The Masovian Cavalry Brigade ( Polish: Mazowiecka Brygada Kawalerii) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period, which took part in the Polish September Campaign. It was created on April 1, 1937, out of former 1st Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were in Warsaw, with other units stationed in towns around the capital:
The Brigade, under Colonel
Jan Karcz, was part of the
Modlin Army. On September 1, 1939, it defended positions around
Mława, on the right wing of Polish lines.
[1]: 43 Facing the Poles was German 12th I.D, under Colonel
Ludwig von Leyen. Facing encirclement, the Brigade had to withdraw to the second line of defence, on the night of September 1/2.
In the morning of September 2, the
Wehrmacht began a frontal attack and after several hours of heavy fights the Germans captured important Hill 190,5. The Poles tried to retake it, but their attacks failed. Later on, the Brigade retreated again, to the area of
Przasnysz. This manoeuver opened right wing of the neighboring
Polish 20th Infantry Division and on September 3, the Germans broke the lines. The Brigade was attacked by
Armored Division "Kempf", under General
Werner Kempf, as well as German 1st Cavalry Brigade under Colonel
Kurt Feldt. Soon afterwards the Poles, under pressure from the enemy, abandoned their positions.
On September 4, 1939, the Brigade withdrew towards
Pułtusk. On that day it was absorbed by the
Polish 5th Infantry Division under General
Juliusz Zulauf, and ordered to defend the line of the
Narew river.
On September 7, the Brigade was ordered to withdraw across the
Bug River, but for unknown reasons it changed order and moved to
Wyszków, positioning itself on the line from Wyszków to
Serock. Then it withdrew to
Kałuszyn and
Mińsk Mazowiecki, fighting the advancing German 11th I.D. of General
Max Bock. In mid-September it covered activities of the
1st Legions Infantry Division. During the several skirmishes, the Brigade suffered heavy losses. It capitulated on September 26, 1939.
The Masovian Cavalry Brigade ( Polish: Mazowiecka Brygada Kawalerii) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period, which took part in the Polish September Campaign. It was created on April 1, 1937, out of former 1st Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were in Warsaw, with other units stationed in towns around the capital:
The Brigade, under Colonel
Jan Karcz, was part of the
Modlin Army. On September 1, 1939, it defended positions around
Mława, on the right wing of Polish lines.
[1]: 43 Facing the Poles was German 12th I.D, under Colonel
Ludwig von Leyen. Facing encirclement, the Brigade had to withdraw to the second line of defence, on the night of September 1/2.
In the morning of September 2, the
Wehrmacht began a frontal attack and after several hours of heavy fights the Germans captured important Hill 190,5. The Poles tried to retake it, but their attacks failed. Later on, the Brigade retreated again, to the area of
Przasnysz. This manoeuver opened right wing of the neighboring
Polish 20th Infantry Division and on September 3, the Germans broke the lines. The Brigade was attacked by
Armored Division "Kempf", under General
Werner Kempf, as well as German 1st Cavalry Brigade under Colonel
Kurt Feldt. Soon afterwards the Poles, under pressure from the enemy, abandoned their positions.
On September 4, 1939, the Brigade withdrew towards
Pułtusk. On that day it was absorbed by the
Polish 5th Infantry Division under General
Juliusz Zulauf, and ordered to defend the line of the
Narew river.
On September 7, the Brigade was ordered to withdraw across the
Bug River, but for unknown reasons it changed order and moved to
Wyszków, positioning itself on the line from Wyszków to
Serock. Then it withdrew to
Kałuszyn and
Mińsk Mazowiecki, fighting the advancing German 11th I.D. of General
Max Bock. In mid-September it covered activities of the
1st Legions Infantry Division. During the several skirmishes, the Brigade suffered heavy losses. It capitulated on September 26, 1939.