Polish Legions in World War I




This article is about Polish Legions on the Eastern Front in World War I. For Polish Legions on the Western Front in World War I, see Blue Army (Poland). For other units named the Polish Legions, see Polish Legions (disambiguation).





Polish Legions in World War I
Legiony Polskie (1914–1918)

Kielce
Col. Józef Piłsudski with his staff in front of the Governor's Palace in Kielce, 1914
Piłsudski
Col. Józef Piłsudski and his officers, 1915
Piłsudski
Pilsudski in Otwock, 1915
II Brigade

II Brigade of the Polish Legions in Volhynia
alliances
Europe in 1914, the Central Powers in brown

The Polish Legions (Polish: Legiony Polskie) was a name of the Polish military force (the first active Polish army in generations)[1] established in August 1914 in Galicia soon after World War I erupted between the opposing alliances of the Triple Entente on one side (including the British Empire, the French Republic and the Russian Empire); and the Central Powers on the other side, including the German Empire and Austria-Hungary.[2] The Legions became "a founding myth for the creation of modern Poland" in spite of their considerably short existence;[1] they were replaced by the Polish Auxiliary Corps (Polish: Polski Korpus Posiłkowy) formation on 20 September 1916, merged with Polish II Corps in Russia on 19 February 1918 for the Battle of Rarańcza against Austria-Hungary, and disbanded following the military defeat at the Battle of Kaniów in May 1918,[3] against imperial Germany. General Haller escaped to France to form the Polish army in the West against the anti-Polish German-Bolshevik treaty.[4]


The Legions took part in many battles against the forces of the Imperial Russia, both in Galicia and in the Carpathian Mountains. They suffered horrendous casualties outnumbered three to one in the Battle of Łowczówek. They captured Kielce, and in 1915 took part in the offensive on Warsaw. In June 1916 the unit had approximately 25,000 soldiers.[1] Both the number of troops and the composition of units changed rapidly. After the Battle of Kostiuchnówka where 2,000 Polish soldiers died delaying a Russian offensive Józef Piłsudski demanded that the Central Powers issue a guarantee of independence for Poland and partially succeeded.[5] The Polish Legions became the Polish Auxiliary Corps. After the Act of 5th November of 1916 which pronounced the creation of the puppet Kingdom of Poland of 1916–18, the Polish Legions were transferred under German command. However, most of the members refused to swear allegiance to the German Kaiser and were interned in Beniaminów and Szczypiorno (the Oath crisis). Approximately 3,000 of them were drafted into the Austro-Hungarian army and the failed German Polnische Wehrmacht, while approximately 7,500 stayed in the Austrian Polish Auxiliary Corps. They were sent to the Italian Front.




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 Battles


  • 3 Notable officers who served in the Polish Legions


  • 4 Polish Legions' prominent members


  • 5 See also


  • 6 External links


  • 7 Notes and references





History


The formation of the Legions was declared by Józef Piłsudski in his order of August 22, 1914. The Austrian government, having jurisdiction over the area, officially agreed to the formation August 27, 1914.


The unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army thanks to the efforts of the KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament. Personnel came mostly from former members of various scouting organisations, including Drużyny Strzeleckie and Związek Strzelecki, as well from as volunteers from all around the Austro-Hungarian Empire.


Initially the Polish Legions were composed of two legions: the Eastern and the Western Legion, both formed on August 27. After a Russian victory in the Battle of Galicia (August–September 1914) the Eastern Polish legion refused to fight on behalf of the Austro-Hungarian side against Russia and was disbanded on September 21. On December 19, the Western legion was transformed into three brigades: the I Brigade of the Polish Legions under Józef Piłsudski, formed in mid-December; the II Brigade of the Polish Legions under Józef Haller de Hallenburg, formed between mid-December and March (sources vary); and the III Brigade of the Polish Legions under Zygmunt Zieliński (later Bolesław Roja), formed on May 8, 1915. All brigades had the following:



  • Artillery Battalions with served with I, II, and III Brigade

  • Cavalry Regiments: 1st served in I Brigade; 2nd served in II Brigade; 3rd served in III Brigade

  • Infantry Regiments: 1st, 5th, 7th served in I Brigade; 2nd, 3rd served in II Brigade; 4th served in both II and III Brigades; 5th, 6th served in III Brigade


The commanders of the Legions were consecutively: Gen. Karol Trzaska-Durski (September 1914 – February 1916), Gen. Stanisław Puchalski (until November 1916), Col. Stanisław Szeptycki (until April 1917), and Col. Zygmunt Zieliński (until August 1917). After the war ended the officers of the Polish Legions became the backbone of the Polish Army.





Operations of Polish Legions and the Puławy Legion
Legiony 1914-1916.png


Battles


Below is a list of prominent Polish battles against the Imperial Russian Army in 1914–16, leading to victories in most cases, with notable exceptions especially during the Brusilov Offensive of 1916.




  • Battle of Nowy Korczyn (23–24 September 1914)


  • Battle of Anielin-Laski (October 21–October 26, 1914)


  • Battle of Mołotkowo (October 29, 1914)


  • Battle of Krzywopłoty (17–18 November 1914)


  • Battle of Marcinkowice (5–6 December 1914)


  • Battle of Łowczówek (December 22–December 25, 1914)


  • Battle of Pustki (2 May 1915)


  • Battle of Konary (May 16–May 25, 1915)

  • Battle of Rafajłowa (January 23–24, 1915)


  • Kirlibaba (January 18–22, 1915)


  • Rarańcza (June 13, 1915)


  • Battle of Rokitna (15 June 1915)

  • Battle of Jastków (July 29–July 31, 1915)


  • Battle of Kostiuchnówka (July 4–July 6, 1916)


  • Battle of Rarańcza (15–16 February 1918)[6]



Notable officers who served in the Polish Legions


Following the foundation of the Second Polish Republic, many served in the Polish Army, and held political as well as elected offices.








  • Tomasz Arciszewski

  • Leon Berbecki

  • Zygmunt Berling

  • Władysław Bortnowski

  • Edmund Charaszkiewicz

  • Walerian Czuma

  • Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski

  • Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer

  • Wiktor Tomir Drymmer

  • Bolesław Bronisław Duch

  • Karol Durski-Trzaska

  • Kazimierz Fabrycy

  • Emil August Fieldorf

  • Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki

  • Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski

  • Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski

  • Tadeusz Kasprzycki

  • Franciszek Kleeberg

  • Tadeusz Klimecki

  • Bronisław Prugar-Ketling

  • Alojzy Wir-Konas

  • Stefan Kossecki

  • Jan Kowalewski

  • Wincenty Kowalski

  • Marian Kukiel

  • Tadeusz Kurcyusz

  • Józef Kustroń

  • Ludwik de Laveaux (officer)

  • Mieczysław Mackiewicz

  • Kazimierz Mastalerz

  • Henryk Minkiewicz

  • Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki

  • Mieczyslaw Norwid-Neugebauer

  • Leopold Okulicki

  • Kazimierz Orlik-Łukoski

  • Wilhelm Orlik-Rückemann

  • Witold Pilecki

  • Tadeusz Piskor

  • Władysław Belina-Prażmowski

  • Tadeusz Puszczyński

  • Bronisław Rakowski

  • Ludomił Rayski

  • Bolesław Roja

  • Juliusz Rómmel

  • Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki

  • Piotr Skuratowicz

  • Edward Rydz-Śmigły

  • Mieczysław Smorawiński

  • Kazimierz Sosnkowski

  • Mieczysław Boruta-Spiechowicz

  • Julian Stachiewicz

  • Wacław Stachiewicz

  • Kazimierz Stamirowski

  • Aleksander Stawarz

  • Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko

  • Wiktor Thommée

  • Władysław Wejtko

  • Józef Olszyna-Wilczyński

  • Jan Włodarkiewicz

  • Włodzimierz Zagórski (general)

  • Józef Zając

  • Ferdynand Zarzycki

  • Marian Januszajtis-Żegota

  • Lucjan Żeligowski

  • Juliusz Zulauf

  • Michał Rola-Żymierski


Polish Legions' prominent members






  • Tomasz Arciszewski







  • Józef Beck







  • Tadeusz Brzeziński







  • Walerian Czuma







  • Stefan Dąb-Biernacki







  • Henryk Dobrzański







  • Bronisław Duch







  • Karol Durski-Trzaska







  • Emil Fieldorf








  • Józef Haller de Hallenburg who commanded II Brigade





  • Tadeusz Kasprzycki







  • Franciszek Kleeberg







  • Tadeusz Klimecki





  • Adam Koc







  • Stefan Kossecki







  • Kazimierz Mastalerz





  • Henryk Minkiewicz







  • Mieczyslaw Norwid-Neugebauer who commanded 6th Regiment and 3rd Brigade







  • Leopold Okulicki who served in 3rd Legions Infantry Regiment







  • Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer







  • Wilhelm Orlik-Rückemann







  • Antoni Pająk







  • Witold Pilecki







  • Tadeusz Piskor







  • Władysław Belina-Prażmowski







  • Stanisław Puchalski







  • Władysław Raczkiewicz (President of Poland)







  • Juliusz Rómmel







  • Stefan Rowecki







  • Tadeusz Jordan-Rozwadowski







  • Waclaw Sieroszewski





  • Władysław Sikorski







  • Piotr Skuratowicz







  • Edward Rydz-Śmigły







  • Mieczysław Smorawiński







  • Kazimierz Sosnkowski







  • Wacław Stachiewicz in 1917, after the Oath Crisis







  • Kazimierz Stamirowski








  • Stanisław Szeptycki.





  • Wiktor Thommée







  • Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski





  • Władysław Wejtko





  • Józef Olszyna-Wilczyński





  • Włodzimierz Zagórski (general)





  • Józef Zając








  • Ferdynand Zarzycki






  • Marian Januszajtis-Żegota






  • Zygmunt Zieliński






  • Michał Rola-Żymierski




See also







  • Polish Legions (disambiguation)

  • Stanisław Skarżyński

  • Czesław Zbierański

  • Association of the Polish Youth "Zet"

  • Blue Army (Poland)

  • First Cadre Company

  • Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)

  • Kingdom of Poland (1916–1918)

  • List of Polish divisions in World War I

  • My Pierwsza Brygada

  • Polish Army Veterans' Association in America

  • Polish Auxiliary Corps

  • Polish I Corps in Russia

  • Polish II Corps in Russia

  • Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division

  • Polish Military Organisation

  • Polish Rifle Squads

  • Polska Siła Zbrojna

  • Riflemen's Association

  • Union of Active Struggle

  • The Seven Lancers of Belina



External links



  • Centek, Jarosław: Polish Legions , in: 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War.

  • Brudek, Paweł: Polish Legionaries Union , in: 1914-1918-online. International Encyclopedia of the First World War.



Notes and references





  1. ^ abc M.B.B. Biskupski (2012). Independence Day: Myth, Symbol, and the Creation of Modern Poland. OUP Oxford. pp. 9–11..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  2. ^ Willmott, H.P. (2003). World War I. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 15. ISBN 0-7894-9627-5. OCLC 52541937.


  3. ^ WIEM Encyklopedia (2015), Polski Korpus Posiłkowy at PortalWiedzy.onet.pl (in Polish)


  4. ^ Spencer Tucker, Laura Matysek Wood, Justin D. Murphy (1996). The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 332. ISBN 0-8153-3351-X – via Google Print.CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)


  5. ^ Urbankowski, Bohdan (1997). Józef Piłsudski: Marzyciel i strateg (Józef Piłsudski: Dreamer and Strategist) (in Polish). 1–2. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo ALFA. pp. 251–252. ISBN 978-83-7001-914-3.


  6. ^ Piotr Galik, Chwalebna zdrada: Rarańcza 1918. Fakty.Interia.pl at Internet Archive. (in Polish) See also: Mieczysław Wrzosek, Polski czyn zbrojny podczas pierwszej wojny światowej 1914-1918, Państwowe Wydawnictwo "Wiedza Powszechna", Warszawa 1990.








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