The article discusses selected issues concerning mobilisation of the Polish Army of the Second Polish Republic, with special recognition to the role of the Wadowice garrison and the participation of the residents of the region in those plans. Among other issues, the differences in the regional impact of individual departments of the armed forces operating in Wadowice as well as the diversity in trainings for the needs of various types of military and paramilitary services were described. Wadowice was an infantry garrison, but in terms of preparation, the cavalry as well as groups of women for educational services and groups of men for sanitation services were trained here. In the above mentioned areas the trainings conducted by Wadowice garrison involved residents of the Wadowice district, Myslenice district and shortly existing Makow and Oswiecim districts. In terms of administration and mobilisation of reserves, District Draft Office (Powiatowa Komenda Uzupelnień) later Wadowice Region Draft Office (Komenda Rejonu Uzupelnień Wadowice) involved the area of Wadowice district and Chrzanow district. The article indicates the role, which for the garrison of Wadowice was envisaged in further mobilisation plans created in the period 1920-1939. The article further indicates additional burdens that increased the mobilisation duties for the 12 Infantry Regiment in being a part of an implemented plan during the 30s program of modernisation and expansion of the armed forces. Against the background of the so-called mobilisation network (as of January 1939) the article discusses formations to which inhabitants of district Wadowice were mobilised most often in August and September 1939. Based on an example of court documents relating to the soldiers fallen(killed) or missing in the campaign the elements supporting evidence for the use of the above mentioned mobilisation network were pointed out. There is also an indication that the likelihood that in the last months before the outbreak of World War II, changes to this network had been made, as a result of which the further formations were replenished by larger groups of reservists from the area of operation of Wadowice Region Draft Office (KRU Wadowice).
The author indicates that a research reflection on the civilian experience of September 1939, as recorded in the pages of Polish literature, will make it possible to complete the picture that emerges from previous analyses, dominated by the soldier’s, military experience. This work requires a broader view of the events of the beginning of the war, going beyond the meanings and time defined by military actions. Seen in this way, literary September appears as an as yet undiscovered mystery.
In August 1939 all main Polish military units from Grodno and Wilno garrisons were mobilized to fight against German army and were send to the west frontline. This way, both cities were left without regular army’s units, remained defenceless against Soviet aggression. It was impossible to stand up the fight in this situation. The only way for the reserve units, which have stayed, was evacuation from Poland to Lithuania. Many officers of Fortified Areas Grodno and Wilno had to make a difficult decision: to stay and fight or to leave Poland and go to Lithuania. This dilemma, one among many others, had influence on their attitudes and decisions during this tragic time.
PL
W sierpniu 1939 r. wszystkie jednostki Wojska Polskiego stacjonujące w Grodnie i w Wilnie zostały zmobilizowane do walki z Niemcami i odesłane na granicę zachodnią. W ten sposób oba miasta zostały pozbawione regularnych oddziałów wojska i stały się bezbronne w obliczu najazdu sowieckiego. W tej sytuacji walka i obrona obu miast skazana była na niepowodzenie, a ewakuacja na Litwę była jedynym możliwym wyjściem dla pozostałych w Grodnie i Wilnie jednostek wojska. Wielu oficerów Obszarów Warownych „Grodno” i Wilno” musiało dokonać trudnego wyboru, co niejednokrotnie wpłynęło na ich postawę w tym trudnym czasie.
The article contains a description of the September 1939 actions of Polish fighter force situated at the rear of the front. The tasks were carried out above all by pilots who were aviation instructors and partly by their mentees, as well as by pilots of units created spontaneously by other units located at the rear and having fighter planes at their disposal. The material focuses mainly at determining the list of pilots who carried out combat flights even though they did not belong to frontline units. The potential of their activity and the chances of fighting German air force have also been assessed. The article is a contribution to further studies on the activity of the air force in September 1939.
RU
Cтатья описывает действия польской истребительной авиации в сентябре 1939 г., находившейся в тылу. Задания выполняли прежде всего летчики-инструкторы авиации и частично их подопечные, а также пилоты групп, спонтанно создававшихся из находящихся в тылу отрядов, имеющих в своем распоряжении истребители. Материал статьи сконцентрирован прежде всего на определении списка пилотов, которые управляли боевыми полетами, несмотря на то, что их не было в составе военных подразделений. Также были оценены возможности их действий и шансы победить немецкую авиацию. Данная статья является частью исследования событий авиации в сентябре 1939 г., которое будет продолжаться и далее.
PL
Artykuł zawiera opis działań polskiego lotnictwa myśliwskiego we wrześniu 1939 r., które znajdowało się na zapleczu frontu. Zadania wykonywali przede wszystkim lotnicy będący instruktorami lotniczego szkolnictwa oraz częściowo ich podopieczni, a także piloci jednostek tworzonych spontanicznie przez znajdujące się na tyłach, i mające do dyspozycji samoloty myśliwskie, oddziały. Materiał skupia się głównie na ustaleniu listy pilotów, którzy wykonywali loty bojowe, mimo że nie znaleźli się w jednostkach liniowych. Ocenione zostały także możliwości ich działania i szanse zwalczania niemieckiego lotnictwa. Artykuł niniejszy jest wkładem do dalszych badań nad działalnością lotnictwa we wrześniu 1939 r.
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