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| During the ] in 1939 he commanded ]. This army was the main ] of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the ] and defend the ] ] region. It consisted of five infantry divisions, one mountain brigade, one motorized cavalry brigade, one mountain brigade and one cavalry brigade. It was the most south-western of Polish Armies; on the north it was touching ], on the south-east, ]. | During the ] in 1939 he commanded ]. This army was the main ] of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the ] and defend the ] ] region. It consisted of five infantry divisions, one mountain brigade, one motorized cavalry brigade, one mountain brigade and one cavalry brigade. It was the most south-western of Polish Armies; on the north it was touching ], on the south-east, ]. | ||
| During the early stages of the ] the northern ] was partially surrounded by ] German forces. Army Kraków attacked by ] was forced to retreat to protect its flanks from 2 September onwards. General Szylling despite increasingly difficult situation for the Polish forces was able to retreat succesfully towards the city of ], avoiding several German attempts to surround him. | During the early stages of the ] the northern ] was partially surrounded by ] German forces. Army Kraków attacked by ] was forced to retreat to protect its flanks from 2 September onwards. A careful tactician, General Szylling followed the strategy 'retreat to fight another day' instead of engaging superior enemy. General Szylling despite increasingly difficult situation for the Polish forces was able to retreat succesfully towards the city of ], avoiding several German attempts to surround him. On 19 September Szyling's forces joined ] of General ] in the ], the second largest battle<ref name="second_largest">. Private Land Army Research Institute. Last accessed on 11 March 2007</ref> of the campaign. Polish forces followed the plan of General Piskor; the German defences proved to strong and majority of Polish forces including headquaters of both generals were encircled and surrendered on 20 September. | ||
| {{Poland-mil-bio-stub}} | {{Poland-mil-bio-stub}} | ||
Revision as of 02:01, 6 April 2007
Antoni Szylling (1884-1971) was a Polish general, considered one of the most succesfull Polish Army commanders during the Polish Defensive War of 1939.
Biography
Antoni Szyling was born on 31 August 1884 in Płoniawy-Bramura near Kraków. He finished a 7-year trade school in 1904 and from an early age was an active member of Polish patriotic and revolutionary organiations, such as Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party. He had several safehouses, in which he stored bibuła and arms, as well as hid wanted PPS members and other organizations. Arrested by the Russian Empire regime, he spent several one and a half months sentences in Warsaw Citadel and Daniłłiczowski Prison. He was also denied the right to study at a university and was was forcibly enlisted in the Russian Army for two years. In the years 1909-1912 he was able to finish 'industrial-agricultral courses' in Higher Agricutural School in Warsaw and from 1912 to 1913 he worked on an experimental folwark in Szamocin. In 1914 he was mobilized to Russian Army again and fought in the First World War.
In 1917 in rank of captain he joined the the Polish 2nd Corps in the East. In 1918 he was promoted to major, and soon afterwards taken prisoner by the Germans. In January 1919 he joined the Polish Army. During the Polish-Soviet War he commanded the 44 Infantry Regiment. In 1922 he was promoted to colonel and retired on his own request. In 1925 he was enlisted again and became the commander of 28th Infantry Division in Warsaw. Later he commanded the 23rd Infantry Division in Katowice and 8th Infantry Division in Modlin. In 1929 he was promoted to the rank of generał brygady. In May 1937 he took the worked at General Inspectorate of Armed Forces in Silesia.
During the Polish Defensive War in 1939 he commanded Army Kraków. This army was the main pivot of Polish defence. Its main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the Carpathians and defend the heavily industrialized Upper Silesia region. It consisted of five infantry divisions, one mountain brigade, one motorized cavalry brigade, one mountain brigade and one cavalry brigade. It was the most south-western of Polish Armies; on the north it was touching Army Łódź, on the south-east, Army Karpaty.
During the early stages of the Battle of the Border the northern Army Łódź was partially surrounded by quickly advancing German forces. Army Kraków attacked by German 14th Army was forced to retreat to protect its flanks from 2 September onwards. A careful tactician, General Szylling followed the strategy 'retreat to fight another day' instead of engaging superior enemy. General Szylling despite increasingly difficult situation for the Polish forces was able to retreat succesfully towards the city of Lublin, avoiding several German attempts to surround him. On 19 September Szyling's forces joined Army Lublin of General Tadeusz Piskor in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski, the second largest battle of the campaign. Polish forces followed the plan of General Piskor; the German defences proved to strong and majority of Polish forces including headquaters of both generals were encircled and surrendered on 20 September.
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- The Vickers Mk. E light tank in the Polish service. Private Land Army Research Institute. Last accessed on 11 March 2007