Battle Of Wilno (1939)
The Battle of Wilno (modern Vilnius, Lithuania) was fought by the Polish Army against the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939, which accompanied the German Invasion of Poland in accordance with Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. On 18–19 September, Soviet forces took over the city of Wilno. Polish forces, concentrated in the west, were relatively weak in the east. The Polish commanders, unsure whether to actively oppose the Soviet entry into Poland, did not use the full defensive capabilities of the town and nearby fortifications, although the outcome of the battle would not have been likely any different, given the overwhelming Soviet numerical superiority. Prelude The city of Wilno was the capital of the Wilno Voivodeship and the sixth-largest city in the Second Polish Republic, in addition to being and an important industrial centre in the north-east of that country. Administratively, it was part of the Grodno-based III Military Corps Area and under Józef Olszyna-Wilczyński, it wa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Soviets Entering Wilno
The Soviet people () were the citizens and nationals of the Soviet Union. This demonym was presented in the ideology of the country as the "new historical unity of peoples of different nationalities" (). Nationality policy in the Soviet Union During the history of the Soviet Union, different doctrines and practices on ethnic distinctions within the Soviet population were applied at different times. Minority national cultures were never completely abolished. Instead the Soviet definition of national cultures required them to be "socialist by content and national by form", an approach that was used to promote the official aims and values of the state. The goal was always to cement the nationalities together in a common state structure. In the 1920s and the early 1930s, the policy of national delimitation was used to demarcate separate areas of national culture into territorial-administrative units, and the policy of korenizatsiya (indigenisation) was used to promote involvement n ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, officially the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and also known as the Hitler–Stalin Pact and the Nazi–Soviet Pact, was a non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, with a secret protocol establishing Soviet and German spheres of influence across Eastern Europe. The pact was signed in Moscow on 24 August 1939 (backdated 23 August 1939) by Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. The treaty was the culmination of negotiations around Nazi–Soviet economic relations (1934–1941)#1938–1939 deal discussions, the 1938–1939 deal discussions, after tripartite discussions between the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France had broken down. The Soviet-German pact committed both sides to neither aid nor ally itself with an enemy of the other for the following 10 years. Under the Secret Protocol, Second Polish Republic, ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Independent Operational Group Narew
Independent Operational Group Narew (''Samodzielna Grupa Operacyjna Narew'', SGO Narew) was one of the Polish Army Corps (Operational Groups) that defended Poland during the Invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak R ... in 1939. It was created on 23 March 1939 and was commanded by general Czesław Młot-Fijałkowski. __NOTOC__ Tasks SGO Narew was to defend the north-eastern frontline near the Lithuanian border, and prevent the German forces from crossing Narew and Biebrza rivers. It was to secure the left flank of Modlin Army. Operational history The SGO Narew was defeated in the battle of Zambrów on 6 September, with the 18th Infantry Division being mostly destroyed. The remaining units retreated to Puszcza Białowieska large forest complex, and ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Modlin Army
Modlin Army () was one of the Polish armies that were part of the Polish defense against the German Invasion of Poland. After heavy casualties in the battle of Mława (September 1–3), the Army was forced to abandon its positions near Warsaw around September 10; eventually it took part in the battle of Tomaszów Lubelski (September 21–26) and surrendered afterwards. Tasks Named after Fort Modlin (where its initial headquarters were located), it was officially created on March 23, 1939 with the task of defending the Polish capital of Warsaw and the city of Płock from the north. It took positions near the fortified lines along the border with East Prussia near Mława, and was supposed to retreat in an organized fashion towards the second line of defense towards the Narew and Vistula rivers. Operational history When the Germans invaded on September 1, not all of the planned fortifications had been completed; some of the Army's units (such as the Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade) had ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Piotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski (; also known by #Etymology, alternative names), often simplified to Piotrków, is a city in central Poland with 71,252 inhabitants (2021). It is the capital of Piotrków County and the second-largest city in the Łódź Voivodeship. Founded in the late Middle Ages, Piotrków was once a Royal city in Poland, royal city and holds an important place in Polish history; the first Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, parliament sitting was held here in the 15th century. It then became the seat of a Crown Tribunal, the highest court of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The city also hosted one of Poland's oldest History of Jews in Poland, Jewish communities, which was entirely destroyed by the Holocaust. The old town in Piotrków features many historical and architectural monuments, including tenements, churches, synagogues and the medieval Piotrków Trybunalski Castle, Royal Castle. Etymology and other names According to tradition, but not confirmed ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Mazovia
Mazovia or Masovia ( ) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the largest city and Płock being the capital of the region . Throughout the centuries, Mazovia developed a separate sub-culture featuring diverse folk songs, architecture, dress and traditions different from those of other Polish people, Poles. Historical Mazovia existed from the Middle Ages until the partitions of Poland and consisted of three voivodeships with the capitals in Warsaw, Płock and Rawa Mazowiecka, Rawa. The main city of the region was Płock, which was even capital of Poland from 1079 to 1138; however, in Early Modern Times Płock lost its importance to Warsaw, which became the capital of Poland. From 1138, Mazovia was governed by a separate branch of the Piast dynasty and when the last ruler of the independent Duchy of Mazovia died, it was fully incorporated to the Polish Crown in 1526. During th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Różan
Różan is a town in Mazovian Voivodeship, northeastern Poland, on the river Narew. National roads National road 60 (Poland), 60 and National road 60 (Poland), 61 intersect in the town. History In the late Middle Ages, Różan emerged as an important trade center of northeastern Mazovia. Enjoying the support of Mazovian Dukes, especially Janusz I of Warsaw, in 1378 it received town charter, and became a capital of a separate province, the Różan Land, Land of Różan. In 1525, Mazovia was directly incorporated to the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Poland and became part of the Masovian Voivodeship (1526–1795), Masovian Voivodeship of the Greater Poland Province, Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Greater Poland Province. Różan became a Royal city in Poland, royal town of the Polish Crown and seat of a starosta. In 1565, the town had 330 houses and a population of about 2,000. It also probably had as many as six churches, and a castle, which guarded the nearby border ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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35th Infantry Division (Poland)
35th Infantry Division (Polish: 35. Dywizja Piechoty) was a reserve unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic. It did not exist in peacetime organization of the army, and was formed between August 31 – September 4, 1939, during the Invasion of Poland. The division consisted mainly of units which until September 1 manned Fortified Area of Wilno (Obszar Warowny Wilno), and forces of the Border Protection Corps, which guarded northeastern corner of the country. After its formation, the division joined Operational Group Wyszków. On September 7, 1939, the division, commanded by Colonel Jarosław Szafran, was sent to the area south of Białystok, where it waited for train transports to move it westwards. On the next day however, Polish Commander in Chief Edward Śmigły-Rydz ordered the division to march to the rail junction at Czeremcha, where it boarded trains to Lwów, some 500 kilometers south (see also Battle of Lwów (1939)). By September 13, 35th Infantry Divi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Vilnius Airport
Vilnius Čiurlionis International Airport () is the international airport, airport of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It is located south of the city center. It is the largest of the three commercial airports in Lithuania by passenger traffic, with one runway and 5 million passengers a year. Vilnius International Airport serves as a base for airBaltic, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. The airport is managed by Joint-stock company, Joint Stock Company Lithuanian Airports under the Ministry of Transport and Communications (Lithuania), Ministry of Transport and Communications. It is the List of the busiest airports in Europe, 96th busiest airport in Europe. In honor of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, the airport was renamed to Vilnius Čiurlionis International Airport () from 1 January 2025, to 31 December 2029. History Early years The airport began operations in Second Polish Republic on 17 August 1932 as Wilno–Porubanek, Porubanek was the name of the neighbouring village which to ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Wileńska Cavalry Brigade
Wileńska Cavalry Brigade () was a unit of the Polish Army, created on 1 April 1937 out of the 3rd Independent Cavalry Brigade. Its headquarters were stationed in Wilno (Vilnius), with some regiments garrisoned in the neighboring towns. In late 1930s it consisted of these units: * 4th Niemen Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Wilno * 13th Wilno Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Nowa Wilejka * 23rd Grodno Uhlan Regiment, stationed in Postawy * 3rd Mounted Artillery Regiment, stationed in Podbrodzie * 7th Pioneers Squadron, stationed in Wilno * 3rd Communications Squadron, stationed in Wilno Polish September Campaign The brigade, under Colonel Konstanty Drucki-Lubecki, was part of the Prusy Army and on the night of 31 August /1 September 1939, it unloaded from trains at stations of Rogów, Piotrków County, Rogów and Koluszki, near Łódź. In the following days, it defended Piotrków Trybunalski, then, together with other units, it crossed the Vistula. On 8 September, the 4th Regiment of Nie ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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4th Niemen Uhlan Regiment
4th Niemen Uhlan Regiment () was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the Second Polish Republic. It was garrisoned in the city of Vilnius, and it celebrated its day on 9 July, the anniversary of the 1920 Charge of Hrebionka. Beginnings In the spring of 1918, General Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki ordered the formation of 4th Uhlan Regiment, as part of Polish I Corps in Russia. The idea was abandoned, to return in November 1918, when the regiment was formed in Warsaw, with its squadrons scattered in towns of former Congress Poland, such as Łomża, Mława, Płock, Włocławek, Białystok, and Konin. The newly formed regiment continued the traditions of 4th Uhlan Regiment of Congress Poland. Polish-Ukrainian and Polish–Soviet Wars In January 1919, the regiment was sent to the area of Lwów, to fight in the Polish-Ukrainian War. On 10 May 1919, it was sent northwards, to Białystok and then Lida. It was the first Polish regiment to cross the Niemen river, after which it fought in ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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1st Legions Infantry Division (Poland)
The Poland, Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division () is a tactical formation of the Polish Army. Formed on February 20, 1919, partially of veterans of the Polish Legions in World War I, I Brigade of the Polish Legions, the unit saw extensive action during the Polish-Soviet War and World War II. Regarded by the soldiers of the Wehrmacht as the ''Iron Division'', it distinguished itself in the Invasion of Poland. History The 1st Legions Infantry Division tracks its origins to the 1919 establishment of the Polish state and was disbanded in 1944. After a 70-year-long hiatus, the Division has been revived in the wake of the 2020s Polish rearmament. 1919–1944 As one of the most experienced and best equipped Polish divisions, it fought in many of the most notable battles of the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1919 and 1920. Among them was the operation of liberation of Wilno and Battle of Dyneburg in Daugavpils, Latvia (as part of Edward Rydz-Śmigły, Rydz-Śmigły's Third Army and under h ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |