The division was re-established in its modern form in September 2018 and renamed to the 18th Mechanized Division as part of an expansion of the Polish Army, partially as a result of heightened security threats to Poland. The division will have achieved initial operating capacity by the end of 2019, with further strengthening of the formation to be completed by the mid-2020s.[1]
It was formed in 1919 from the units of the Blue Army.
Interwar
Between 1919 and 1939, Łomża and neighboring towns were located very close to the border of Poland and German province of East Prussia. Defense of this area was regarded as crucial in any future conflict, so 18th Division was regarded as an elite unit. More than 50% of its soldiers were local conscripts from northern Mazovia and Podlasie, whose patriotism was highly appreciated.
Invasion of Poland
The Division assembled on August 30, 1939, and the next day it occupied defense positions along the Narew river. Until September 3, it had a limited contact with the Wehrmacht. It was then ordered to take positions previously held by the Polish 41st Infantry Division. On September 7, it left Ostrołęka and was ordered to halt the advance of German 21st Infantry Division near Nowogrod. The efforts of Polish soldiers were mixed, but on the night of Sept 9-10, it attacked a German armored column, destroying several vehicles and tanks.
During the next days the Division was engaged in heavy fights with units of General Heinz Guderian's XIX Army Corps. After several bloody skirmishes, the Germans severely wounded Colonel Kossecki. Twenty volunteers, who wanted to take his body from the battleground, were killed by a German machine gun. Kossecki himself survived, but was captured by the Soviets and probably killed by them in the Katyn massacre. The division effectively ceased to exist.[2]
In the night of September 13–14 the Germans massacred 200 Polish POWs, gathered in the courtyard in the barracks in Zambrów (the Zambrów massacre).[3]
21st century
The reactivation of the Division was announced by the Polish Ministry of Defence in September 2018 as part of the effort to expand and modernize the Polish Army amidst heightened tension with Russia.[4] Initially, the division will be two brigades strong, with the already formed 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade and the 21st Podhale Rifles (Mountain) Brigade making up its strength. The division will be further strengthened by the creation of a new brigade, the 19th Mechanized Brigade, which is in the process of being formed as of 2019.
^"Nowa dywizja Wojska Polskiego". MON. Retrieved 2019-03-14.
^Boje Polskie 1939-1945. Przewodnik Encyklopedyczny (in Polish). Bellona. pp. 474–476.
^Tomasz Sudoł, ZBRODNIE WEHRMACHTU NA JEŃCACH POLSKICH WE WRZEŚNIU 1939 ROKU, Biuro Edukacji Publicznej IPN
^"Minister Błaszczak podjął decyzję o utworzeniu nowej dywizji" [Minister Blaszczak decided to create a new division .]. Ministry of National Defence (in Polish). Retrieved 8 December 2019.
^"Minister Blaszczak decided to create a new division". Polish Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
March 21, 2023
18th, infantry, division, poland, 18th, infantry, division, dywizja, piechoty, division, polish, armed, forces, division, originally, part, polish, army, during, interbellum, period, which, took, part, polish, september, campaign, stationed, Łomża, commanded, . The 18th Infantry Division 18 Dywizja Piechoty was a division of the Polish Armed Forces The division was originally part of Polish Army during the interbellum period which took part in the Polish September Campaign Stationed in Lomza and commanded in 1939 by Colonel Stefan Kossecki it was part of the Narew Independent Operational Group 18th Infantry Division18 Dywizja PiechotyActive1920 1939 2018 presentCountryPolandBranchPolish Land ForcesTypeInfantrySizeDivisionPart ofArmed Forces General Command The division was re established in its modern form in September 2018 and renamed to the 18th Mechanized Division as part of an expansion of the Polish Army partially as a result of heightened security threats to Poland The division will have achieved initial operating capacity by the end of 2019 with further strengthening of the formation to be completed by the mid 2020s 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Interwar 1 2 Invasion of Poland 2 21st century 2 1 Structure of the 18th Mechanized Division 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory EditIt was formed in 1919 from the units of the Blue Army Interwar Edit Between 1919 and 1939 Lomza and neighboring towns were located very close to the border of Poland and German province of East Prussia Defense of this area was regarded as crucial in any future conflict so 18th Division was regarded as an elite unit More than 50 of its soldiers were local conscripts from northern Mazovia and Podlasie whose patriotism was highly appreciated Invasion of Poland Edit The Division assembled on August 30 1939 and the next day it occupied defense positions along the Narew river Until September 3 it had a limited contact with the Wehrmacht It was then ordered to take positions previously held by the Polish 41st Infantry Division On September 7 it left Ostroleka and was ordered to halt the advance of German 21st Infantry Division near Nowogrod The efforts of Polish soldiers were mixed but on the night of Sept 9 10 it attacked a German armored column destroying several vehicles and tanks During the next days the Division was engaged in heavy fights with units of General Heinz Guderian s XIX Army Corps After several bloody skirmishes the Germans severely wounded Colonel Kossecki Twenty volunteers who wanted to take his body from the battleground were killed by a German machine gun Kossecki himself survived but was captured by the Soviets and probably killed by them in the Katyn massacre The division effectively ceased to exist 2 In the night of September 13 14 the Germans massacred 200 Polish POWs gathered in the courtyard in the barracks in Zambrow the Zambrow massacre 3 21st century EditThe reactivation of the Division was announced by the Polish Ministry of Defence in September 2018 as part of the effort to expand and modernize the Polish Army amidst heightened tension with Russia 4 Initially the division will be two brigades strong with the already formed 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade and the 21st Podhale Rifles Mountain Brigade making up its strength The division will be further strengthened by the creation of a new brigade the 19th Mechanized Brigade which is in the process of being formed as of 2019 Structure of the 18th Mechanized Division Edit It has been suggested that this article should be split into a new article titled 18th Mechanized Division Poland discuss March 2021 Main article Operational Structure of the Polish Land Forces 18th Mechanised Division organisation 2023 click image to enlarge 18 Mech Div 1 Armoured 19 Mechanised 21 Podhale 18 Logisticclass notpageimage 18th Mechanised Division units 2020 The 18th Mechanised Division nicknamed The Iron Division is headquartered in Siedlce and is organised as follows 5 18th Staff Battalion in Siedlce 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade Tadeusz Kosciuszko in Wesola 19th Lublin Mechanized Brigade Franciszek Kleeberg in Lublin 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade Brig Gen Mieczyslaw Boruta Spiechowicz in Rzeszow 18th Logistic Regiment in LomzaSee also EditPolish army order of battle in 1939 Polish contribution to World War II List of Polish divisions in World War IIReferences Edit Nowa dywizja Wojska Polskiego MON Retrieved 2019 03 14 Boje Polskie 1939 1945 Przewodnik Encyklopedyczny in Polish Bellona pp 474 476 Tomasz Sudol ZBRODNIE WEHRMACHTU NA JENCACH POLSKICH WE WRZESNIU 1939 ROKU Biuro Edukacji Publicznej IPN Minister Blaszczak podjal decyzje o utworzeniu nowej dywizji Minister Blaszczak decided to create a new division Ministry of National Defence in Polish Retrieved 8 December 2019 Minister Blaszczak decided to create a new division Polish Ministry of Defense Retrieved 16 September 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 18th Infantry Division Poland amp oldid 1138581346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
