23rd Infantry Division (Poland)
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23rd Infantry Division (23. Dywizja Piechoty) was a unit of the Polish Army in the interwar period (1921-1939). Created in 1921, its headquarters were stationed in Upper Silesian town of Tarnowskie Gory. Also, some other units were located in garrisons across Polish part of Upper Silesia:
- in Katowice - 73rd Infantry Regiment,
- in Chorzow, Rybnik and Wielkie Hajduki - 75th Infantry Regiment,
In October of 1938 the Division, under General Jan Jagmin-Sadowski, participated in the annexation of Zaolzie. A year later, in September 1939, it took part in the Polish September Campaign. Commanded by General Wladyslaw Powierza, it was part of Operational Group “Silesia” of the Army Kraków.
On September 1 and 2, the unit defended the so-called Fortified Silesian Area, then it was ordered to support the 55th I.D., which was fighting around Wyry and Kobior. After several skirmishes with German 28th I.D., the Poles withdrew towards the Nida river. Between September 4 and 20, the Division retreated eastwards, repelling German attacks and beating the enemy in Bilgoraj. On September 19, the Division joined units attacking Tomaszow Lubelski, but these efforts were fruitless. It fought until the capitulation of Army Krakow, September 20.
