Insurgent Troops

The Infantry of the Greater Poland Army

Marek Rezler

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On 24 January 1919, Infantry Command was liquidated, on 21 May 1919, the position of Infantry Inspector at the Chief Commander of Armed Forces in the former Prussian Partition was established, with Second Lieutenant General K. Grudzielski appointed. On 26 June, each division was divided into 2 brigades with 2 regiments per each brigade. Originally, there were plans to form corps, but ultimately that intention was abandoned. In the end, the 1st Greater Poland Rifle Division was fully formed by August 1919, and the formation of others was in progress.

The 1st Greater Poland Rifle Division: formed on the basis of the day order of Central Command, No. 17 dated 22 January 1919. Its commander was Lieutenant General Filip Dubiski. From January 1920 - it was the 14th Greater Poland Infantry Division. The 1st Greater Poland Rifle Regiment: formed on the basis of day order No. 14 issued by Central Command, dated 19 January 1919. Commanders: Colonel/General Daniel Konarzewski (19 January - March 1919), Lieutenant Colonel Gustaw Paszkiewicz (from March 1919). It became part of the Greater Poland Rifle Division on 22 January 1919. The 1st Company was originally formed from Wincenty Wierzejewski’s scout company which consisted of 200 people. The remaining companies and the machine gun company – were established from a recruit battalion. On 26 January 1919, the regiment was sworn in and received a standard on Wolności Square in Poznań. From 30 January 1919, it was stationed in Biedrusko, where the formation process was completed. On 14 March 1919, it was sent to Lviv as part of Colonel D. Konarzewski's group. Then the unit was sent to the Southern and Eastern Fronts. In January 1920, it was renamed as the 55th Poznań Infantry Regiment. The 2nd Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. This was formed from insurgent units which operated in the area of the Western Group (three battalions), based on the order issued on 6 March 1919 by the Group’s commander, Colonel Michał Milewski. Commanders: Second Lieutenant Antoni Nieborak (6 March - 1 May 1919), Captain Zygmunt Łęgowski – from 1 May 1919. On 16 March of the same year, 3 machine gun companies were formed. On 9 April 1919, by order No. 50 of the Western Front commander, the formation of a reserve battalion was commenced. On 2 March of that year, a machine gun company was formed alongside the regiment staff, and also a signal platoon. On 11 April 1919, the regiment occupied positions on the front, along the section from Kopanica to Wronki, and in June it became part of the 1st Greater Poland Rifle Division. On 4-5 September 1919, it was sent to the Lithuanian-Belarusian Front. On 7 January 1920, it was renamed as the 56th Greater Poland Infantry Regiment. The 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. This was formed in Biedrusko by day order No. 44 of Central Command, dated 7 February 1919. Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Szyling. From the very beginning, this regiment was supposed to be a part of the 1st Greater Poland Rifle Division. 2 officers and about 100 privates in the 1st Rifle Regiment were the foundation of the unit. On 20 February 1919, the regiment's commander issued an order to form Battalion I, the formation of Battalion II started on 25 February 1919, and Battalion III – on 21 March of the same year. The three first machine gun companies were assigned to a heavy machine gun unit in Poznań, a fourth one was formed in Biedrusko. At the end of March 1919, a platoon of radio-telephonists was formed. The regiment achieved a full regular line-up by the end of May. On 29 May 1919, the 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Regiment was sworn in and received a banner. It was put at the disposal of the commander of the Southern Front on 6 June and then sent to the Lithuanian-Belarusian Front on 29 July as part of the group commanded by Gen. D. Konarzewski. The reserve battalion of the regiment was formed on 14 April 1919 by abolishing recruit depots. In January 1920, the unit was renamed as the 57th Greater Poland Infantry Regiment. The 4th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. Formed by day order No. 61 of Central Command, dated 6 March 1919, from insurgent troops which operated in the vicinity of Wągrowiec, Gniezno and Września. Commander: Major Oskar Brezany. The first regiment battalion was the former Wągrowiec Battalion and the Powidz Company, the second battalion was formed on the basis of the former Budzyń battalion, the third battalion consisted of insurgent troops which fought in the vicinity of Gniezno. Battalion III was formed up on the front, battalions I and II – in April 1919 in Gniezno. The completely formed 4th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment participated in border fighting on the Northern Front from 5 May 1919, along the section from Kowalewo to Dąbrówka. For the first time the entire regiment was grouped together on 6 June 1919 near Ninin. From 27 May till 20 June 1919, the troop was a reserve of the 2nd Greater Poland Rifle Division, sent to the group commanded by Gen. D. Konarzewski on 1 August. On 7 January 1920, it was renamed as the 58th Greater Poland Infantry Regiment.

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