During the Polish–Soviet War fought from February 1919 to October 1920 (ended by armistice in March 1921) between Soviet Russia and the Second Polish Republic – in the aftermath of World War I in Europe – the Polish order of battle included broad disposition of personnel, strength, organization, and command structure. [1] [2]
In late 1920, the Polish Army had a total of 23 infantry divisions and nine cavalry brigades. [3] Each infantry division had two brigades, each one having three regiments. [3] Frequently, the infantry divisions were divided for specific tasks, with the resulting brigade-sized formations being called 'groups'. [3] Larger ad hoc formations of more than a single division were called operational groups (Grupa operacyjna) rather than corps. [3]
The numbering of the large infantry units in August 1920 was then as follows: 1st-18th Infantry Divisions, 1st and 2nd Lithuanian –Belarusian Divisions, the (21st) Mountain Division, the (22nd) Volunteer Division.
Formation name | Date created | Date ceased to exist | Notable battle(s) | Polish name | Notes | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Legions Infantry Division | 21 February 1919 | 23 September 1939 | Niemen River | 1 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów | Formed from the 1st Brigade, Polish Legions. | |
2nd Legions Infantry Division | 21 February 1919 | 29 September 1939 | Niemen River | 2 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów | ||
3rd Legions Infantry Division | 12 April 1919 | 8-9 September 1939 | Brzostowica, Niemen River | 3 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów |
Formation name | Date created | Date ceased to exist | Notable battle(s) | Polish name | Notes | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4th Infantry Division | 16 April 1919 | 21 September 1939 | 4 Dywizja Piechoty | Later renamed 26th Infantry Division. | ||
5th Infantry Division | 4 April 1919 | September 1939 | 5 Dywizja Piechoty | |||
6th Infantry Division | 9 May 1919 | 20 September 1939 | 6 Dywizja Piechoty | |||
7th Infantry Division | 14 May 1919 | September 1939 | 7 Dywizja Piechoty | |||
8th Infantry Division | 9 May 1919 | September 1939 | 8 Dywizja Piechoty | |||
9th Infantry Division | 12 June 1919 | September 1939 | 9 Dywizja Piechoty | |||
10th Infantry Division | 2 June 1919 | September 1939 | 10 Dywizja Piechoty | Formerly 4th Rifle Division (Poland) and the 2nd Brigade, Polish Legions. | ||
11th Infantry Division | 16 September 1919 | 18 September 1939 | 11 Karpacka Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from the 2nd Rifle Division. | ||
12th Infantry Division | 1 September 1919 | September 1939 | 12 Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from the 6th Rifle Division. | ||
13th Infantry Division | 9 September 1919 | 28 September 1939 | 13 Kresowa Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from the 1st Rifle Division. | ||
14th Infantry Division | 10 December 1919 | September 1939 | 14 Wielkopolska Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from the 1st Greater Poland Rifle Division, which was formed on 22 January 1919. | ||
15th Infantry Division | 17 January 1920 | September 1939 | 15 Wielkopolska Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from the 2nd Greater Poland Rifle Division, which was formed in March 1919. | ||
16th Infantry Division | 5 March 1920 | 19 September 1939 | 16 Pomorska Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from the 4th Pomeranian Rifle Division, formed on 30 July 1919. | ||
17th Infantry Division | 1 February 1920 | September 1939 | 17 Wielkopolska Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from the 3rd Greater Poland Rifle Division, formed on 6 June 1919. | ||
18th Infantry Division | 23 January 1920 | 13 September 1939 | 18 Dywizja Piechoty | Formed from Haller's Blue Army. |
Formation name | Date created | Date ceased to exist | Notable battle(s) | Polish name | Notes | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(19th) 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division | 26 November 1918 | 12 October 1921 | Głębokie, Niemen River, Krwawy Bór | 1 Dywizja Litewsko-Białoruska | The division was renamed the 19th Infantry Division on 12 October 1921. | |
(20th) 2nd Lithuanian–Belarusian Division | 21 October 1919 | 12 October 1921 | Głębokie, Niemen River | 2 Dywizja Litewsko-Białoruska | The division was created from elements of the 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division. On 12 October 1921, the division was renamed the 20th Infantry Division. | |
(21st) Mountain Infantry Division | 9 February 1920 | 16 September 1939 | 21 Dywizja Piechoty Górskiej | |||
(22nd) Volunteer Division | 22 July 1920 | November 1920 | Dywizja Ochotnicza |
Formation name | Date created | Date ceased to exist | Notable battle(s) | Polish name | Notes | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st Mounted Division | mid-July 1920 | 1924 | 1 Dywizja Jazdy | The division was renamed the 1st Cavalry Division in 1924. |
The following units and named commanders fought in the Polish–Soviet War on the Polish side.
At the time of the Battle of Warsaw (1920), the Polish Army was organised in 3 Fronts and 7 Armies, in this manner: [4]