The 12th Bolesław KrzywoustySzczecin Mechanised Division (Polish: 12 Szczecińska Dywizja Zmechanizowana im. Bolesława Krzywoustego (12 DZ, 12 SDZ)) is a division of the Polish Armed Forces, headquartered in Szczecin.
Vehicle identification symbol (Polish People's Army)
It traces its heritage back to the 1919 formation of the 6th Polish Rifle Division of the Blue Army in France. The division returned to Poland and was redesignated as the 12th Infantry Division (Polish: 12 Dywizja Piechoty) later that year, fighting in the Polish–Soviet War. During the September 1939 Invasion of Poland, the division was part of the southern group of the Prusy Army and was surrounded and destroyed by German forces during the Battle of Radom. It was briefly reformed in 1944 as part of the Home Army, and later that year the Polish People's Army briefly formed a 12th Infantry Division as part of the abortive 3rd Polish Army, but it was quickly broken up. The Polish People's Army reformed the division in Poznań during the final weeks of World War II, and it was sent to Szczecin to secure the area and expel the German population in the immediate postwar period. The division has remained headquartered at Szczecin since then, and was converted into a mechanised division in 1958.
52nd Kresy Rifles Infantry Regiment, stationed in Złoczów,
54th Kresy Rifles Infantry Regiment, stationed in Tarnopol,
12th Kresy Light Artillery Regiment, stationed in Złoczów,
12th Heavy Artillery Regiment, stationed in Tarnopol.
Location of the 12th Infantry Division in 1938
Polish September Campaign
In June 1939 the Division, under General Gustaw Paszkiewicz, was ordered to remain in reserve and became part of the southern wing of the Prusy Army. In early September 1939, it was transported from Tarnopol to the area of Kielce.
On September 7, 12th I.D. left its positions by Skarżysko-Kamienna and headed towards Iłża. There, it engaged in combat with 3rd Light Division of the Wehrmacht. In the following days, the unit fought a bloody battle with German XV Light Corps of General Hermann Hoth. On September 9, Polish soldiers got to German positions but were stopped by tanks. As a result, the Poles panicked, the Division was cut off from the line of the Vistula and as such ceased to exist. Its remnants crossed the river and were recreated as brigades, taking part in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski, where they capitulated on September 27.
Home Army
In the first half of 1944, when Operation Tempest was prepared, the 12th I.D. was recreated in the area of Tarnopol and Lwów.
Polish People's Army
The 12th Infantry Division was formed by the Polish People's Army in the Zamość region beginning on 6 October 1944. It was intended to become part of the 3rd Polish Army, and included the 19th, 21st, and 25th Infantry Regiments, the 41st Light Artillery Regiment, and the 8th Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion equipped with the SU-76, among other support units. The attempt to create the 3rd Polish Army was abandoned on 15 November, and the personnel of the 12th, still beginning their organization, were dispersed to units of the 2nd Polish Army, while the weapons and equipment were returned to the storage of the 1st Belorussian Front.[1]
The second 12th Infantry Division of the Polish People's Army began forming on 15 March 1945 under the command of Red Army officer Colonel Viktor Lemantovich. Its headquarters, 41st Rifle Regiment, 34th Light Artillery Regiment, and 15th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion, with other support units, formed in Poznań, while the 43rd Rifle Regiment formed in Biedrusko and the 39th Rifle Regiment and remaining support units formed in Gniezno. It completed its formation by May. After the end of the war, the elements of the division left their places of formation on 9 June and became part of the 2nd Polish Army in Western Pomerania. There, they participated in agricultural work and mine clearance, securing the region and organizing military settlement.[1]
In December 1958 the 12th Infantry Division was reorganized as a mechanised division (pl:12 Dywizja Zmechanizowana).[2] Headquarters was located as Szczecin.
On 19 April 1994, the division received the honorific Szczecin in honor of its headquarters location, and Medieval Duke of PolandBolesław III Wrymouth was made its patron. By a 16 March 2009 decision of the Polish Minister of National Defence, the 12th Mechanised Division inherited the traditions of the 6th Polish Rifle Division, 12th Infantry Division, 12th Infantry Division of the Home Army, in addition to those of the 12th Infantry Division of the Polish People's Army. Its feast day was changed to 28 June, the anniversary of the establishment of the 6th Polish Rifle Division.[3]
12th Mechanised Division Organisation (click image to enlarge)
12 Mech Div.
2 Mechanised
7 Coastal
12 Mechanised
5 Artillery
8 Air-Defense
8 Logistic
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12th Mechanised Division units 2020
As of 2020[update], the 12th Mechanised Division consists of:[4]
^"Święto 12 Szczecińskiej Dywizji Zmechanizowanej" [Banner of the 12th Szczeciń Mechanised Division]. Ministry of National Defence (in Polish). 1 July 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
^"Struktura" [Structure] (in Polish). 12th Mechanised Division. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
^"Kierownictwo" [Headquarters] (in Polish). 12th Mechanised Division. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
Bibliography
Komornicki, Stanisław (1977). Wojsko Polskie. Krótki informator historyczny o Wojsku Polskim w latach II wojny światowej [Polish Army: A short historical guide on the Polish Army during the Second World War] (in Polish). Vol. 1: Regularne jednostki ludowego Wojska Polskiego. Formowanie, działania bojowe, organizacja, uzbrojenie, metryki jednostek piechoty [Regular units of the Polish People's Army: Formation, combat operations, organization, and armaments of infantry units]. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej Warszawa.
February 27, 2023
12th, mechanised, division, poland, coordinates, 8513, 3097, 8513, 3097, 12th, bolesław, krzywousty, szczecin, mechanised, division, polish, szczecińska, dywizja, zmechanizowana, bolesława, krzywoustego, division, polish, armed, forces, headquartered, szczecin. Coordinates 49 51 05 N 18 18 35 E 49 8513 N 18 3097 E 49 8513 18 3097 The 12th Boleslaw Krzywousty Szczecin Mechanised Division Polish 12 Szczecinska Dywizja Zmechanizowana im Boleslawa Krzywoustego 12 DZ 12 SDZ is a division of the Polish Armed Forces headquartered in Szczecin 12th Boleslaw Krzywousty Szczecin Mechanised Division12 Szczecinska Dywizja Zmechanizowana im Boleslawa KrzywoustegoActive1958 present traditions from 1919 CountryPolandBranchPolish Land ForcesTypeMechanised infantryPart ofArmed Forces General CommandGarrison HQSzczecinPatronBoleslaw KrywoustyAnniversaries28 June feast day since 2008 15 March feast day before 2008 EngagementsPolish Soviet War World War II Iraq War War in AfghanistanBattle honoursSzczecinWebsitehttps 12sdz wp mil pl pl CommandersCurrentcommanderMajor General Maciej JablonskiInsigniaVehicle identification symbol Polish People s Army It traces its heritage back to the 1919 formation of the 6th Polish Rifle Division of the Blue Army in France The division returned to Poland and was redesignated as the 12th Infantry Division Polish 12 Dywizja Piechoty later that year fighting in the Polish Soviet War During the September 1939 Invasion of Poland the division was part of the southern group of the Prusy Army and was surrounded and destroyed by German forces during the Battle of Radom It was briefly reformed in 1944 as part of the Home Army and later that year the Polish People s Army briefly formed a 12th Infantry Division as part of the abortive 3rd Polish Army but it was quickly broken up The Polish People s Army reformed the division in Poznan during the final weeks of World War II and it was sent to Szczecin to secure the area and expel the German population in the immediate postwar period The division has remained headquartered at Szczecin since then and was converted into a mechanised division in 1958 Contents 1 Interwar period 2 Polish September Campaign 3 Home Army 4 Polish People s Army 5 Current Structure 6 Commanders 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Citations 8 2 BibliographyInterwar period EditBetween the wars the division was stationed in Tarnopol It consisted of several regiments scattered in towns of Podolia 51st Giuseppe Garibaldi Kresy Rifles Infantry Regiment stationed in Brzezany and Czortkow 52nd Kresy Rifles Infantry Regiment stationed in Zloczow 54th Kresy Rifles Infantry Regiment stationed in Tarnopol 12th Kresy Light Artillery Regiment stationed in Zloczow 12th Heavy Artillery Regiment stationed in Tarnopol Location of the 12th Infantry Division in 1938Polish September Campaign EditIn June 1939 the Division under General Gustaw Paszkiewicz was ordered to remain in reserve and became part of the southern wing of the Prusy Army In early September 1939 it was transported from Tarnopol to the area of Kielce On September 7 12th I D left its positions by Skarzysko Kamienna and headed towards Ilza There it engaged in combat with 3rd Light Division of the Wehrmacht In the following days the unit fought a bloody battle with German XV Light Corps of General Hermann Hoth On September 9 Polish soldiers got to German positions but were stopped by tanks As a result the Poles panicked the Division was cut off from the line of the Vistula and as such ceased to exist Its remnants crossed the river and were recreated as brigades taking part in the Battle of Tomaszow Lubelski where they capitulated on September 27 Home Army EditIn the first half of 1944 when Operation Tempest was prepared the 12th I D was recreated in the area of Tarnopol and Lwow Polish People s Army EditThe 12th Infantry Division was formed by the Polish People s Army in the Zamosc region beginning on 6 October 1944 It was intended to become part of the 3rd Polish Army and included the 19th 21st and 25th Infantry Regiments the 41st Light Artillery Regiment and the 8th Self Propelled Artillery Battalion equipped with the SU 76 among other support units The attempt to create the 3rd Polish Army was abandoned on 15 November and the personnel of the 12th still beginning their organization were dispersed to units of the 2nd Polish Army while the weapons and equipment were returned to the storage of the 1st Belorussian Front 1 The second 12th Infantry Division of the Polish People s Army began forming on 15 March 1945 under the command of Red Army officer Colonel Viktor Lemantovich Its headquarters 41st Rifle Regiment 34th Light Artillery Regiment and 15th Anti Tank Artillery Battalion with other support units formed in Poznan while the 43rd Rifle Regiment formed in Biedrusko and the 39th Rifle Regiment and remaining support units formed in Gniezno It completed its formation by May After the end of the war the elements of the division left their places of formation on 9 June and became part of the 2nd Polish Army in Western Pomerania There they participated in agricultural work and mine clearance securing the region and organizing military settlement 1 Its main task was to protect the border in the region of Szczecin A combined infantry regiment from the division took part in Operation Vistula in 1947 against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army In December 1958 the 12th Infantry Division was reorganized as a mechanised division pl 12 Dywizja Zmechanizowana 2 Headquarters was located as Szczecin Current Structure EditMain article Operational Structure of the Polish Land Forces On 19 April 1994 the division received the honorific Szczecin in honor of its headquarters location and Medieval Duke of Poland Boleslaw III Wrymouth was made its patron By a 16 March 2009 decision of the Polish Minister of National Defence the 12th Mechanised Division inherited the traditions of the 6th Polish Rifle Division 12th Infantry Division 12th Infantry Division of the Home Army in addition to those of the 12th Infantry Division of the Polish People s Army Its feast day was changed to 28 June the anniversary of the establishment of the 6th Polish Rifle Division 3 12th Mechanised Division Organisation click image to enlarge 12 Mech Div 2 Mechanised 7 Coastal 12 Mechanised 5 Artillery 8 Air Defense 8 Logisticclass notpageimage 12th Mechanised Division units 2020 As of 2020 update the 12th Mechanised Division consists of 4 12th Command Battalion in Szczecin 2nd Legion Mechanised Brigade in Zlocieniec 7th Coastal Defense Brigade in Slupsk 12th Mechanised Brigade in Szczecin 5th Artillery Regiment in Sulechow 8th Air defense Regiment in Koszalin 8th Logistic Regiment in KolobrzegThe division is part of the NATO aligned Multinational Corps North East Commanders EditMajor General Maciej Jablonski 29 June 2018 present 5 See also EditPolish army order of battle in 1939 List of Polish divisions in World War IIReferences EditCitations Edit a b Komornicki 1977 pp 164 165 Order No 0010 Org MON from October 2 1958 Swieto 12 Szczecinskiej Dywizji Zmechanizowanej Banner of the 12th Szczecin Mechanised Division Ministry of National Defence in Polish 1 July 2017 Retrieved 16 September 2018 Struktura Structure in Polish 12th Mechanised Division 16 January 2017 Retrieved 16 September 2018 Kierownictwo Headquarters in Polish 12th Mechanised Division Retrieved 16 September 2018 Bibliography Edit Komornicki Stanislaw 1977 Wojsko Polskie Krotki informator historyczny o Wojsku Polskim w latach II wojny swiatowej Polish Army A short historical guide on the Polish Army during the Second World War in Polish Vol 1 Regularne jednostki ludowego Wojska Polskiego Formowanie dzialania bojowe organizacja uzbrojenie metryki jednostek piechoty Regular units of the Polish People s Army Formation combat operations organization and armaments of infantry units Warsaw Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej Warszawa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 12th Mechanised Division Poland amp oldid 1121167191, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
