Polish 29th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
29th Grodno Infantry Division (Polish: 29 Grodzienska Dywizja Piechoty) was a unit of the Polish Army during the interbellum period. It was created in early 1920s, after the army of Republic of Central Lithuania
was absorbed by the Polish Army. The newly created unit took over regiments that had been part of 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
.
The 29th I.D. was stationed in Grodno, with one regiment garrisoned in Suwałki. It consisted of these units:
, was transferred to the reserve Prusy Army
of General Stefan Dąb-Biernacki
. On September 1, first day of the war, it unloaded from trains in the area of Skierniewice
. Then, it marched towards Rawa Mazowiecka
and on September 3, it took up defensive positions along the Pilica.
On September 5, German 1st Panzer Division, after crushing regiments of the Polish 19th Infantry Division
, advanced towards Tomaszów Mazowiecki
. At that moment, commandant of the Prusy Army, unaware of the situation, was planning to counterattack the Germans, which was supposed to take place on the night of September 5-6. However, on September 5, at 9 pm, commander in chief of the Polish Army informed him to withdraw north of Piotrków Trybunalski
. This order did not reach all Polish units, and the 76th Lida Infantry Regiment attacked the Germans, managing to capture a village. Soon afterwards, Polish advance was stopped.
Other regiments of the Division also attacked the Germans, along the road from Piotrkow to Radomsko and fighting with bayonets. In the course of the time, however, the Wehrmacht resistance stiffened and, supported by artillery and tanks, the Germans counterattacked at 6 am on September 6. After bloody skirmishes, most Polish soldiers died, those who survived retreated to the forests in the area of Koło.
On September 7, the Division continued withdrawal eastwards, to the Vistula
. However, it was destroyed by the German 13th Motorized Division and ceased to exist as an organized unit. Last groups of soldiers crossed the Vistula near Dęblin
by September 13.
Republic of Central Lithuania
The Republic of Central Lithuania or Middle Lithuania , or simply Central Lithuania , was a short-lived political entity, which did not gain international recognition...
was absorbed by the Polish Army. The newly created unit took over regiments that had been part of 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
The 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division was a volunteer unit of the Polish Army formed around December 1918 and January 1919 during the Polish–Soviet War...
.
The 29th I.D. was stationed in Grodno, with one regiment garrisoned in Suwałki. It consisted of these units:
- 41st Suwałki Infantry Regiment of Marshall Józef Piłsudski, stationed in Suwałki,
- 76th Lida Infantry Regiment of Ludwik NarbuttLudwik NarbuttLudwik Narbutt was a Polish noble and a notable military commander during the January Uprising. Son of Teodor Narbutt, he led a large unit of Polish insurgents in the region of the town of Lida, from the start of the uprising till his death in combat on 5 May 1863.- Further reading :* Paweł...
, stationed in Grodno, - 81st Grodno Rifles Regiment of King Stefan BatoryStefan BatoryStephen Báthory was a Hungarian noble Prince of Transylvania , then King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania . He was a member of the Somlyó branch of the noble Hungarian Báthory family...
, stationed in Grodno, - 29th Light Artillery Regiment, stationed in Grodno.
Polish September Campaign
In August 1939 the Division, under Colonel Ignacy OziewiczIgnacy Oziewicz
Ignacy Oziewicz was a Polish military general. During the First World War, he served in the Russian Tsarist army in various NCO and officers' posts. In 1919, he joined the Polish Army....
, was transferred to the reserve Prusy Army
Prusy Army
The Prusy Army was one of the Polish armies to fight during the Invasion of Poland in 1939. Created in the summer of 1939 as the main reserve of the Commander in Chief, it was commanded by Gen. Stefan Dąb-Biernacki. One of the meanings of Prusy in Polish is Prussia, but this name only served as a...
of General Stefan Dąb-Biernacki
Stefan Dab-Biernacki
Stefan Dąb-Biernacki was a Polish general.Members of the Polish Legions in World War I, fought in the Polish-Soviet War commanding regiments and later 1DPLeg...
. On September 1, first day of the war, it unloaded from trains in the area of Skierniewice
Skierniewice
Skierniewice is a town in central Poland with 49,132 inhabitants , situated in the Łódź Voivodship , previously capital of Skierniewice Voivodship . It is the capital of Skierniewice County. The town is situated almost exactly half-way between Łódź and Warsaw.Skierniewice gained municipal rights...
. Then, it marched towards Rawa Mazowiecka
Rawa Mazowiecka
Rawa Mazowiecka is a town in central Poland, with 17,765 inhabitants . It lies in the Łódź Voivodeship and is the capital of Rawa County.First mentioned in 1288, it received city rights in 1321....
and on September 3, it took up defensive positions along the Pilica.
On September 5, German 1st Panzer Division, after crushing regiments of the Polish 19th Infantry Division
Polish 19th Infantry Division
Polish 19th Infantry Division was formed from parts of the 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division in 1923. At that time it was commanded for several years by gen. Walerian Czuma and stationed in Wilno....
, advanced towards Tomaszów Mazowiecki
Tomaszów Mazowiecki
Tomaszów Mazowiecki is a town in central Poland with 67,159 inhabitants . Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , it was previously part of Piotrków Trybunalski Voivodeship...
. At that moment, commandant of the Prusy Army, unaware of the situation, was planning to counterattack the Germans, which was supposed to take place on the night of September 5-6. However, on September 5, at 9 pm, commander in chief of the Polish Army informed him to withdraw north of Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski is a city in central Poland with 80,738 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , and previously was the capital of Piotrków Voivodeship...
. This order did not reach all Polish units, and the 76th Lida Infantry Regiment attacked the Germans, managing to capture a village. Soon afterwards, Polish advance was stopped.
Other regiments of the Division also attacked the Germans, along the road from Piotrkow to Radomsko and fighting with bayonets. In the course of the time, however, the Wehrmacht resistance stiffened and, supported by artillery and tanks, the Germans counterattacked at 6 am on September 6. After bloody skirmishes, most Polish soldiers died, those who survived retreated to the forests in the area of Koło.
On September 7, the Division continued withdrawal eastwards, to 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 ....
. However, it was destroyed by the German 13th Motorized Division and ceased to exist as an organized unit. Last groups of soldiers crossed the Vistula near Dęblin
Deblin
Dęblin is a town, population 19,500 , at the confluence of Vistula and Wieprz rivers, in Lublin Voivodeship, Poland. Dęblin is the part of the agglomeration with adjacent towns of Ryki and Puławy, which altogether has over 100 000 inhabitants....
by September 13.