DOCUMENTS OF POLISH MILITARY UNITS IN RUSSIAN TROOPS OF THE ROMANIAN FRONT AND THE HISTORY OF THE II POLISH CORPS 1917-1918 (Dokumenty polskiego ruchu wojskowego w formacjach rosyjskiego Frontu Rumunskiego i losy II Korpusu Wojsk Polskich, 1917-1918)

• Authors: Wrzosek Mieczyslaw
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

Published documents reflect the course of events which aimed at the formation of the II Polish Corps comprising Poles who had been serving in the units belon- ging to the forces of the Romanian Front. These major Russian operational units, which were mainly present during the warfare in the areas of Podole, Bukowina and Bessarabia, were commanded by General Dymitr Szczerbaczew. In November and December 1917 these forces still included several thousand Poles. They were dispersed in individual formations and units of the above mentioned front, whereas their vast majority belonged to the military associations of Poles that were operating there. Central Boards appointed for the headquarters of all the armies of the Romanian Front played a crucial role in the operation of the Polish military associations. Their importance increased particularly after the overthrow of the Provisional Government by Bolsheviks as Russia suffered from serious communication difficulties which hindered contact with the Chief Polish Military Committee that was functioning in Petrograd under the command of the Warrant Officer Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz. Such were the circumstances surrounding the I General Meeting of Polish Military Associations of the Romanian Front. The debate lasted from 25th November to 2nd December (according to the old calendar), i.e. from 7th to 15th December 1917. Towards the end of the debate the Polish Military Committee of the Romanian Front (PKW FR) was appointed. Leon Bobicki was elected its president. PKW FR's activity appeared to be fruitful since from the end of the first decade of December 1917 the formation of the II Polish Corps started and Poles serving in the Russian units of the Romanian Front came to join it. The Corps's commander was General Sylwester Stankiewicz whereas General Wladyslaw Glass was appointed commander of the 4th Rifle Division. On 6th March 1918, the Polish Legions II Brigade commanded by Colonel Józef Haller merged with the II Polish Corps located in Soroki on the middle Dniester. This brigade forced their way through the Austrian-Hungarian Army's positions in Rarancza on 15th February 1918. PKW FR functioned until 9th April 1918 and continued its activity as the Chief Military Council of the II Polish Corps (NRW II KP). President of this new organ, which was also composed of the representatives of the Polish Legions II Brigade, continued to be Captain Leon Bobicki. Chief Military Council of the II Polish Corps finished its activity on 28th April 1918 when the Corps's command was taken by the Brigade Commander Józef Haller. The published reports also contain a note on securing documents of PKW FR and NRW II KP.

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Journal: Studia Podlaskie
• Year: 2010
• Volume: 18
• Pages: 329-420
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Wrzosek Mieczyslaw

• no data

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

11PLAAAA093544