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Brigade II of the Polish Legions (, , ), also known as the Iron (''Żelazna'', ''Eisen'', ''Vas'') or Carpathian (''Karpacka'', ''Karpaten'', ''Kárpát'') Brigade, 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 Austrian Poles, 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 ...
, that existed from 1914 or 1915 till 1918.The Austro-Hungarian Forces in World War I (1): 1914-16
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History

The unit was formed in mid-December 1914 (or March 1915, sources vary), as 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 ...
. The Brigade was first commanded by an Austrian officer,
Ferdynand Küttner Ferdynand is a Polish variant of the Germanic name Ferdinand. Ferdynand means "bold protector". People named Ferdynand Ferdynand is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Ferdynand Antoni Ossendowski (1876–1945), Polish writer, jo ...
, and from 14 July 1916 by a Polish officer,
Józef Haller de Hallenburg Józef is a Polish variant of the masculine given name Joseph. Art * Józef Chełmoński (1849-1914), Polish painter * Józef Gosławski (1908-1963), Polish sculptor Clergy * Józef Glemp (1929-2013), Polish cardinal * Józef Kowalski (19 ...
. In 1917 most of the Brigade followed Haller and unlike the I Brigade and III Brigade, which followed
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 ...
, it swore an oath during the
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 ...
. It eventually formed the bulk of the
Polish Auxiliary Corps Polish Auxiliary Corps (, , ) was the name of the Polish military formation in the Austro-Hungarian Army. Formed from the Polish Legions, it was created on 20 September 1916 and existed until 19 February 1918. In the aftermath of the Oath crisi ...
(although several sources indicated it remained a distinct unit, under the name of the Second Brigade, till March 1918). After the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a separate peace treaty signed on 3 March 1918 between Soviet Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria), by which Russia withdrew from World War I. The treaty, whi ...
, the Brigade rebelled against the Austro-Hungarians, joining other Polish units and fighting for the cause of Polish independence. In March 1918 the Brigade was combined with the
Polish II Corps in Russia The 2nd Polish Corps in Russia (; ) was a Polish military formation formed in revolutionary Russia in 1917. History The Corps was formed at the initiative of the Chief Polish Military Committee (''Naczelny Polski Komitet Wojskowy''), a Polish fac ...
(of the former Russian Army, now also rebelling against the Russians). It was the only First World War Polish formation that fought against all three partitioners of Poland (Austria, Germany and Russia).


Battles

Major battles fought by the Second Brigade included: *
Battle of Mołotków The Battle of Mołotków (Polish: Bitwa pod Mołotkowem) took place on October 29, 1914, near the village of Mołotków (Molotkiv), Austrian Galicia (Eastern Europe), Galicia (current Ukraine). 2nd Brigade, Polish Legions, 2nd and 3rd Brigade, Pol ...
(29 October 1914) *
Battle of Rafajlowa The Battle of Rafajlowa took place in the night of January 23–24, 1915, during World War I. The 2nd Brigade, Polish Legions, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Army repelled a night raid of the Russian Imperial Army, which was aimed at bl ...
(23/24 January 1915) *
Charge of Rokitna The Charge of Rokitna () was a Charge (warfare), charge of a cavalry squadron of the 2nd Brigade, Polish Legions, 2nd Brigade of Polish Legions in World War I, Polish Legions, fighting for the Austro-Hungarian Army. It took place on June 13, 191 ...
(13 June 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 ...
(4 to 6 July 1916) *
Battle of Rarańcza The Battle of Rarańcza was fought between Polish Legions in World War I, Polish Legionnaires, and Austria-Hungary, from February 15 to 16, 1918, near Ridkivtsi, Rarańcza in Bukovina, and ended with a Polish victory. Background The Treaty of B ...
(15/16 February, 1918) *
Battle of Kaniów A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
(11 May 1918)


Organization

The Second Brigade comprised 3 infantry regiments (the 2nd, 3rd and, before it was moved to the III Brigade, 4th), a cavalry regiment (the 2nd), as well as support units (ex. an artillery battalion).


Further reading

*Stanisław Czerep, ''II Brygada Legionów Polskich'', Wydawnictwo Bellona, 1991,


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brigade 02 Of The Polish Legions Military units and formations established in 1914 Military units and formations disestablished in 1918 Polish Legions infantry brigades of Austria-Hungary 1914 establishments in Poland