15th Greater Poland Light Artillery Regiment

Polish unit of light artillery 15th Greater Poland Light Artillery Regiment 15 Wielkopolski Pułk Artylerii Lekkiej Odznaka 15 pap replika.jpg Badge of the 15th Artillery Regiment 1920–1939 Poland 15th Infantry DivisionSatora 1990 288 artillery Bydgoszcz Garrison pl Garnizon BydgoszczSawicki Wielechowski 2007 249 August 17Galster Karol Lucjan Księga Pamiątkowa Artylerii Polskiej 1914 – 1939 1975 43 pl Commemorative Book of Polish Artillery 1914–1939 Colonel Anatol Kędzierski pl Anatol Kędzierski First commander Lieutenant Colonel Jerzy Leonhard Last commander link=https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marsze_i_boje_15_pap.png|thumb|240x240px|Marches and battles of the 15th Artillery Regiment15th Greater Poland Light Artillery Regiment was a unit of light artillery in the Greater Poland Army pl Armia Wielkopolska and the Polish Armed Forces during the Second Polish Republic. Formation and battles The first subunits of the future regiment were formed on 30 December 1918 at the White Barracks on Magazynowa Street in Poznań. From there, they departed to the front, where they were organized into batteries and squadrons.Odziemkowski Janusz Piechota polska w wojnie z Rosją bolszewicką 1919–1920 2010 Wydawn. Uniwersytetu Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego 978-83-7072-650-8 Warsaw 386 pl Polish Infantry in the War with Bolshevik Russia 1919–1920 On 19 January 1919, the Polish Armed Forces Command in the former Prussian partition ordered Lieutenant Colonel Anatol Kędzierski to begin organizing the 1st Greater Poland Light Artillery Regiment. On 6 March 1919, these artillery subunits formed the regiment. On 21 September 1919, the unit was renamed to the 1st Greater Poland Field Artillery Regiment. During the conquest of Pomerania, the regiment was renamed the 15th Greater Poland Field Artillery Regiment. In September 1920, the regiment was equipped with German 77 mm field guns and 105 mm howitzers. Personnel composition between 1919 and 1920Panufnik 1929 5–6, 11, 15, 18, 22–23Commander of 1st squadronMajor Rudolf Niemira pl Rudolf Niemira (until 8 October 1919)Lieutenant Jerzy Cegielski pl Jerzy Cegielski (from 8 October 1919)Commander of 1st batterySecond Lieutenant Kazimierz Nieżychowski pl Kazimierz Nieżychowski Commander of 2nd batteryCaptain Stanisław Adam KamińskiLieutenant Józef Muślewski pl Józef Muślewski Commander of 3rd batterySecond Lieutenant Marian BrelińskiCommander of 2nd squadronMajor BrzeskiMajor DębskiCommander of 4th batteryLieutenant Michał ChłapowskiSecond Lieutenant Stefan Tadeusz WypijewskiCommander of platoon (called "Kujawianka")Gunner/Second Lieutenant Stefan Tadeusz WypijewskiCommander of 5th batteryLieutenant Suzin (1919)Lieutenant Jan Heine pl Jan Heine (1920)Machine gun crewCorporal Biskup (Cross of Valour)Battery officerSecond Lieutenant Józef Lorek †26 July 1920, Ostrówhttp://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/doccontent?id=56413 Lista strat Wojska Polskiego. Polegli i zmarli w wojnach 1918–1920 Wojskowe Biuro Historyczne 1934 Warsaw 491 pl List of Losses of the Polish Army: Fallen and Deceased in the Wars of 1918–1920Commander of 6th batterySecond Lieutenant JasińskiCommander of 3rd squadronLieutenant Colonel WięckowskiCommander of 7th batterySecond Lieutenant/Lieutenant Jerzy Cegielski pl Jerzy Cegielski (until 8 October 1919)Commander of 7th batteryCaptain Leon BogusławskiBattery officerLieutenant Ludwik NiewodniczańskiCommander of 8th batteryLieutenant RaszewskiCadet Żółtowski (Cross of Valour)Commander of 9th batterySecond Lieutenant Marian KaźmierczakBattery officerSecond Lieutenant Marian Bieniak (Cross of Valour)Sergeant Rozmiarek (Cross of Valour)Sergeant Dirska (Cross of Valour)Corporal Spychaj (Cross of Valour)Machine gun aimerBombardier Bachorski (Cross of Valour)Conductor of the orchestraMilitary official Mackiewicz Recipients of the Virtuti Militari Soldiers of the regiment awarded the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari War OrderPanufnik 1929 29–30Dziennik Personalny 1937 995–996Bombardier Marian BergerCaptain Leon BogusławskiSecond Lieutenant Marian BrelińskiCorporal Antoni Bródka pl Antoni Bródka Major Jerzy Cegielski pl Jerzy Cegielski (No. 1434)Second Lieutenant Michał DrozdowiczSergeant Franciszek Duszyński (No. 4668)Captain Władysław DzieżgowskiLieutenant Jan Heine pl Jan Heine Lieutenant Marian Kaźmierczak (No. 4328)Second Lieutenant Adolf KarłowskiSecond Lieutenant Józef LorekBombardier Stanisław MichalakLieutenant Józef Muślewski pl Józef Muślewski (No. 939)Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Niemira pl Rudolf Niemira Lieutenant Ludwik NiewodniczańskiLieutenant Kazimierz Nieżychowski pl Kazimierz Nieżychowski Captain Wiktor RossaPlatoon Leader Ignacy Rychłowski pl Ignacy Rychłowski (żołnierz) Corporal Antoni SawińskiBombardier Jan SpychajBombardier Ludwik WośCorporal Tadeusz ŻakCaptain Michał Zenkteler pl Michał Zenkteler Regiment in peacetime link=https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Polish_light_artillery_PIC_1-U-461-3.jpg|thumb|240x240px|French 75 mm field gun – parade in Bydgoszcz On 2 December 1920, the regiment arrived in the Bydgoszcz Garrison pl Garnizon Bydgoszcz, where it remained stationed until 1939.Panufnik 1929 27 On 31 December 1931, based on the order of the Minister of Military Affairs, Marshal Józef Piłsudski, the 15th Artillery Regiment was renamed to the 15th Light Artillery Regiment. On Sunday, 26 August 1938, two ceremonies were held in Bydgoszcz. In the Old Market Square, the ceremony for the welcome of the 15th Artillery Regiment and the 11th Light Artillery Regiment (Second Polish Republic) 11th Light Artillery Regiment's pl 11 Dywizjon Artylerii Konnej (II RP) standards took place. The ceremony began at 9:30 AM with the performance of a generals' march to welcome Brigadier General Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki.Zaprzysiężenie pułków pomorskich 28 June 1938 Kurier Bydgoski Bydgoszcz pl Oath of Enlistment of the Pomeranian Regiments Then, a field mass was held in the courtyard of the Bartosz Głowacki Barracks. After the mass, the commanders of both units swore their soldiers on the standards. Later, Colonel Wojciech Stachowicz performed the act of awarding the regiment's commemorative badge to the city of Bydgoszcz. The badge was received by Mayor Leon Barciszewski pl Leon Barciszewski, who then presented the regiment with the city's coat of arms. After the decoration, a young Poleshuk, Tomasz Hryciuk, who had arrived at the regiment's invitation with Maria Hryciuk from Zamroczyn, in the Stolin district, gave a heartfelt thank-you speech to the soldiers and officers for their care. The regiment had supported the school in that village. The ceremony concluded with a parade. Personal composition and organizational structure in March 1939Rybka Stepan 2006 6, 733Regiment commanderColonel Wojciech StachowiczFirst deputy commanderLieutenant Colonel Jerzy Jan LeonhardAdjutantCaptain Bogdan Roman SzczerkowskiMedical doctorSecond Lieutenant Bolesław JanuszewskiVeterinary doctorSecond Lieutenant Romuald HayderReconnaissance officerCaptain Wacław KosmowskiSecond deputy commander (quartermaster)Major Leon August Jan RzepeckiMobilization officerCaptain Stefan DumałoDeputy mobilization officerCaptain Zdzisław Michał DmowskiAdministrative and material officerCaptain Stanisław SidorenkoEconomic officerSecond Lieutenant Michał PrackiFood officerSergeant Ignacy FrąckowiakPlatoon commander (communications)Captain Czesław BerezowskiPlatoon officerSecond Lieutenant Józef SiwekNon-commissioned officer school commanderSecond Lieutenant Zygmunt ZublewiczPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Mieczysław SilkowskiPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Stefan LuśniakPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Jerzy Kazimierz MakowskiFirst squadron commanderMajor Wiktor WątorskiFirst battery commanderCaptain Jerzy BugajskiPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Ksawery DokurnoSecond battery commanderCaptain Stefan Józef DębskiPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Jan Władysław KrajewskiSecond squadron commanderMajor Zygmunt WituńskiFifth battery commanderCaptain Stefan Marian ŚwierczyńskiPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Kazimierz Marian Adam ZimnalSixth battery commanderActing Second Lieutenant Apoloniusz Zawilski pl Apoloniusz ZawilskiPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Wiesław Adam AnnusewiczThird squadron commanderMajor Walery KrzyżyńskiSeventh battery commanderCaptain Andrzej SzwejkowskiEighth battery commanderCaptain Stanisław TaczanowskiPlatoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Aleksander KułakowskiAssignedSecond Lieutenant Stefan BancerIn trainingCaptain Aleksander Kostrowicki 15th Light Artillery Regiment in the September Campaign Mobilization The 15th Light Artillery Regiment, during the alarm mobilization in the blue group, mobilized its organic subunits on wartime staffing in Bydgoszcz on August 24 from 08:00 AM, within the time frame from A+24 to A+54, as a mobilizing unit.Rybka Ryszard https://www.worldcat.org/title/674626774 Najlepsza broń: plan mobilizacyjny "W" i jego ewolucja Stepan Kamil 2010 Adiutor 978-83-86100-83-5 Warsaw 279 pl The Best Weapon: The Mobilization Plan "W" and Its Evolution 674626774 Additionally, according to the Mobilization plan "W" mobilization plan "W" pl Plan mobilizacyjny „W”, it formed subunits for its parent division in the blue group from A+54 to A+60: Horse-drawn transport column No. 812 Horse-drawn transport workshop No. 809 Weapon park platoon No. 802 During the requisition of horses, wagons, harnesses, and transport equipment, sabotage was encountered in the areas of Nakło, Mrocza, and Prędocin, primarily from the German-descended population. In the 2nd Squadron, mobilization proceeded without major issues.Zarzycki 2000 17–20 However, there were shortages of uniforms for some reservists due to delays caused by overloads in the supply depots in Bydgoszcz. On August 25, the squadrons were dispersed from Bydgoszcz; the 2nd Squadron to Osielsko and Niemcz, the 1st Squadron to Osowa Góra and Czyżkówko. The regrouping of the entire regiment was completed by August 27. The 15th Artillery Regiment headquarters was located in Morzewiec, the 1st Squadron in Jachcice, the 2nd Squadron in the Janowo farm, Smukła Seminary, and the carbide factory, and the 3rd Squadron in Samociążek. Training and team integration of the horses was initiated. On the evening of August 27, the 3rd Squadron was moved to the Luchowo Forestry Lodge, where it arrived on the morning of August 28. By August 30, the 3rd Squadron command had recognized the area of Trzemiętowo as the future operational zone for the squadron. On August 30, an alarm was declared, and the regiment took up combat positions. The 3rd Battery of the 15th Artillery Regiment positioned near Witoldowo, the 2nd Battery near Wojnowo, and the 1st Battery near Osowa Góra. The 3rd Battery of the 16th Artillery Regiment secured an advanced position, providing support to a company outpost from the 61st Infantry Regiment in the village of Nowa Dąbrówka. Observation points were established: the main one in Kruszyn and the forward one in Nowa Dąbrówka. The 2nd Squadron advanced the 4th Battery to the Chmielów area. The 3rd Squadron advanced the 9th Battery to the Wierzchucice and Wierzchucinek area.Dymek 2013 118 Combat operations Defense of the Bydgoszcz bridgehead On September 1, the 15th Regiment carried out artillery fire on the border region where units of the German 50th Infantry Division had infiltrated, in the area of Wiktorówko, Badecz, Wysoka, Łobżenica, and Wyrzysk.Zarzycki 2000 21 The 2nd Squadron of the 15th Regiment fired on the German "Netze" Infantry Brigade near Nakło, halting their movement. On the morning of September 2, due to lingering fog, the regiment did not fire on German troops but was instead shelled by German artillery at the observation point of the 9/15 Squadron, resulting in some casualties.Zarzycki 2000 22 After the fog lifted, the 3rd Squadron of howitzers shelled two German batteries in the area of Teresin farm and Gliszcz village, forcing them to cease fire and possibly destroying two guns. The 8/15 Squadron shelled two advancing columns of German infantry observed from Trzemiętowo. Around 2:00 PM, the 9/15 Squadron came under inaccurate German artillery fire but managed to return fire with approximately 260 shells before retreating to the main defensive positions. In the evening, the observation post of the 3/15 Squadron was shelled, and at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, the 15th Regiment shelled German positions at hill 120. During the night of September 2–3, the 15th Regiment, excluding the 3rd Squadron, regrouped from Mochle and Morzewiec to positions west of Bydgoszcz to support the 61st and 62nd Infantry Regiments.Zarzycki 2000 23 The 3rd Squadron crossed the bridge at Smuka on the Brda river and provided support to the 59th Infantry Regiment on the northern section from Borówno Lake to Gądecz village. After some adjustments, the 3rd Squadron was reassigned to support the 62nd Infantry Regiment in the Szczutki area, near Łącznica Manor. The 2nd Squadron took up firing positions near Osowa Góra. On September 3, starting at 07:00 AM, the German 50th Infantry Division attacked the Bydgoszcz bridgehead three times in the Tryszczyn and Szutki area. The 3rd Squadron of the 15th Regiment effectively shelled German infantry in the Mochle and Wojnowo areas.Zarzycki 2000 24 On the Tryszczyn-Wojnowo road, concentrated fire from the 3rd and 1st Squadrons destroyed many German trucks transporting infantry and supplies. The 1st Squadron shelled the Nakło-Bydgoszcz road, while the 2nd Squadron fired towards Wtelno and Koronowo. In the morning, German artillery heavily shelled the infantry's defensive positions. The 8/15 Squadron destroyed a German observation post and vehicles carrying infantry. In the afternoon, the 2nd Squadron's positions were detected by a German reconnaissance aircraft and shelled by German artillery, while the observation post of the 1st Squadron and its ammunition column were bombed. The 1st Squadron lost several gunners and horses. The 3rd Squadron supported the defense of the 59th Infantry Regiment and the Bydgoszcz Home Defense Battalion pl Batalion ON „Bydgoszcz” on the northern sector, with the 7/15 Squadron contributing to the repulsion of German attempts to cross the Brda river. Starting in the afternoon, the 9/15 Squadron shelled German positions.Zarzycki 2000 25 At 09:00 AM, a diversionary attack in Bydgoszcz was launched. To suppress the rebellion, a 50-man unit was formed from the supply and transport departments of the 15th Regiment. During the night of September 3–4, the 15th Regiment began its retreat. The regiment's supply department, as well as all retreating batteries of the 3rd Squadron, lost several wounded soldiers and horses. The 9/15 Squadron suffered heavy losses and was forced to fight near the Bydgoszcz Canal bridge, actively engaging in countering the diversion. The 1st and 2nd Squadrons retreated through Lisi Ogon and Drzewice to Białe Błota. The 2nd Squadron was attacked by diversionary groups, and the 5th Battery suffered personnel losses and lost communication equipment, while the 6th Battery lost several wounded gunners and horses. The regrouping towards Toruń, initiated in the afternoon of September 3, was completed by the morning of September 4. At noon on September 4, the 2/15 Squadron shelled marching German infantry and transport columns on the road from Kruszyn to Pawłówka. Both the 2nd and 1st Squadrons later shelled a German motorized infantry unit advancing towards Bydgoszcz.Zarzycki 2000 26 In the afternoon, the 3rd Squadron came under shellfire from Fordon. On the evening of September 4, the regiment continued its retreat. The morning saw the squadrons take up positions: the 3/15 Squadron near Kabat village, the 1/15 Squadron south of Brzoza, and the 2/15 Squadron near Łęgnów and Otorowo. On September 6, the 2/15 Squadron effectively supported the defense of the 59th Infantry Regiment near Łęgnów against the German 50th Infantry Division's attack. Meanwhile, the regiment's signal troops engaged in skirmishes with diversionary groups cutting the telephone lines, resulting in several telephone operators from the 4th Battery being killed.Zarzycki 2000 27 Near Piecki and Emilianowo, the 3/15 Squadron supported the 62nd Infantry Regiment in its fight against the German 50th Infantry Division. In the Brzoza area, the 1/15 Squadron supported the defense of the 61st Infantry Regiment. The artillery barrage by the squadron on an intersection near the church in Brzoza destroyed German infantry columns and transport. In the evening, the 2/15 Squadron's fire on a German infantry unit preparing to attack a position held by the 3/61 Battalion led to its disbandment. At 4:00 PM, the 50th Infantry Division attacked through the forests, breaking into the defense of the 62nd Infantry Regiment in Emilianowo. The artillery batteries were unable to provide effective support due to the cutting of 300 meters of telephone cable by the diversionary groups. Retreat operations On the night of September 6/7, the 15th Artillery Regiment, alongside the infantry regiments, began its retreat to new positions: the regiment's command and the 1st Squadron moved to Wohorze, the 2nd Squadron to Murzynno, and the 3rd Squadron to Kijewo.Zarzycki 2000 28–29 In some villages inhabited by German civilians, skirmishes with diversionary forces occurred. In Broniewo village, the 4/15 Squadron shelled a German motorized infantry reconnaissance unit. On September 7/8, the 15th Infantry Division retreated to defensive positions along the line of the Tążyna river, the northern edge of Lake Gopło, and the Parchański and Bachorze canals. At 4:30 PM, the 3/15 Squadron effectively shelled a German motorized infantry reconnaissance unit attacking the 1st/59th Infantry Regiment. During the night of September 8/9, the 15th Regiment, together with the infantry regiments, continued its retreat along the following routes: the 2/15 Squadron with the 59th Infantry Regiment moved to the area of Kąkowa Wola and Miechowice, defending the direction towards Osięciny; the 3/15 Squadron, alongside the 62nd Infantry Regiment, took positions from Kąkowa Wola through Redecz Kalny to hill 100; and the 1/15 Squadron, with the 61st Infantry Regiment, reached the area from the Zgłowiączka river to Redecz Kalny. On this day, the regiment had no combat contact with German units. On the following night, the retreat continued, and by the morning of September 10, the 1/15 Squadron, with the 61st Infantry Regiment, took up defensive positions along the section from Chodecz to Borzymowice Manor. At the same time, a battery from the 3/15 Squadron, alongside the 1st Battalion of the 61st Infantry Regiment, was assigned to defend Izbica Kujawska. The 2/15 Squadron, with the 59th Infantry Regiment, organized defense along the section from Krukowo to Wilkowiczki. The 3/15 Squadron set up positions at Bogdanowo Manor. The 3/15 Squadron was withdrawn from Izbica to the Wola Adamowa area. The remainder of the 1/15 Squadron was in reserve at a position near Janowo Nowiny estate. The 3/15 Squadron was stationed at Bodzanowo estate, while the 9/15 Squadron was stationed at Franciszkowo estate near Lubraniec. Battle for Southern Kuyavia On September 11 in the afternoon, units of the German 50th Infantry Division conducted a reconnaissance by combat of the 59th Infantry Regiment's positions, which were repelled with the support of the II/15 artillery regiment.Zarzycki 2000 30 At 1:30 PM, the 62nd Infantry Regiment, supported by the III/15 artillery regiment but without the 9/15 artillery regiment, launched an assault on hill 99.0, Świerkowo, Nakonowo, and Gołaszewo. The III artillery regiment's howitzer fire was concentrated on hill 99.0, followed by a pursuit fire towards Nakonowo. The assault was successful; the 62nd Infantry Regiment reached the German flank and attacked a German heavy artillery regiment in march. Around 5:00 PM, on the II/61 Infantry Regiment's sector near the Szczytno manor, units of the German 208th Infantry Division, supported by heavy artillery, conducted reconnaissance by combat. The German actions were repelled by fire from the 2/15 artillery battery, and later by the entire I artillery regiment. On September 12 at noon, the German 208th Infantry Division launched an assault on the defensive positions of the 61st Infantry Regiment and the 86th Infantry Battalion, supported by the I/15 artillery regiment, but this was repelled. A renewed attack at 1:00 PM led to the capture of Szczytno, but a counterattack by the 61st Infantry Regiment pushed the German infantry back to their starting positions.Zarzycki 2000 31 At 3:00 PM, German infantry from the 208th Division, with strong artillery support, launched an attack towards the Niemojewo estate, which was repelled by the combined efforts of the infantry and the I/15 artillery regiment. Several cannoneers and one officer were wounded, and the German artillery destroyed one of the guns in the 1st battery. At 3:00 PM, the 208th Infantry Division also attacked the defense of the I/59 Infantry Regiment; the II/15 artillery regiment played a significant role in repelling this assault, though it lost four killed and sixteen wounded. Under the cover of the 86th Infantry Battalion and the supporting 5/15 artillery battery, the 15th Infantry Division withdrew in the evening and during the night to the next defensive line. The III/15 artillery regiment, along with the 59th Infantry Regiment, moved to the forest east of Łanięta.Zarzycki 2000 32 The I/15 artillery regiment, along with the 61st Infantry Regiment, moved to the Sujki manor, while the regiment's command relocated to the Strzałki manor. The II/15 artillery regiment, without the 5/15 battery, along with the 62nd Infantry Regiment, defended the line along the Lubieńka river to protect the 27th Infantry Division from the south. On the morning of September 13, the 5/15 artillery battery, along with the 86th Infantry Battalion, defended a crossing over the Lubieńka River in Kępa Szlachecka. The II/62 Infantry Regiment, with the II/15 artillery regiment, successfully defended the Czerniewice-Grabkowo sector against an assault by a unit from the German 50th Infantry Division. The II/15 artillery regiment conducted a night march to the village of Lubieniek, southeast of Gostynin. In their new positions, the 15th Artillery Regiment received its final resupply of ammunition and supplies. Participation in the battle of the Bzura On September 14, the 15th Artillery Regiment, together with its parent division, began repositioning towards Gąbin. At 4:00 PM on that day, the 59th Infantry Regiment, supported by the II/15 artillery regiment and the 15th Field Artillery Battalion, launched an assault on Dobrzyków, held by units of the German 3rd Infantry Division.Zarzycki 2000 33 After initial successes, the 59th Infantry Regiment was pushed back to its starting positions. The lack of central artillery control, its fragmentation due to insufficient communication means, led to ineffective artillery use. The III/15 artillery regiment reached the Zofiówka area and, after taking up firing positions, began targeting Dobrzyków. During the night march from September 15 to 16, the 15th Artillery Regiment repositioned to Budy Stare and Biała Góra. The 3/15 artillery regiment, positioned on the western bank of the Bzura river near Brochów, provided fire against German units on the opposite bank.Zarzycki 2000 34–35 The battery suffered casualties from German artillery fire, with 2 cannoneers wounded, several horses lost, and a communications cart damaged. The remainder of the 15th Artillery Regiment (without the 3rd, 5th, and 7th batteries) took up positions on the edge of the forest north of Biała Góra, where it continued to fire at German positions, all while being under German artillery fire. On September 17, after a night march, the 15th Artillery Regiment attempted a crossing near the Witkowice estate. While crossing the ford, the 2/15 and 9/15 batteries came under heavy fire from German artillery. On the right bank of the Bzura river, the 4/15 battery was bombed by 9 German planes, suffering several wounded soldiers and 2 damaged guns. During this attack, the battery split into two parts. One part marched with the infantry towards the Kampinos Forest, while the other remained encircled. The 6/15 artillery regiment also suffered losses from a bombing raid, losing soldiers and horses. The 9/15 artillery regiment also sustained losses in its wagons from German artillery fire. The 15th Artillery Regiment continued its march towards the village of Famułki Królewskie. The I/15 artillery regiment, near Brochów, deployed its 1st and 3rd batteries to firing positions.Zarzycki 2000 36 At 10:00 AM, an assault by infantry and tanks from the German 4th Panzer Division, supported by aircraft and artillery, targeted the infantry positions. The infantry began to retreat, and the 3/15 artillery regiment lost one gun while covering the infantry. By 3:30 PM, the regiment engaged attacking German tanks, knocking out two. However, the battery was attacked by Ju-87 bombers, losing all its guns and sustaining heavy casualties in killed, wounded, and captured soldiers. Only a small portion of the battery's soldiers managed to retreat. The 1/15 artillery regiment neutralized several German tanks and, under German fire, withdrew, saving its guns and some of the crews. First Lieutenant Zygmunt Zyblewicz was killed in action. In total, over 40 soldiers from the I artillery regiment were killed, while the remaining survivors marched towards the Kampinos Forest. Fighting in the Kampinos Forest On the night of September 17/18, the 15th Artillery Regiment gathered in the Famułki Królewskie–Myszory area. In the morning, the march along the narrow-gauge railway tracks from Tułowice to Rybitew began.Zarzycki 2000 36–38 The 15th Infantry Division column was in constant combat with German patrols, outposts, and armored motorized units. The marching column was split, with the command of the I/15 artillery regiment, the 1/15 artillery regiment, and the remnants of the 3/15 artillery regiment detaching. The fate of this part of the I artillery regiment remains unknown, but Major Wiktor Wątorski was killed on September 18 in Wólka Czosnowiecka. In the Polesie area, the 8/15 artillery battery came under fire from German artillery, suffering casualties and losing many horses. The crews were then used in foot combat in the ensuing chaos. Eventually, with improvised crews, the battery continued to fire at German positions. Due to shortages and the exhaustion of the remaining horses, the battery was forced to abandon its howitzers. A section of the 4th battery, with two guns, joined the 5th battery, also with two guns. Together, they initially marched towards Modlin. During the march, the 5th battery's gun crew was struck by a German shell, killing or severely wounding the entire crew, killing the horses in the harness, and destroying the gun. In the evening, the 15th Artillery Regiment regrouped near Cybulice with the remnants of five batteries and 10 guns. On September 19, near Palmiry, the 15th Artillery Regiment's command, along with the remnants of the 4th and 5th batteries, and loose gun sections from other batteries, totaling six guns, remained. Lieutenant Colonel Jerzy Leonhard formed two batteries from these units, which defended Palmiry until September 21. During the breakout towards Warsaw on the night of September 21/22, they fired directly to clear the way for their infantry. Several armored vehicles and cars were destroyed. On September 22, Lieutenant Colonel Leonhard formally disbanded the 15th Artillery Regiment, ordered the remaining guns to be dismantled, and directed the soldiers to break through to Warsaw in groups. On the morning of 20 September, the remnants of the 15th Infantry Division, supported by the 2nd and 6th batteries, attempted to break through Laski towards Warsaw. They encountered resistance from German units of the 1st Panzer Division and elements of the 228th Infantry Division. Both batteries fired indirect fire, then directly at German positions and armored units. During the fighting, the commander of the ammunition column from the I/15 artillery regiment, Captain Kazimierz Rossa, was killed. Due to strong German resistance in that direction, they broke through towards Młociny. Captain Aleksander Kostrowiecki was also killed. The 9th battery, following a different route, successfully broke through to Warsaw. Defending Warsaw From September 19 to 25, soldiers of the 15th Artillery Regiment fought their way to Warsaw.Zarzycki 2000 39–42 The regiment reached the capital with the following officers: Colonel Wojciech Stachowicz, commander of the 15th Infantry Division's Artillery; Major Stanisław Eysmont, commander of the II/15 artillery regiment; and the battery commanders: Captain Stefan Dębski (2nd Battery), Captain Czesław Berezowski (3rd Battery), Captain Zdzisław Dmowski (6th Battery), and Captain Stanisław Sidorenko (9th Battery). A total of 33 officers and 681 non-commissioned officers and gunners from the 15th Artillery Regiment, along with 271 horses, 2 light machine guns, 2 howitzers, and 2 cannons, reached the city. They also brought part of the ammunition column from the III/15 artillery regiment. The howitzers and cannons were assigned as supporting weapons to the infantry. A composite infantry battery of 250 artillerymen in 3 platoons was formed, under the command of Captain Dmowski. It was attached to the 61st Infantry Regiment, which took positions along Belwederska, Puławska, Belgijska, and Czerniakowska streets. The artillerymen with the horses became part of the rebuilt mounted reconnaissance platoons. Despite the departure of the reconnaissance platoons and Captain Dmowski's battery, additional artillerymen and guns arrived. An improvised division of the 15th Artillery Regiment was formed, with 34 officers, 552 gunners, 236 horses, and 5 guns. Major Eysmont became the division commander, with Captain Świerczyński, Captain Sidorenko, and Lieutenant Florentyn Orzeszko as battery commanders. Two more gun sections arrived. On September 26, the division, with 7 guns, took positions at the edge of the sports field on Agrykola Street. On September 27, three gun sections supported the 61st Infantry Regiment's attack on Wawrzyszew, including Captain Berezowski's dismounted battery. Around 20 gunners were killed during the battle. On September 28, the division moved to Łazienki, where it surrendered its weapons the following day. March battery of the 1st Regiment of Artillery As part of the first wave of general mobilization, a march battery of the 1st Regiment of Artillery was formed by 3 September 1939 at Fort Kniaziewicza, and from September 1 in the barracks of Toruń-Podgórze in the 31st Light Artillery Regiment. Initially, it was commanded by Second Lieutenant Kazimierz Koszarek (reserve), and from August 31 by First Lieutenant Marian Bolesław Mazur (reserve).Zarzycki 2000 38–39 The battery was equipped with small arms (except for full completion with pistols), horses, and other equipment, but lacked guns. Along with the march battery of the 1st Regiment of Artillery, the battery was subordinated to the commander of the Detached Unit "Toruń", Colonel Aleksander Myszowski. From September 4 to 6, the march batteries of the 15th and 16th Artillery Regiments in Toruń performed engineering and fortification work and carried out patrol duties. Part of the unit crossed the bridge before its demolition on the morning of September 7, while others crossed using temporary crossings after the bridges were blown up. The batteries then crossed with the attached ammunition column of the destroyed 27th Artillery Regiment from Tuchola Forest. The two batteries marched on foot through Służewo, Radziejów, Brześć Kujawski to Włocławek, where they arrived on September 9. Before reaching Brześć Kujawski, they fought off a sabotage group, defeating them. They then marched through Kowal, Gostynin, and Gąbin to Sochaczew, where on September 11, they dismantled a sabotage radio station. On September 12, the artillerymen of both march batteries participated in protecting the left flank of the assault on Sochaczew. In the evening, the batteries marched through the Kampinos Forest to Modlin, arriving there on September 14. After a rest in Modlin, they continued via Jabłonna and reached Warsaw on September 15. As part of Lieutenant Mazur's unit, the march batteries became part of the 1st Infantry Artillery Battalion, under Captain Ehrlich, starting on September 20. Two combat batteries were formed from the 15th and 16th Artillery Regiment march batteries. From September 25, the infantry artillery battalion was deployed as infantry to fight in Mokotów. Several soldiers were killed due to artillery shelling and airstrikes. The batteries did not directly engage in combat before the capital's surrender, due to the low enemy activity in this sector. 15th Artillery Regiment's Surplus Collection Unit After the conclusion of the alarm mobilization, the Surplus Collection Unit of the 15th Artillery Regiment was organized under the command of Major Zygmunt Wituński.Zarzycki 2000 48 Additional soldiers arrived to the unit after the announcement of the general mobilization. A total of 450 soldiers were gathered in the 15th Artillery Regiment's barracks. About 250 of them, along with the officers and non-commissioned officers of the regiment, were loaded onto a train and sent to Skierniewice on September 2, where they were assigned to the newly established 8th Light Artillery Reserve Center. The further fate of the surplus 15th Artillery Regiment is unknown. It is only known that part of the unit retreated to the eastern regions of Poland, as some officers from the Surplus Collection Unit are listed among those executed at Katyń.Dymek 2013 156–157 Organizational structure and personnel in September 1939Zarzycki 2000 45–47CommandRegiment commanderLieutenant Colonel Jerzy LeonhardAdjutantCaptain Stanisław TaczanowskiReconnaissance officerLieutenant Ksawery DokurnoCommunications officerLieutenant Mieczysław Silkowski (until 2 September 1939) Second Lieutenant Józef SiwekLiaison officerLieutenant (reserve) Wacław SuligowskiObservation officerLieutenant (reserve) KuleszaWeapons officerSecond Lieutenant Józef Siwek (until 2 September 1939) Lieutenant (reserve) Antoni LauferskiTopographic and fire platoon commanderSecond Lieutenant Stefan LuśniakHead of the officeSenior Sergeant Jan JankowiakFirst battalionBattalion commanderMajor Wiktor WątorskiAdjutantLieutenant (reserve) Jan Karwicki (until 2 September 1939) Lieutenant Mieczysław SilkowskiReconnaissance officerLieutenant (reserve) Tadeusz KrzyżanowskiObservation officerSecond Lieutenant Stefan BancerLiaison officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Zbigniew ŚmieleckiCommunications officerLieutenant (reserve) Władysław SassAmmunition column commanderCaptain (reserve) Kazimierz Rossa1st battery commanderLieutenant Zygmunt ZublewiczReconnaissance officerLieutenant (reserve) Zygmunt PawlickiFire officerSecond Lieutenant Jerzy Makowski2nd battery commanderCaptain Stefan DębskiReconnaissance officerSecond Lieutenant Pantaleon SchultzFire officerSecond Lieutenant Jan Krajewski3rd battery commanderCaptain Czesław BerezowskiReconnaissance officerLieutenant (reserve) Bolesław SzłykFire officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Tadeusz ZielińskiSecond battalionBattalion commanderMajor Stanisław EjsymontAdjutantSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Czeslaw JankowskiReconnaissance officerLieutenant Konstanty GrzywnaObservation officerLieutenant Aleksander KułakowskiLiaison officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Teodor KoślickiAmmunition column commanderLieutenant (reserve) Erwin Stachowiak4th battery commanderCaptain Stefan ŚwierczyńskiReconnaissance officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Czesław MillnerFire officerSenior Cadet Eugeniusz Janota5th battery commanderCaptain Aleksander KostrowickiReconnaissance officerLieutenant Zbigniew KoraszewskiFire officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Zygmunt Plutecki6th battery commanderCaptain Zdzisław DmowskiReconnaissance officerUnknownFire officerSecond Lieutenant Kazimierz ZimnalThird battalionBattalion commanderMajor Mieczysław ParaAdjutantLieutenant (reserve) Kazimierz StojewskiReconnaissance officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Stanisław ProsińskiObservation officerLieutenant (reserve) Julian KabacińskiLiaison officerSergeant Ignacy FrąckowiakCommunications officerSecond Lieutenant Józef KubickiAmmunition column commanderLieutenant (reserve) Bernard Schrötter7th battery commanderCaptain Andrzej SzwejkowskiReconnaissance officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Jan KaczmarekFire officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Józef Dworzak8th battery commanderLieutenant Apoloniusz ZawilskiReconnaissance officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Stefan SzuchiewiczFire officerLieutenant (reserve) Jerzy Łukasiewicz8th battery commanderCaptain Stanisław SidorenkoReconnaissance officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Zygmunt StawińskiFire officerSecond Lieutenant (reserve) Henryk Sikorski (until 9 September 1939) Second Lieutenant (reserve) Henryk KabacińskiZarzycki 2000 29 Regimental symbols Standard On 19 June 1938, in Toruń, Marshal of Poland, Edward Rydz-Śmigły presented the unit with a standard funded by the people of Bydgoszcz.Satora 1990 288–290 The awarding of the standard and approval of its design were included in the Secret Addendum No. 6 to the Ministry of Military Affairs Orders Journal, dated 17 February 1938, No. 3, item 26. The standard was made according to the design specified in the Decree of the President of the Republic of Poland dated 24 November 1937 on military and naval insignia, published in the Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No. 5 on 28 January 1938.Satora 1990 13–14 On the right side of the flag, there was a maroon cross, at the center of which was an embroidered eagle surrounded by a laurel wreath. On the white fields, between the arms of the cross, were the number 15, in smaller laurel wreaths. Commemorative badge On 28 May 1926, Major General Daniel Konarzewski pl Daniel Konarzewski, on behalf of the Minister of Military Affairs, approved the design and statute of the commemorative badge of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment. The badge, measuring 57x38 mm, is diamond-shaped, covered in dark green enamel against a backdrop of crossed artillery barrels of a silvery color.Sawicki Wielechowski 2007 250–251 In the center, on a decorative cartouche of patinated silver framed by laurel branches, the number and initials 15 PAP (15th Field Artillery Regiment) were inscribed. The badge was two-piece – for officers, made of silver or gilded tombac and enamelled. It was designed by Wiktor Gontarczyk from Warsaw. In 1939, the initials were changed from PAP to PAL. Soldiers of the regiment Regiment commanders Lieutenant Colonel Anatol Kędzierski pl Anatol Kędzierski (since 19 January 1919)Panufnik 1929 5 Major Władysław Sczaniecki pl Władysław Sczaniecki (since 5 March 1919)Panufnik 1929 6 Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel Rudolf Niemira pl Rudolf Niemira (since 8 October 1919) Acting Lieutenant Colonel Leon Zubrzycki (since 8 April 1927) Colonel Stefan Maleszewski pl Stefan Maleszewski (June 1927Dziennik Personalny 1937 147 – January 1931)Dziennik Personalny 1937 4 Colonel Brunon Romiszewski pl Brunon Romiszewski (January 1931 – December 1934 → Deputy Commander of the Wilno Army Reserve)Dziennik Personalny 1937 254 Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel Wojciech Stachowicz pl Wojciech Stachowicz (January 1935 – August 1939 → Commander of the Division Artillery of the 15th Infantry Division) Lieutenant Colonel Jerzy Jan Leonhard (24 August – September 1939 → German captivity) Deputy commanders of the regiment Lieutenant Colonel August Trzos (1923https://www.wbc.poznan.pl/publication/108145 Rocznik Oficerski 1923 Ministerstwo Spraw Wojskowych 1923 Warsaw 743 pl Officers' Yearbook 1923 – May 1925 → Commander of the 10th Artillery Battery)Dziennik Personalny 1937 294 Lieutenant Colonel Olgierd Ludwik Mierkowski (June 1925 – November 1926)Dziennik Personalny 1937 375 Lieutenant Colonel Leon Zubrzycki pl Leon Zubrzycki (1888–1940) (October 1926 – November 1927) Major/Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Karol Myrek (December 1927Dziennik Personalny 1937 365 – March 1929 → Chief of Artillery of the Wilno Army Reserve)Dziennik Personalny 1937 101 Major/Lieutenant Colonel Jan Kulczycki (Colonel) Jan Kulczycki pl Jan Kulczycki (pułkownik) (27 April 1929 – 3 November 1934 → Commander of the 26th Artillery Regiment)Dziennik Personalny 1937 263 Major/Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Mieczysław Mączyński (15 September 1935 – 1937)Dziennik Personalny 1937 99 Lieutenant Colonel Jerzy Jan Leonhard (until 24 August 1939 → Commander of the Regiment) Major Leon August Jan Rzepecki (Second Deputy Commander/Quartermaster – 1939) Victims of the Katyn massacre Biographies of the victims of the Katyn massacre are available in databases provided by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Katyń – miejsca pamięci Katyn – Places of Remembrance https://katyn.miejscapamieci.gov.pl/page/strona-glowna/lista.php https://web.archive.org/web/20211219115635/https://katyn.miejscapamieci.gov.pl/page/strona-glowna/lista.php 2021-12-19 katyn.miejscapamieci.gov.pl pl and the Katyń Museum.Muzeum Katyńskie – Księgi Cmentarne Katyń Museum – Cemetery Registers http://www.ksiegicmentarne.muzeumkatynskie.pl/ 2024-11-16 www.ksiegicmentarne.muzeumkatynskie.pl pl Name and surnameRankProfessionWorkplace before mobilizationMurderedAdam LisieckiSecond Lieutenant of the reserveTeacher, Master's degreeM. Kopernik High School in BydgoszczKatynJerzy BugajskiCaptainProfessional soldier -KharkivZbyszko PietruszkaSecond Lieutenant of the reserveClerk -Kharkiv References Bibliography http://www.wbc.poznan.pl/publication/47164 Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych Biblioteka Uniwersytecka W Poznaniu Ministerstwo Spraw Wojskowych 1937 Warsaw pl Personal Journal of the Ministry of Military Affairs Dziennik Personalny 1937 Dymek Przemysław 15. Dywizja Piechoty w wojnie 1939 roku Ajaks 2013 978-83-62046-49-2 Warsaw pl 15th Infantry Division in the 1939 War Panufnik Ładysław https://wbc.poznan.pl/publication/32080 Zarys historji wojennej 15-go pułku artylerii polowej wielkopolskiej Wojskowe Biuro Historyczne 1929 Warsaw pl Outline of the Military History of the 15th Greater Poland Field Artillery Regiment Rybka Ryszard Rocznik oficerski 1939. Stan na dzień 23 marca 1939 Stepan Kamil Fundacja Centrum Dokumentacji Czynu Niepodległościowego 2006 83-7188-899-6 29 Kraków pl Officers' Yearbook 1939. As of 23 March 1939 Satora Kazimierz https://archive.org/details/opowiesciwrzesni0000sato Opowieści wrześniowych sztandarów Pax 1990 83-211-1104-1 Warsaw pl Tales of the September Banners Sawicki Zdzisław Odznaki Wojska Polskiego 1918–1945: Katalog Zbioru Falerystycznego: Wojsko Polskie 1918–1939: Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Zachodzie Wielechowski Adam Pantera Books 2007 978-83-204-3299-2 Warsaw pl Badges of the Polish Army 1918–1945: Catalogue of the Phaleristic Collection: Polish Army 1918–1939: Polish Armed Forces in the West Zarzycki Piotr 15 Wielkopolski Pułk Artylerii Lekkiej Ajaks 2000 83-87103-65-9 Pruszków pl 15th Greater Poland Light Artillery Regiment Zarzycki Piotr 31 Pułk Artylerii Lekkiej. Zarys historii wojennej pułków polskich w kampanii wrześniowej Ajaks 1996 83-87103-15-2 Pruszków pl 31st Light Artillery Regiment. Outline of the Military History of Polish Regiments in the September Campaign Category:Artillery regiments Category:Poland in World War II Category:Military units and formations of Poland Category:Regiments of Poland