The 21st Mountain Infantry Division (Polish: 21 Dywizja Piechoty Górskiej, 21 DPG) was a pre-war unit of the Polish Army. It was one of two mountain infantry divisions of Poland to take part in the Invasion of Poland of 1939. Currently its traditions are continued by Polish 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade. Until 1939 the unit was commanded by Gen.bryg.Józef Kustroń and was stationed in and around the towns of Nowy Sącz, Bielsko, Cieszyn, Bogumin, Kraków.
21st Mountain Infantry Division
The Highlander Cross badge worn on the collars of the Podhale Rifles Regiments
Along with 11th Infantry and 22nd Mountain Infantry Divisions, the 21st was notable for its distinctive uniforms, based on folk attire of the Gorals (Polish highlanders) rather than standard uniforms of the Polish Army. During the Invasion of Poland, the division was attached to Bielsko Operational Group of the Kraków Army. It defended the line of Cieszyn-Bogumin in the region of Trans-Olza. Following the steady withdrawal eastwards, it was victorious in the battles of Krzywoczka and Mogilany along the Dunajec. Attacked on September 6 by superior forces of the German 2nd Panzer Division and German 4th Panzer Division, parts of its shielding forces managed to withdraw to the other side of the river, blowing the bridges in Bobrowniki up. At the same time, a major part of the division was assaulted prior to the river crossing and had to withdraw northwards, where it joined with the Polish 6th Infantry Division near the town of Biskupice.
Finally, the division managed to escape from German forces and cross the San river overnight of September 12 near Jarosław. Between September 13 and September 16 the division took part in heavy fights of Gen. Boruta-Spiechowicz'soperational group in the vicinity of Oleszyce, Futorów, Cewków and Ułazów. There the division, by then reduced to merely 4,000 soldiers, managed to withstand a three days long assault of German 45th and 28th Infantry Divisions. However, on September 16 the remnants of the 21st Mountain Division were finally surrounded and most of them either capitulated or were disbanded by their commanders. The division's commanding officer, Józef Kustroń, was killed on the battlefield while personally leading his soldiers in an assault.
21st, mountain, infantry, division, poland, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, 21st, mountain, infantry, division, poland, new. This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 21st Mountain Infantry Division Poland news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 21st Mountain Infantry Division Polish 21 Dywizja Piechoty Gorskiej 21 DPG was a pre war unit of the Polish Army It was one of two mountain infantry divisions of Poland to take part in the Invasion of Poland of 1939 Currently its traditions are continued by Polish 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade Until 1939 the unit was commanded by Gen bryg Jozef Kustron and was stationed in and around the towns of Nowy Sacz Bielsko Cieszyn Bogumin Krakow 21st Mountain Infantry DivisionThe Highlander Cross badge worn on the collars of the Podhale Rifles RegimentsActive1919 1944Country PolandBranchLand forcesTypeMountain infantryRoleMountain warfareSizeca 16 000Garrison HQNowy Sacz Bielsko Cieszyn Bogumin KrakowNickname s PodhalanczycyCommandersNotablecommandersJozef Kustron Along with 11th Infantry and 22nd Mountain Infantry Divisions the 21st was notable for its distinctive uniforms based on folk attire of the Gorals Polish highlanders rather than standard uniforms of the Polish Army During the Invasion of Poland the division was attached to Bielsko Operational Group of the Krakow Army It defended the line of Cieszyn Bogumin in the region of Trans Olza Following the steady withdrawal eastwards it was victorious in the battles of Krzywoczka and Mogilany along the Dunajec Attacked on September 6 by superior forces of the German 2nd Panzer Division and German 4th Panzer Division parts of its shielding forces managed to withdraw to the other side of the river blowing the bridges in Bobrowniki up At the same time a major part of the division was assaulted prior to the river crossing and had to withdraw northwards where it joined with the Polish 6th Infantry Division near the town of Biskupice Finally the division managed to escape from German forces and cross the San river overnight of September 12 near Jaroslaw Between September 13 and September 16 the division took part in heavy fights of Gen Boruta Spiechowicz s operational group in the vicinity of Oleszyce Futorow Cewkow and Ulazow There the division by then reduced to merely 4 000 soldiers managed to withstand a three days long assault of German 45th and 28th Infantry Divisions However on September 16 the remnants of the 21st Mountain Division were finally surrounded and most of them either capitulated or were disbanded by their commanders The division s commanding officer Jozef Kustron was killed on the battlefield while personally leading his soldiers in an assault See also editPolish army order of battle in 1939 Polish contribution to World War II List of Polish divisions in World War II Podhale riflesReferences edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 21st Mountain Infantry Division Poland amp oldid 1174940094, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
