighting with the Germans. On September 17, the Division fought in the Janów Forest, halting advance of German 7th I.D. and 57 I.D. Remnants of the unit, numbered at no more than 1000 men, managed to break into besieged Lwów, where it capitulated.
Polish Armed Forces in the East
An 11th Infantry Division (see :pl:11 Dywizja Piechoty (LWP)) was reformed became part of the Polish Armed Forces in the EastPolish Armed Forces in the East
Polish Armed Forces in the East refers to military units composed of Poles created in the Soviet Union at the time when the territory of Poland was occupied by both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in the Second World War....
. A 1944 formation of the division was originally intended to become part of the Third Army, which was never fully formed. After 1945 it became successively the 11th Motorised Division (1949), the 11th Mechanised Division (1950), the 11th Armoured Division (1963), and finally the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division
11th Armoured Cavalry Division
- Bibliography :* Wiesław Chłopek, 11 Lubuska Dywizja Kawalerii Pancernej im. Króla Jana III Sobieskiego. Zarys dziejów, Wydawnictwo "Chroma", Żary 2005, wyd. I, ISBN 83-922412-3-1...
in 1992, which still serves the Polish Army today. The 11th Armoured Cavalry Division is part of the 2nd Mechanised Corps.