Język Polski
English
The 16th Infantry Division of the “People’s” Polish Army in Combat Against the Home Army’s 5th Vilnius Brigade in the Gdańsk Region in the First Half of May 1946
Przegląd Archiwalny Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej, Vol. 18 (2025), pages: 425-470
Publication date: 2025-12-30
https://doi.org/10.48261/PAIPN251815
PDF (Język Polski)
Abstract
Following the end of hostilities against the Third Reich in May 1945, Polish territory came under occupation by the Red Army. Its presence was vital in establishing a new government and carrying out the Sovietisation of Poland. In these efforts, the Soviets were supported by local communists, who established a repressive apparatus designed to crush opposition within Polish society. Alongside the Office of Public Security, the Citizens’ Militia, and the Internal Security Corps, the “People’s” Polish Army played a leading role in breaking Polish resistance; its units were deployed on a large scale to combat the Polish independence underground. The anti-partisan operations were led by the State Security Commission, established in the early weeks of 1946, whilst the individual units fighting the partisans were commanded predominantly by officers transferred from the Red Army, who did not enjoy the trust of the soldiers. In the spring of 1946, the 16th Infantry Division from Gdańsk was also deployed in operations against the Home Army’s 5th Vilnius Brigade, active in Pomorze (Pomerania). Clashes involving the division took place as early as the first half of May in the vicinity of the forest settlement of Bartel Mały in Pomorze. These ended in defeat for the communist forces, despite their overwhelming numerical superiority. The article discusses the 16th Infantry Division’s involvement in the fighting against the independence underground in Gdańsk Pomorze, illustrates the scale of this involvement, and analyses the command structure and combat operations in the field. Furthermore, it discusses the reasons for their defeat and outlines the consequences faced by those Soviet commanders who were blamed for the failure of the operation.
Keywords
podziemie niepodległościowe • 5. Brygada Wileńska AK • Pomorze Gdańskie • „ludowe” Wojsko Polskie • Państwowa Komisja Bezpieczeństwa • sowietyzacja independence underground • 5th Vilnius Brigade of the Home Army • Gdańsk Pomorze • the “People’s” Polish Army • State Security Commission • Sovietisation
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