11th Infantry Division (Poland)

11th Carpathian Infantry Division (Polish "11 Karpacka Dywizja Piechoty"), was a tactical unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period, which took part in the Polish September Campaign. Its headquarters were located in Stanisławów, with some regiments stationed in nearby locations, such as Stryi and Kolomyia. It consisted of these regiments:

* 48th Kresy Rifle Regiment, stationed in Stanisławów, commanded by Colonel Walenty Nowak,
* 49th Hutsul Rifle Regiment, stationed in Kolomyja,
* 53rd Kresy Rifle Regiment, stationed in Stryj,
* 11th Carpathian Light Artillery Regiment, stationed in Stanisławów,
* 11th Heavy Artillery Regiment,
* 11th Sapper Battalion,
* 11th Motor Battery of Antiaircraft Artillery,
* squadron of cavalry, made up of soldiers of Border Defence Corps from Zaleszczyki.

Polish September Campaign

The Division, under Colonel Bronisław Prugar-Ketling, was part of the Kraków Army as a rear unit. It was supposed to concentrate in the area of Zawiercie, to cover activities of the neighboring units - Polish 7th Infantry Division and the Slask Operational Group. However, original plans had been changed, because of the Luftwaffe bombing of Polish rail connections. On September 3 and 4, parts of the Division left train near Bochnia and was ordered to protect the line of the Dunajec river. Lacking artillery, antiaircraft and field hospital (which had been stuck in Rzeszów), the unit entered the battle immediately, but German pressure was too hard. On September 7, the Division began retreat towards the Wisłoka and from there - eastwards, towards Przemyśl. There, on September 11 and 12, it was engaged in bloody fighting with the Germans. On September 17, the Division fought in the Janów Forest, halting advance of German 7th I.D. and 57 I.D. Remnants of the unit, numbered at no more than 1000 men, managed to break into besieged Lwów, where it capitulated.

ee also

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