18th Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment
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18th Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment ({{langx, pl, 18 Pulk Ulanów Pomorskich, 18 p.ul.) was a cavalry unit of the
Polish Army The Land Forces () are the Army, land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 110,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military histor ...
in the
Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 7 October 1918 and 6 October 1939. The state was established in the final stage of World War I ...
. Formed in April 1919 in
Poznań Poznań ( ) is a city on the Warta, River Warta in west Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John's ...
, it fought in the Polish-Soviet War and 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 the interbellum period, the regiment was garrisoned in Grudziadz (since September 1923). Pomeranian uhlans became famous for the legendary Charge at Krojanty, after which the unit ceased to exist.


Beginnings

In April 1919, following the order of commandant of
Greater Poland Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; ), is a Polish Polish historical regions, historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed by Kalisz, the oldest city in Poland. The bound ...
Front, General Jozef Dowbor-Musnicki, a cavalry unit was formed in Poznań. In July 1919, the unit was named 4th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment, with Colonel August Brochwitz-Donimirski (former officer of the
Imperial German Army The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the leadership of Kingdom o ...
) as its commandant. By late October 1919, First Squadron of the regiment was fully equipped and trained. The unit was tasked with seizing parts of formerly German province of
West Prussia The Province of West Prussia (; ; ) was a province of Prussia from 1773 to 1829 and from 1878 to 1919. West Prussia was established as a province of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1773, formed from Royal Prussia of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonweal ...
, which were attached to Poland (see Polish Corridor). On January 18, 1920, it entered
Toruń Toruń is a city on the Vistula River in north-central Poland and a World Heritage Sites of Poland, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its population was 196,935 as of December 2021. Previously, it was the capital of the Toruń Voivodeship (1975–199 ...
, to be later moved to Grudziadz after the Germans had abandoned this city. In February 1920, its name was officially changed into the 18th Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment, and in late May 1920, the regiment was sent to the Soviet front. In early summer 1920, Pomeranian uhlans fought in northeastern corner of the
Second Polish Republic The Second Polish Republic, at the time officially known as the Republic of Poland, was a country in Central and Eastern Europe that existed between 7 October 1918 and 6 October 1939. The state was established in the final stage of World War I ...
, along the
Daugava (river) The Daugava ( ), also known as the Western Dvina or the Väina River, is a large river rising in the Valdai Hills of Russia that flows through Belarus and Latvia into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. The Daugava rises close to the source of t ...
, where it engaged Soviet cavalry under
Hayk Bzhishkyan Hayk Bzhishkian (, , also known as Guy Dmitrievich Guy, Gai Dmitrievich Gai (Гай Дмитриевич Гай), Gaya Gai (Гая Гай), – 11 December 1937), was a Soviet military commander of Armenian origin who fought in the Russian Civi ...
. On July 5, 1920, it was encircled by the enemy near Druja. To escape Soviet captivity, the uhlans decided to swim across the Daugava, and enter the territory of neutral
Latvia Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to t ...
. Polish soldiers reached
Daugavpils Daugavpils (see also other names) is a state city in southeastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city derives its name. The parts of the city to the north of the river belong to the historical Latvian region ...
, and on July 22 were transported by rail to
Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...
. Six days later, 60 Polish soldiers were loaded on the Pomeranian, but the bulk of the regiment remained in Riga. On August 11, Latvia signed a peace treaty with Soviet Russia. Fearing disarmament by the Latvian authorities, the Poles marched towards the port of Memel, which at that time was a free city, occupied by French troops. The regiment reached
Palanga Palanga (; ; ) is a resort town, resort city in western Lithuania, on the shore of the Baltic Sea. Palanga is the busiest and the largest summer resort in Lithuania and has sand, sandy beaches (18 km, 11 miles long and up to 300 metres, 10 ...
, where it was disarmed. After several days, the uhlans in mufti, were loaded on boats, and on August 18 arrived at Danzig. Unable to anchor at this port, the regiment finally left the boats at nearby
Gdynia Gdynia is a city in northern Poland and a seaport on the Baltic Sea coast. With an estimated population of 257,000, it is the List of cities in Poland, 12th-largest city in Poland and the second-largest in the Pomeranian Voivodeship after Gdańsk ...
. On August 22, the unit returned to Torun. The Pomeranian uhlans remained in Toruń until mid-September 1920, when they were transported by rail to Hajnówka. At that time, the regiment had 32 officers, 630 soldiers and 610 horses. On September 19, the unit was attached to
Operational Group Operational Group (, GO) was the highest level type of tactical division of the Polish Army at various points in the 20th century, mainly during the Second World War. Polish-Bolshevik War (1919-1921) Operational groups first appeared in the Polis ...
of General Wladyslaw Jung, and was sent to the frontline near Vawkavysk, to fight in the Battle of the Niemen River. Pomeranian uhlans remained in eastern Poland until May 5, 1921, when they returned to Grudziadz.


1939 Invasion of Poland

On August 26, 1939, the regiment, commanded by Colonel Kazimierz Masztalerz, became part of
Chojnice Chojnice (; or ; or ) is a town in northern Poland with 38,789 inhabitants, as of June 2023, near the Tuchola Forest. It is the capital of the Chojnice County in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Founded in , Chojnice is a former royal city of Poland ...
Group of Polish Army. The unit was tasked with protecting the area of Chojnice and nearby Rytel. The Germans attacked Polish positions on September 1, 1939, at 5 a.m. After initial clashes, the uhlans were forced to withdraw. In the evening of the first day of the war, the Charge at Krojanty took place. Following the charge, and subsequent
Luftwaffe The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...
attack near Drzycim, the regiment ceased to exist as a cohesive unit (September 4). Among those KIA at Krojanty, was Colonel Mastalerz himself.


Commandants

* Colonel August Donimirski (May 1919 – November 1920) * Colonel Rudolf Alzner (November 1920 – July 1922) * Colonel Michal Ostrowski (July 1922 – April 1923) * Colonel Stefan Dembinski (May 1923 – January 1928) * Colonel Albert Traeger (January 1928 – May 1932) * Colonel Kazimierz Kosiarski (May 1932 – February 1938) * Colonel Tadeusz Kurnatowski (February 1938 – August 1, 1939) * Colonel Kazimierz Mastalerz (August 1 – September 1, 1939)


Symbols

The regimental flag was funded by residents of
Pomerelia Pomerelia, also known as Eastern Pomerania, Vistula Pomerania, and also before World War II as Polish Pomerania, is a historical sub-region of Pomerania on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland. Gdańsk Pomerania is largely c ...
, and handed to the unit in Torun, on May 29, 1923. In recognition of extraordinary service of Pomeranian uhlans during the Polish-Soviet War, the flag was awarded Silver Cross of the
Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', ) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland Stanislaus II of Poland, ...
. The badge of the regiment, approved in April 1925, featured the Pomeranian
Griffin The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (; Classical Latin: ''gryps'' or ''grypus''; Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk ...
. The regiment had its own zurawiejka.


See also

* Horses in World War II *
Polish cavalry The Polish cavalry () can trace its origins back to the days of medieval cavalry knights. Poland is mostly a country of flatlands and fields and mounted forces operate well in this environment. The knights and heavy cavalry gradually evolved in ...


Sources

* Włodzimierz Błaszczyk: 18 Pułk Ułanów. Pruszków: Oficyna Wydawnicza Ajans, 1996 * Roman Abraham: Wspomnienia wojenne znad Warty i Bzury. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, 1990 Military units and formations established in 1919 Military units and formations of Poland in World War II Polish Land Forces Cavalry regiments of Poland Pomeranian Voivodeship (1919–1939)