Kraków Cavalry Brigade

Kraków Cavalry Brigade (Krakowska Brygada Kawalerii) was a unit of the Polish Army), created on April 1, 1937. Its headquarters were located in Kraków, but some units were stationed in other places:

• 3rd Silesian Uhlans Regiment in Tarnowskie Góry,
• 5th Regiment of Mounted Rifles in Tarnów, since 1938 in Dębica,
• 5th Regiment of Mounted Artillery - in Oświęcim.

During the Polish September Campaign, the Brigade, under General Zygmunt Piasecki, was part of Armia Kraków, defending the area between Zabkowice and Częstochowa. In the first days of September 1939, its defence lines were broken by the German XV Army Corps under General Hermann Hoth. The battle took place around Zawiercie and Woźniki, and after the defeat, the Poles withdrew towards the line of the Nida River and to the towns of Miechów and Pińczów. The Poles were continuously chased and attacked by German 2nd Light Division.

On September 10, the Division crossed the Vistula near Baranów Sandomierski. Then, it fought in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski, in the area of Biłgoraj and Tarnogrod. Surrounded by the enemy, it capitulated together with remnants of the Army Kraków.

See also

• Polish army order of battle in 1939
• Polish contribution to World War II