Insurgent Troops

The Infantry of the Greater Poland Army

Marek Rezler

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The 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Division. Formed by 6 June 1919. Commander: General Second Lieutenant Wincenty Odyniec. From January 1920 - the 17th Greater Poland Infantry Division. The 9th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. The regiment included the soldiers of small insurgent troops in the area of Northern Greater Poland. On 27 April 1919, consisting of three insurgent battalions temporarily formed in Poznań, Gniezno and Wągrowiec, the 9th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment was established and initially it became part of the 2nd Rifle Division. Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Juliusz Skorupka-Padlewski. In September of that year, the Poznań-Lviv volunteer company was incorporated. At that time, the regiment was excluded from the 2nd Division and went to the south of Greater Poland to form the 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Division. In January and February 1920, the 9th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment participated in the repossession action regarding Leszno and Rawicz. In that period, the unit was renamed as the 67th Greater Poland Infantry Regimen. The 10th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. The unit was formed gradually and was made up of different insurgent formations. The Guard and Security Service was used to form the 1st Kościuszki Poznań Regiment. In parallel, from other loose units which operated during the first days of the Uprising in the capital city of Greater Poland, the 2nd Dąbowski Poznań Regiment was formed. Even before the outbreak of fighting in the Poznań-West poviat, a People’s Guard unit which consisted of 450 people was formed. It was commanded by Second Lieutenant Andrzej Kopa. Out of the last two units, a foundation for the future regiment was established. On 8 January 1919, the Command of the 2nd Poznań Regiment was transformed into the Infantry Command for the Poznań City Fortress, which, in turn, after Lieutenant Kopa had received an order on 21 January of that year to form the 1st Greater Poland reserve regiment, became the command of the future rifle regiment. On 4 February 1919, the unit, which at that point in time consisted of two battalions (the third one was still being formed) was sworn in to the banner of the parent unit of A. Kopa. On 17 February, the 1st battalion reached Zbąszyń and the 2nd battalion fought on the Northern Front in the period between 7 February and 11 April 1919. On 15 March 1919, by order No. 70 of Central Command, the 1st Reserve Regiment was renamed as the 10th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. Commander: Lieutenant Andrzej Kopa. On 5 May 1919 the fully formed unit set off to the Northern Front and then returned to Poznań where it was incorporated into the group commanded by Gen. D. Konarzewski. In September it returned to Greater Poland, becoming part of the 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Division. On 1 February 1920, the unit was renamed as the 68th Greater Poland Infantry Regiment. The 11th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. The circumstances of its formation were similar to those related to the formation of the 10th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. The regiment’s commander: Colonel Adolf Jan Kuczewski then from 31 March 1919 - Colonel Leon Billewicz. On 5 February 1920, the unit was renamed as the 69th infantry regiment. The 12th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. This unit originated directly from the Ostrów battalion (which existed from 12 to 21 November 1919) and the Border Battalion in Szczypiorno. By day order of Central Command No. 33, dated 6 February 1919, the military formations of District VII were merged into the 12th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment. Commander: Second Lieutenant Władysław Wawrzyniak. The regiment became part of the 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Division. In January 1920, the regiment participated in the repossession of the territories granted to Poland as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. On 1 February 1919, it was renamed as the 70th Greater Poland Infantry Regiment.

The 4th Greater Poland Rifle Division and the Pomerania Rifle Division. This was a tactical union established in 1919 whose aim was to participate in the repossession of the Vistula Pomerania territories granted to Poland by the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. On 7 August 1919, by order No. 2536/III, the Supreme Command of the Polish Armies ordered Central Command in Poznań to form a division intended for operations in Pomerania. Initially, the name of the union was to be the 4th Greater Poland Rifle Division. Commander: Colonel Stanisław Skrzyński, and head of staff: Captain Władysław Zakrzewski. On 16 August 1919, the name of the Pomerania Rifle Division was introduced. The Toruń Rifle Regiment was formed completely, the Grudziądz Rifle Regiment was half-formed, and the formation of two others: the Starogard and Kasubia Rifle Regiments was initiated. Also the formation of a division of artillery and cavalry was commenced. From 17 January 1920, the troops of the Division participated in the repossession of Pomerania. On 5 March 1920, by virtue of command No. 1401 of the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Pomerania Rifle Division was renamed as the 16th Infantry Division. The Toruń Rifle Regiment. This unit was formed mainly from Pomerania's inhabitants. Its foundation was the 1st Western-Prussian Company, which was part of the 5th Greater Poland Rifle Regiment stationed in Inowrocław. On 30 May 1919, Central Command issued the order to form the Toruń Rifle Regiment. On 18 July 1919, the regiment already had 2 battalions and 2 machine gun companies; three months later it was formed completely. On 7 August 1919, the regiment received its own banner and on 3 September the formation of the reserve battalion was commenced. In January 1920, the regiment participated in the repossession of Pomerania and soon a staff battalion was formed. On 5 March 1920, the unit was renamed as the 63rd Infantry Regiment. Battalion commanders: I – Lieutenant Włodzimierz Kowalski, Lieutenant Eigner, II – Captain Meissner, Second Lieutenant Blockus, III – Second Lieutenant Wandtke, and the reserve battalion – Captain W. Hulewicz. The Grudziądz Rifle Regiment. The foundation of the regiment was established by insurgents who were part of the Oborniki Company and the Czarnków Battalion, which were incorporated into the Toruń Rifle Regiment on 11 June 1919. On 17 July 1919, the formation of the Grudziądz Rifle Regiment, as a second division regiment, commenced. The former Oborniki Company (about 100 people) was separated from the Toruń regiment and played the role of instruction team for the future unit. On 24 August 1919, the Regiment's staff, the 1st Battalion’s staff, the 1st Company staff and the non-commissioned officer unit were formed in Inowrocław (in total 2 officers and 266 privates). By 13 September, the forming up of the 2nd company using volunteers was possible. On 24 September, the regiment was transferred to Poznań. At the beginning of October, the first battalion was completely formed. In November the formation of a second battalion commenced. In January 1920, the sub-units of the regiment participated in the repossession of Pomerania. On 5 March 1920, the regiment was renamed as the 64th Grudziądz Infantry Regiment. Regiment commanders: Lieutenant Ludwik Bociański. Battalion commanders: I – Lieutenant Roman Hawranke, II – Second Lieutenant Edward Senk. The Starogard Rifle Regiment. Its formation was commenced on 7 October 1919. The unit was supposed to be composed of soldiers who came from such poviats as: Złotów, Starogard, Tczew, Kwidzyń, Tuchola and Chojnice, selected from the Toruń and Grudziądz Rifle Regiments. The place where the regiment's command was to be stationed was Pakość. Initially, one rifle company and one machine gun company were formed. On 10 November 1919, the regiment's personnel was transferred to Mogilno. By December of the same year, the 1st Battalion, which started to participate in the operation of repossession of Pomerania from 18 January 1920, had been formed. On 5 March 1920, it was renamed as the 65th Starogard Infantry Regiment. Regiment commander: Captain Stefan Meissner. The Kasubia Rifle Regiment. The formation of this unit commenced on 7 October 1919. It was supposed to be composed of soldiers from such poviats as: Puck, Wejherowo, Kartuzy, Kościerzyn and Człuchów. The location of the formation was Poznań. On 15 October 1919, the 1st Cadre Company was formed and on 21 October – four cadre companies were already created. In February 1920, a radio-telephone platoon was formed, in March 1920 - non-commissioned officer and staff companies, in May 1920 - the 4th Machine Gun Company. Also three army service columns and an orchestra were formed. The regiment did not participate in the repossession of Pomerania. On 5 March 1920, it was renamed as the 66th Kasubia Infantry Regiment. Regiment commanders: Lieutenant Leon Kowalski. Battalion commanders: I – Lieutenant Otton Zieliński, II – Second Lieutenant Marcin Kamiński, III – Second Lieutenant Roman Woyke.

 

 

 

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