7th Regiment of Lublin Uhlans
7th Regiment of Lublin Uhlans of General Kazimierz Sosnkowski (Polish language: 7 Pulk Ulanow Lubelskich im. gen. Kazimierza Sosnkowskiego, 7 p.ul.) was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic and in the Polish Armed Forces in the West. Until 1939, it was garrisoned in Minsk Mazowiecki. The day of the regiment was on March 23, the anniversary of the decoration of its flag with the Virtuti Militari.
The regiment was named after General Kazimierz Sosnkowski, who accepted the name on March 4, 1920. For 17 years it was unofficial, until November 21, 1937, when Ministry of Military Affairs officially accepted the full name: 7th Regiment of Lublin Uhlans of General Kazimierz Sosnkowski.
History
The regiment was formed in October 1918 in Lublin and Chelm, by a group of officers of Polish Legions 1st Uhlan Regiment, commanded by Wladyslaw Belina-Prazmowski (see Polish Legions in World War I). The officers decided to form three cavalry regiments in former Austrian part of Congress Poland.
The headquarters of the Lublin regiment was located in the barracks of Austrian uhlans in Lublin, its 1st and 2nd squadrons were located in Zamosc, while 3rd squadron together with a machine gun squadron were garrisoned in Krasnik.
On November 23, 1918, the regiment concentrated in Krasnik, to be sent by rail to the Ukrainian front in eastern part of former Austrian Galicia. It fought the enemy in several locations, and on December 30, was renamed into 7th Lublin Uhlan Regiment.
On February 26, 1919, the regiment was transported northwards, to the area of Slonim and Lida, where it fought against the Red Army. In July 1919 it captured the rail junction of Molodeczno, to advance eastwards, and finally reach the line of the Berezina river. On November 23 the regiment was sent to the rear to rest and recuperate. It returned to the front on January 25, 1920, and patrolled the rail line from Riga to Daugavpils. In April it was incorporated into the 1st Cavalry Brigade, and on June 28 was resent southwards, this time to Volhynia. On July 4, 1920 near Rowne, the 1st Cavalry Brigade fought a prolonged battle against 1st Cavalry Army (Soviet Union) of Semyon Budyonny. In mid-August 1920 the regiment was sent to the area of Rejowiec, where it joined 4th Cavalry Brigade, with which it fought in the Battle of Cycow.
On August 31, Lublin Uhlans entered Suwalki, repelling Lithuanian attacks. On September 22 it destroyed Lithuanian units near Marycha, and on October 3, it destroyed elements of Red Army’s 27th Rifle Division.
Second Polish Republic
The regiment remained on the Polish-Soviet demarcation line until February 12, 1921. On that day it marched to the railhead of Molodeczno, to be transported back to Krasnik. In March some of its soldiers were sent home, in April the regiment was moved to Przasnysz, and in June, Polish military authorities decided that the regiment would be permanently garrisoned in Minsk Mazowiecki - the uhlans arrived there on June 21. In the winter of 1922 - 23, elements of the regiment were sent to Eastern Galicia, to prevent the acts of sabotage, carried out there by Ukrainian nationalists.
World War Two
The mobilization of the regiment was announced on August 24, 1939, at 1 a.m. By 4 p.m. on August 25, the all squadrons were ready. On the next day, regimental commandant, Colonel Leonard Lodzia-Michalski was transferred to the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade (Poland). Under new commandant, Colonel Marian Skrzynecki, the regiment marched northwards, to the border with East Prussia. It took its defensive positions on August 30, and the soldiers began digging trenches, protected by barbed wire.
During the 1939 Invasion of Poland, Lublin Uhlans were part of Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade, Army Modlin. On September 1–3, it fought in exposed defensive position near Chorzele, to be withdrawn to Przasnysz. On September 5–7, it defended the line of the Narew river. After crossing the Bug river, it fought in the area of Lublin, suffering heavy losses in the battle of Suchowola (September 23–24).
In the final days of September 1939, elements of the regiment kept fighting both the Wehrmacht and the Red Army, trying to reach either the border with Hungary, or the garrison of besieged Warsaw. During one of the clashes against the Soviets, its commandant, Colonel Marian Skrzynecki, was mortally wounded. Last soldiers of the regiment continued fighting until October 9, when they capitulated near Minsk Mazowiecki.
7th Regiment of Lublin Uhlans was recreated by the Home Army. Its units fought in Operation Tempest and Warsaw Uprising. Also, an armoured vehicle regiment of the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division was named the Lublin Uhlans.
Commandants of the Lublin Uhlans
- Major Janusz Gluchowski (XI 1918 – VII 1920),
- Colonel Zygmunt Piasecki (VII 1920 – III 1929),
- Colonel Jan Tyczynski (III 1929 – X 1930),
- Colonel Julian Filipowicz (X 1930 – VI 1935),
- Colonel Leonard Lodzia-Michalski (4 VII 1935[5] – VIII 1939),
- Colonel Marian Skrzynecki (VIII – IX 1939).
Symbols
The flag of the regiment, funded by the residents of the Land of Lublin, was handed to it by General Sosnkowski in Krasnik, on March 22, 1921. On the next day, in appreciation of the bravery of the soldiers, the flag was decorated by Jozef Pilsudski with Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari. On August 26, 1939, the flag was taken with the regiment to the frontline. It returned to Minsk Mazowiecki on September 6. Saved by two soldiers, the flag was buried in the ground in the village of Nowodworze, where it remained until November 1959. It now is kept at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw.
The badge was accepted by the military authorities on March 18, 1929. It was designed by Zygmunt Piasecki, and manufactured by Jozef Kweksilber and Wiktor Gontarczyk from Warsaw.
The regiment had its own zurawiejka.
Sources
- Janusz Odziemkowski: 7 Pułk Ułanów Lubelskich im. gen. Kazimierza Sosnkowskiego. Warszawa: Mikromax, 1989. ISBN 83-00-03216-9.