Brigade I of the Polish Legions (, , ) was a unit of

Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army, also known as the Imperial and Royal Army,; was the principal ground force of Austria-Hungary from 1867 to 1918. It consisted of three organisations: the Common Army (, recruited from all parts of Austria-Hungary), ...

, manned by Poles under Austrian occupation, part of the

Polish Legions in World War I The Polish Legions () was a name of the Polish military force (the first active Polish army in generations) established in August 1914 in Galicia (Central Europe), Galicia soon after World War I erupted between the opposing alliances of the Trip ...

, existing from 1914 to 1917.The Austro-Hungarian Forces in World War I (1): 1914-16
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History

The First Brigade was formed on December 19, 1914, as part of the

. Until October 1916 the First Brigade was commanded by

Józef Piłsudski Józef Klemens Piłsudski (; 5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935) was a Polish statesman who served as the Chief of State (Poland), Chief of State (1918–1922) and first Marshal of Poland (from 1920). In the aftermath of World War I, he beca ...

, thereafter by Marian Żegota-Januszajtis. The First Brigade and the Third Brigade were disbanded after the 1917

Oath Crisis The Oath crisis (; German language, German: ''Eidkrise'') was a World War I political conflict between the Imperial German Army command and the Józef Piłsudski-led Polish Legions in World War I, Polish Legions. Initially supporting the Central P ...

. The March of the First Brigade was one of the best-known songs of the Polish Legions.

Combat

Major battles fought by the First Brigade included: * battle of Łowczówek (December 22–25, 1914) * battle of Konary (May 16–25, 1915) * battle of Jastków (July 30 – August 3, 1915) * battle of Kamionka (August 4–7, 1915) *

battle of Kostiuchnówka The Battle of Kostiuchnówka was a World War I battle that took place July 4–7, 1916, near the village of Kostiuchnówka (Kostyukhnivka) and the Styr River in the Volhynia region of modern Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. It was a ...

(July 4–6, 1916)

Organization

The First Brigade comprised 3 infantry regiments (the 1st, 5th and 7th), a cavalry regiment (the 1st), artillery battalions, and support units.

Composition

image:Józef Piłsudski dekoruje legionistów I Brygady odznaką honorową „Za wierną służbę” (1916).jpg, 200px,

awarding Orders, decorations, and medals of Poland, decorations to brigade members The First Brigade consisted mostly of young soldiers of intelligentsia origin from Congress Poland. Unlike regular military units characterised by military drill, relations between First Brigade soldiers and officers were collegial. The unit was inspired by

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

ic-era ideas and the Polish uprisings, especially the

January Uprising The January Uprising was an insurrection principally in Russia's Kingdom of Poland that was aimed at putting an end to Russian occupation of part of Poland and regaining independence. It began on 22 January 1863 and continued until the last i ...

of 1863. Another characteristic of the First Brigade was its total devotion to commander

, seen as the only military, moral and political authority by his soldiers. Many writers, painters and other personalities of cultural life, served in the First Brigade. They include

Wacław Sieroszewski Wacław Kajetan Sieroszewski (24 August 1858 – 20 April 1945) was a Polish writer, Polish Socialist Party activist, and soldier in the World War I-era Polish Legions (decorated with the Virtuti Militari). For activities subversive of th ...

, Andrzej Strug, Gustaw Daniłowski, Włodzimierz Tetmajer or Juliusz Kaden-Bandrowski.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brigade 01 Of The Polish Legions Military units and formations established in 1914 Military units and formations disestablished in 1917 Polish Legions infantry brigades of Austria-Hungary 1914 establishments in Poland