Polish cavalry raid into East Prussia

[Mattias Rönnblom]

On the night of 2 September 1939, the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade made a raid into East Prussia, and allegedly defeated elements of a Landwehr unit from Corps Brand. One source state that the fighting took place near the town of Johannisburg (nowadays called Pisz).

I've failed in finding any more details on this action. Which German Landwehr regiment was involved, for example? What losses did it sustain?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[tigre]

Hello Mattias ; I've found this on that topic...................

On Sep 02 1939 the 1. p.uł (pulk Ulanow) handed over the the border's security around Augustow to the 3. pułkowi piechoty KOP (CO płk. Z. Zajączkowski) for the Suwalską BK was to occupy an assembly area in Koniecbór -Kurjanka. That very night, from 02 till 03 Sep 1939, two Platoons under ppor. Burlingis and ppor. Nowiński reconnoitred against the border with East Prussia in order to carry out a raid to Oletzko/Olecko with the Cavalry Brigade but it was not to be because the Brigade received the order to march and did so in the night of Sep 04 by Cisów, Kumiałka, Tykocin, reaching on Sep 08 1939 the woods located due south of Jabłonka Kościelna.

On Sep 02 1939 the Podlaskiej BK's Commanding Officer, Gen. Ludwik Kmicic-Skrzyński, ordered to carry out a reconnaissance towards the German border in order to identify the enemy deployed there and to get some prisoners. The raid was to be executed along the axis Milewo-Kowalewo-Biała and Cibory-Wojny Myszki-Drygały by two squadrons of the 10 pułku ułanów (1 and 3 squadrons). At 15:00 hours both squadrons crossed the border and engaged some troops from the border guards and Landwehr. Having reached the little town of Brzózki Małe the polish took some prisoners and later retreated to Milewa.



Source: TEKI BOLESLAWA JANA KUKIELKI. ROZDZIAŁ 6 KAMPANIA JESIENNA 1939 ROKU
http://www.lomza.friko.pl/obiekty_1/samodzielna.htm

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Mattias Rönnblom]

Thank you, and thank you Google for Google Translate so I could understand all that Polish terminology.

[tigre]

Hello Mattias ; you're welcome. Cheers. Raúl M .

[Domen123]

I believe there were few raids of Polish cavalry into East Prussia in early September, not only this one described by Raul.

Here you can find some info on them (in Polish):

http://odkrywca.pl/pokaz_watek.php?id=505315

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wypady_pol ... odnie_1939

http://www.dobroni.pl/rekonstrukcje,193 ... -2009,1184

POW camp No. 31 in Bialystok (commander Mjr. Profic) on 8 IX received 300 German POWs from Podlaska Cav.Brig. Certainly some of them (if not majority) were captured during those raids. They were recaptured on 15 / 16 IX by Brigade "Lotzen".

[Domen123]

Map of Polish POW camps in 1939 (with the exception of those established ad hoc in September - like the POW camp in Ilow at the Bzura river, where over 2,700 German POWs were held - mostly from 30 ID, but also for example 140 POWs from 21 ID):

http://www.dws.org.pl/viewtopic.php?f=5 ... 5#p1436697

If it comes to the POW camp in Ilow at the Bzura - German POWs held there were released from captivity on 18 IX.

What's interesting Russian military reports from the invasion of Poland in 1939 mention some German POWs liberated from captivity in Eastern Poland (e.g. 64 near Rokitno, 50 after the battle of Wytyczno). It seems that they were captured in early September and transported there simultaneously with the evacuation of Polish rear area before the quickly moving frontline.

On the other hand, also German forces liberated some Russian POWs (more than 110 - ca. 50 captured by units of SGO "Polesie" in the battle of Jablon and further ca. 60 during the battle of Milanow), but that was not exactly liberation because according to Polish sources these Russian POWs volunteered to served in the Polish army after being captured (they weren't allowed to fight at the first line, but were used in stocks and supply units). I wonder what happened to them later?

[tigre]

Hello to all ; after a while something more...................

Kowalewo raid - 04 Sep 1939.

On September 3, 1939 the Polish High Command agreed to execute a raid on East Prussia with the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade, so the General Mlot- Fijałkowski ordered that Brigade move troops to the border and carry out reconnaissances towards Biala - Drygały.

The brigade held its assembly area in the area of Milewo - Glinki during the night from September 3 to September 4, 1939, grouped as follows:

9 psk (reinforced by a squadron of light tanks TKS of the Armored Detachment 32) in the town of Milewo.
5 pul. and the rider squad in the town of Glinki.
10 pul. as the brigade's reserve in the wooded area south of Glinki.

Sources: Boje polskie 1939-1945: przewodnik encyklopedyczny pod redakcją pod red. Krzysztof Komorowski.
http://www.1asgkolno.fora.pl/historia,3 ... h,397.html
Samodzielnej Grupie Operacyjna „Narew" 1939. Przemyslaw Dymek.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

Kowalewo raid - 04 Sep 1939.

According to the intentions of the commander , the brigade executed the action along two directions: the main effort would be executed by 5 pul., reinforced by the 14. dak (less one battery ) and the cyclist squadron, attacking on the axis Glinki, Sokoły, Kózki, Biała. The 9. psk would attack along the secudary axis Brzózki Wielkie, Brzózki Małe, Ostra Góra with the support of the armored squadron of TKS and one battery of the 14. dak. Covering the main effort towards the East, would be deployed as reserve the 10 pul. and a squadron of sappers.

At dawn on September 4, 1939 and after adopting the ordered deployment, the brigade marched in two columns toward Biala. Just after crossing the border the Polish troops faced stiff resistance from infantry supported by heavy artillery and machine guns. In the East, two squadrons of the 9. psk found a well built barricade before Brzózki Wielkie/Birkenberg. Supported by the TKS tank squadron the Commander of the 9. psk led the II. squadron through the wooded area northeast of Brzózki Wielkie. The Polish troops surpassed the town destroying equipment and capturing 66 prisoners.

Sources: Boje polskie 1939-1945: przewodnik encyklopedyczny pod redakcją pod red. Krzysztof Komorowski.
http://www.1asgkolno.fora.pl/historia,3 ... h,397.html
Samodzielnej Grupie Operacyjna „Narew" 1939. Przemyslaw Dymek.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

Kowalewo raid - 04 Sep 1939.

After this success the Brigade Commander ordered that the 32. Armoured Squadron to move on in order to support the main attack of Cavalry Brigade Podlaska. In the sector of the main attack were operating the 5 . pul and the cyclist squadron. Supported by fire from the batteries of the 14. dac, the Polish troops attacked the town of Sokoły Gorskie, which was heavily defended, capturing several prisoners and weapons. The 5 pul. continued the attack on m. Długi with its II and IV squadrons under the command of the Chief of the reserve squadron, mjr. Zygmunt Strubel. Meanwhile the III . Squadron was available in Sokoly Gorskie at disposal of the Regiment Commander.

Returning to the secondary effort in the Wielkie Brzózki, the III. Squadron of the 9. psk continued to Brzózki Małe but found strong resistance there. Meanwhile the I. Squadron of the 9. psk marched further east yet, taking the heights northeast of Brzózki Małe. Both columns were stopped as the hostile artillery fire had increased, causing casualties in all squadrons of the brigade.

Sources: Boje polskie 1939-1945: przewodnik encyklopedyczny pod redakcją pod red. Krzysztof Komorowski.
http://www.1asgkolno.fora.pl/historia,3 ... h,397.html
Samodzielnej Grupie Operacyjna „Narew" 1939. Przemyslaw Dymek.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

Kowalewo raid - 04 Sep 1939.

More dangerous for the Polish was the flanking fire coming from the machine guns emplaced in Kowalewo, this town was heavily occupied by the Germans and given the central location of the locality with regard to the two columns of advance, the defence of the place blocked both axes of advance. Intense fighting took place in m. Długi when the spearhead elements of the 5. Pul penetrated into the town, only to be rejected soon after by a counter-attack of the opponent.

Similarly the 9. psk failed in its advance on Brzózki Wielkie – Brzózk Małe. The attack was stopped under intense artillery fire. Due to a counterattack carried out by German infantry, supported by light armoured vehicles, the 9. psk was forced to retreat to the Grove located northeast of Brzózki Wielkie. The hostile artillery fire caused havoc among the horses that were gathered at the place.

Sources: Boje polskie 1939-1945: przewodnik encyklopedyczny pod redakcją pod red. Krzysztof Komorowski.
http://www.1asgkolno.fora.pl/historia,3 ... h,397.html
Samodzielnej Grupie Operacyjna „Narew" 1939. Przemyslaw Dymek.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

Kowalewo raid - 04 Sep 1939.

The town of Kowalewo stretched along the route Sokoły Górskie – Brzózki Wielkie, for that reason the success of the operation depended of the conquest of the locality, which was the key point of the German defense. Given the adverse development of the actions the Brigade Commander, Gen. L. Kmicic - Skrzyński, whose CP was located at a height in Glinka decided to engage his reserve, the 10. pul during the afternoon. The 10. pul attacked in the central sector straight to Kowalewo, but its progress was very slow and after three hours of fighting was in front of the village.

At 16:00 hours began the attack of the 10. pul with its 2. Squadron left of the 4. Squadron and to the right of the cyclist squadron. Shortly afterwards and due to the little success of the attack, the Commander of the regiment pplk Kazimierz Busler, engaged the 3. Squadron on the west wing. Despite the intense fighting the attack failed due to a strong and well prepared defense. At 16:30 hours and after an artillery preparation the Germans launched a counterattack against the right wing of the Polish regiment. The fight developed at short distance and with bayonets, but the 10. pul kept its positions. At 18:00 hours there was a new enemy counterattack, this time on the left wing, which was also rejected by the fierce defense of the 3. Squadron.

Sources: Boje polskie 1939-1945: przewodnik encyklopedyczny pod redakcją pod red. Krzysztof Komorowski.
http://www.1asgkolno.fora.pl/historia,3 ... h,397.html
Samodzielnej Grupie Operacyjna „Narew" 1939. Przemyslaw Dymek.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

Kowalewo raid - 04 Sep 1939.

Throughout the raid it was noted an inadequate artillery support, as the 14. dak was not able to provide fire support to all elements of the brigade. The artillery battalion also suffered heavy losses in personnel and the Chief of the 2. Battery, kpt. Adam Gątkiewicz, died at his OP directing the fire of his battery. In contrast the German troops had at disposal a good fire support and well-coordinated with the defense.

Since late September 4, 1939, as the Polish attack was bogged down, and failed to achieve their objectives and due to an increasing pressure of the opposing forces, the Brigade Commander ordered his troops to break contact and withdraw to the line Kumelsk - Chełchy - Brzeźno – Grabowo.

The retreat however was hampered by enemy counterattacks. When trying to break contact the 5. pul suffered a powerful counterattack from Lisaki, northwest of Kowalewo; the Germans moved towards Glinki, intending to cut the routes withdrawal of Polish troops. However the Brigade finally broke contact and retreated to the ordered line, where they held all day long on Sept. 5, 1939.

Sources: Boje polskie 1939-1945: przewodnik encyklopedyczny pod redakcją pod red. Krzysztof Komorowski.
http://www.1asgkolno.fora.pl/historia,3 ... h,397.html
Samodzielnej Grupie Operacyjna „Narew" 1939. Przemyslaw Dymek.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little note here..................

Someone from Poland has told me that the pictures dealing with the railway station are in fact from another Kowalewo, a town placed 25 km north-east of Toruń and its whole name is Kowalewo Pomorskie (Thanks nimbuss). Cheers. Raúl M .