18th Infantry Division (Poland)

18th Infantry Division pl 18 Dywizja Piechoty 18 DZ odznk pam (2019).png 18th Mechanized Division Commandofficial unit insignia 1920-19392018-Present Poland Polish Land Forces Infantry Division Armed Forces General Command World War II 120px|center Historical 18th Infantry Division official unit badge(1920-1939) 110px|center Current 18th Mechanized Div. shoulder sleeve insignia (everyday uniform) 110px|center Current 18th Mechanized Div. shoulder sleeve insignia (field uniform) 170px|center Current 18th Mechanized Div. beret flash The 18th Infantry Division (pl 18. Dywizja Piechoty) is 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 Łomża and commanded in 1939 by Colonel Stefan Kossecki, it was part of the Narew Independent Operational Group. The division was re-established in its modern form in September 2018 and renamed to the 18th Mechanized Division (18. Dywizja Zmechanizowana) 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.Nowa dywizja Wojska Polskiego https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/nowa-dywizja MON 2019-03-14 History 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.https://books.google.com/books?id=XX5KcTNWbooC&q=Zambr%C3%B3w+1939&pg=PA474 Boje Polskie 1939-1945. Przewodnik Encyklopedyczny Bellona 474–476 pl 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).Tomasz Sudoł, ZBRODNIE WEHRMACHTU NA JEŃCACH POLSKICH WE WRZEŚNIU 1939 ROKU, Biuro Edukacji Publicznej IPN 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.https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/minister-blaszczak-podjal-decyzje-o-utworzeniu-nowej-dywizji- Minister Błaszczak podjął decyzję o utworzeniu nowej dywizji Ministry of National Defence 8 December 2019 pl Minister Blaszczak decided to create a new division . Organization 2024 18th Mechanized Division (Poland) March 2021 Operational Structure of the Polish Land Forces thumb|right|420px|18th Mechanized Division organisation 2023 (click image to enlarge) Poland 420 right 18th Mechanized Division units 2020 1 Poland 18 Mech. Div. right white Green pog.svg 10 52 9 N 22 16 E Poland 1 Armored left white Orange pog.svg 8 52 15 N 21 02 E Poland 18 Motorized left white Green pog.svg 8 51 11 N 22 03 E Poland 19 Mechanized right white Green pog.svg 8 51 14 N 22 34 E Poland 21 Podhale right white Green 008000 pog.svg 8 50 2 N 22 0 E Poland 18 Artillery left white Yellow pog.svg 8 50 25 N 21 46 E Poland 18 Air-Def. right white Cyan pog.svg 6 50 45 N 23 14 E Poland 18 Sapper right white Black pog.svg 6 50 31 N 22 08 E Poland 18 Logistic right white Purple pog.svg 6 53 11 N 22 05 E The 18th Mechanized Division (nicknamed The Iron Division) is headquartered in Siedlce and is organised as follows:Minister Blaszczak decided to create a new division http://www.wp.mil.pl/aktualnosci/artykul/najnowsze/minister-blaszczak-podjal-decyzje-o-utworzeniu-nowej-dywizji-y2018-09-09/ Polish Ministry of Defense 16 September 2018 18th Mechanized Division, in Siedlce 18th Command Battalion, in Siedlce 1st "Warsaw" Armored Brigade "Tadeusz Kościuszko", in Wesoła 18th Motorized Brigade, in Poniatowa (activated on 3 October 2023)18. Brygada Zmotoryzowana z siedzibą w Poniatowej https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/18-brygada-zmotoryzowana-z-siedziba-w-poniatowej--rozpoczyna-sie-formowanie-czwartej-brygady-18-dywizji-zmechanizowanej Polish Government 7 March 2024 19th "Lublin" Mechanized Brigade "Franciszek Kleeberg", in Lublin 21st "Podhale Rifles" Brigade "Brig. Gen. Mieczysław Boruta-Spiechowicz", in Rzeszów 18th Artillery Brigade "Col. Witold Sztark" in Nowa Dęba (being formed) 18th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, in SitaniecObrońcy nieba z Sitańca https://polska-zbrojna.pl/Mobile/ArticleShow/37660 Polska Zbrojna 9 February 2023 18th Sapper Regiment, in Nisko (former 16th Sapper Battalion, reorganization underway)Żelazna Dywizja rośnie w siłę! https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/dgrsz/articles/aktualnosci-w/zelazna-dywizja-rosnie-w-sile/ Polish Armed Forces 7 March 2024 18th Logistic Regiment, in Łomża See also Polish army order of battle in 1939 Polish contribution to World War II List of Polish divisions in World War II References Category:Infantry divisions of Poland Category:Military units and formations established in 1919 Category:Infantry divisions of Poland in World War II Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1939