Uderzeniowe Bataliony Kadrowe
Encyclopedia
Uderzeniowe Bataliony Kadrowe (UBK, English: Striking Cadre Battalions) were armed anti-Nazi resistance units organized by the right-wing Polish
organization Konfederacja Narodu
. They existed between 1942 and 1944 (after 1943 they were part of the Home Army).
’s conspirational circles in early 1940s. Altogether, eight battalions were formed, and their task was to engage the Germans in Polish countryside, especially in the Eastern Borderlands of Poland
.
First attempt to organize armed resistance took place in October of 1942. Members of the 1st Battalion, under Captain Ignacy Telechun (nom de guerre Toporski), after concentration in the forests north of Warsaw, headed towards northern Podlasie, where they wanted to set a base. However, their forces were not strong enough and after several skirmishes with the Wehrmacht
, the unit returned to Warsaw. They lost 36 men - 4 killed, 2 wounded and 30 captured.
(Jacek) set towards Ciechanowiec
, where the 1st Striking Partisan Platoon was created. After some time, the Platoon was renamed into the 8th Battalion.
In late May 1943, UBK, with permission of the headquarters of the Home Army, concentrated its forces (200 men) around Wyszkow
. The Germans soon found out about it and surrounded the Poles. A skirmish ensued, in which 4 Poles were killed and 8 wounded. German losses were estimated at 15 killed and 22 wounded. Those who were not caught, divided themselves into two groups and headed north, to Bezirk Bialystok
. On June 11, 1943, the UBK forces under Major Stanislaw Pieciul (Radecki) of the 4th Battalion engaged the Germans near the village of Pawly (Bielsk Podlaski County). 25 Poles and approximately 40 Germans died.
In July 1943 the UBK units, active in Bezirk Bialystok, consisted of five Battalions. Altogether, there were 200 fighters, and during a number of skirmishes with the Germans (including the 1943 Polish underground raid on East Prussia), 138 of them were killed. These heavy losses were criticized by the headquarters of the Home Army, who claimed that the UBK was profusely using lives of young Polish soldiers. On August 17, 1943, upon the order of General Tadeusz Bor-Komorowski
, the UBK was included into the Home Army. Soon afterwards, all battalions were transferred to the area of Nowogrodek.
During process of reorganization of the Nowogrodek Area of the Home Army, the UBK units created a battalion, which became part of the 77th Infantry Regiment of the Home Army, under Boleslaw Piasecki
. In February 1944 the battalion had around 700 soldiers (some sources put the number at around 500). The unit took part in the Operation Tempest
, fighting the Germans around Lida
and Wilno (see: Wilno Uprising
), where it suffered heavy losses.
officers invited Wilno command of the Home Army for negotiations, arresting them immediately. After this, the former UBK dissolved, and those soldiers who came from Central Poland decided to get back to their homeland.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
organization Konfederacja Narodu
Konfederacja Narodu
Konfederacja Narodu was one of the Polish resistance organizations in occupied Poland during World War II. KN was created in 1940 by far-right National Radical Camp political party from several smaller underground organizations, including the Secret Polish Army...
. They existed between 1942 and 1944 (after 1943 they were part of the Home Army).
Beginnings
The idea to create the UBK was conceived among WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
’s conspirational circles in early 1940s. Altogether, eight battalions were formed, and their task was to engage the Germans in Polish countryside, especially in the Eastern Borderlands of Poland
Kresy
The Polish term Kresy refers to a land considered by Poles as historical eastern provinces of their country. Today, it makes western Ukraine, western Belarus, as well as eastern Lithuania, with such major cities, as Lviv, Vilnius, and Hrodna. This territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian...
.
First attempt to organize armed resistance took place in October of 1942. Members of the 1st Battalion, under Captain Ignacy Telechun (nom de guerre Toporski), after concentration in the forests north of Warsaw, headed towards northern Podlasie, where they wanted to set a base. However, their forces were not strong enough and after several skirmishes with the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, the unit returned to Warsaw. They lost 36 men - 4 killed, 2 wounded and 30 captured.
Campaigns
During winter of 1942/43, the UBK carried out preparations for future actions. In January of 1943, a patrol under Ryszard ReiffRyszard Reiff
Ryszard Reiff was a Polish politician, lawyer, publicist and resistance fighter.-Biography:Born on 4 July 1923, he studied law at the University of Warsaw. After German invasion of Poland, he became a member of the Polish resistance movement in World War II...
(Jacek) set towards Ciechanowiec
Ciechanowiec
Ciechanowiec is a small town in Wysoczyzna Drohiczyńska, Gmina Ciechanowiec, Wysokie Mazowieckie County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland.Alternate names used in the past or currently include Tshekhanovits Yiddish, Tsekhanovets Russian, Chechanovitz, Chekhanovits, Chekhanovitse, Rudelstadt and...
, where the 1st Striking Partisan Platoon was created. After some time, the Platoon was renamed into the 8th Battalion.
In late May 1943, UBK, with permission of the headquarters of the Home Army, concentrated its forces (200 men) around Wyszkow
Wyszków
Wyszków is a town in northeastern Poland with 26,500 inhabitants . It is the capital of Wyszków County . Wyszków is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Warsaw Voivodeship and Ostrołęka Voivodeship .-Description:The village of Wyszków was first documented in 1203. The town...
. The Germans soon found out about it and surrounded the Poles. A skirmish ensued, in which 4 Poles were killed and 8 wounded. German losses were estimated at 15 killed and 22 wounded. Those who were not caught, divided themselves into two groups and headed north, to Bezirk Bialystok
Bezirk Bialystok
The Bezirk Bialystok , also Belostok was an administrative unit that existed during the World War II occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany...
. On June 11, 1943, the UBK forces under Major Stanislaw Pieciul (Radecki) of the 4th Battalion engaged the Germans near the village of Pawly (Bielsk Podlaski County). 25 Poles and approximately 40 Germans died.
In July 1943 the UBK units, active in Bezirk Bialystok, consisted of five Battalions. Altogether, there were 200 fighters, and during a number of skirmishes with the Germans (including the 1943 Polish underground raid on East Prussia), 138 of them were killed. These heavy losses were criticized by the headquarters of the Home Army, who claimed that the UBK was profusely using lives of young Polish soldiers. On August 17, 1943, upon the order of General Tadeusz Bor-Komorowski
Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski
General Count Tadeusz Komorowski , better known by the name Bór-Komorowski was a Polish military leader....
, the UBK was included into the Home Army. Soon afterwards, all battalions were transferred to the area of Nowogrodek.
During process of reorganization of the Nowogrodek Area of the Home Army, the UBK units created a battalion, which became part of the 77th Infantry Regiment of the Home Army, under Boleslaw Piasecki
Boleslaw Piasecki
Bolesław Bogdan Piasecki was a Polish politician and writer....
. In February 1944 the battalion had around 700 soldiers (some sources put the number at around 500). The unit took part in the Operation Tempest
Operation Tempest
Operation Tempest was a series of uprisings conducted during World War II by the Polish Home Army , the dominant force in the Polish resistance....
, fighting the Germans around Lida
Lida
Lida is a city in western Belarus in Hrodna Voblast, situated 160 km west of Minsk. It is the fourteenth largest city in Belarus.- Etymology :...
and Wilno (see: Wilno Uprising
Wilno Uprising
Operation Ostra Brama was an armed conflict during World War II between the Polish Home Army and the Nazi German occupiers of Vilnius . It began on 7 July 1944, as part of a Polish national uprising, Operation Tempest, and lasted until 14 July 1944...
), where it suffered heavy losses.
Dissolution
On July 17, 1944, the NKVDNKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
officers invited Wilno command of the Home Army for negotiations, arresting them immediately. After this, the former UBK dissolved, and those soldiers who came from Central Poland decided to get back to their homeland.