Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade
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Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade (Polish: Wielkopolska Brygada Kawalerii) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937 out of the Cavalry Brigade “Poznan”. Its headquarters were stationed in Poznan and the brigade consisted of these units:
- 15th Regiment of Poznan Uhlans, stationed in Poznan,
- 17th Regiment of Greater Poland Uhlans of King Boleslaw Chrobry, stationed in Leszno
- 7th Regiment of Greater Poland Mounted Rifles, stationed in Biedrusko,
- 7th Greater Poland Mounted Artillery Regiment, stationed in Poznan,
- 3rd Squadron of Pioneers, stationed in Poznan,
- 7th Squadron of Communications, stationed in Poznan.
[edit] Polish September Campaign
The Brigade, under General Roman Abraham, was part of the Poznan Army. On the first day of the Polish September Campaign, its forces counterattacked the Wehrmacht in the area of Leszno and Rawicz, together with the 25th Infantry Division. On September 2, 1939, parts of the Brigade broke into territory of Germany, attacking Fraustadt and destroying a column of German vehicles. In the following days, the Brigade, together with the whole Poznan Army, withdrew eastwards from Greater Poland. On September 8, 1939, the cavalrymen covered eastern wing of the Army, during the outbreak of the Battle of the Bzura. In the night of September 9-10, 1939, the Brigade attacked the enemy, with initial successes of the 17th Regiment of Greater Poland Uhlans and the 15th Regiment of Poznan Uhlans. However, soon afterwards German defense stiffened and the Brigade halted. On September 11, together with 11th Infantry Division, the Brigade attacked Glowno, facing German 24th I.D. under General Friedrich Olbricht. As Polish momentum weakened, the Brigade was on September 13 ordered to withdraw across the Bzura near Brochow, continuously fighting the German 4th Mountain Division of General Georg Reinhardt. Skirmishes lasted until September 16, then the Brigade retreated into the Kampinos Forest. There, together with Pomeranian Cavalry Brigade and Podolska Cavalry Brigade, it created the Joint Cavalry Brigade of General Abraham. On Sept. 18, the unit fought off attack of German 29th Motorised Division of General Joachim Lemelsen. Two days later it broke into besieged Warsaw, where it capitulated on Sept. 28, 1939.
