Soldiers of the 27th Division crossing a forest in early 1944

Recce squad of the 50th Regiment; early 1944

Officers of the 50th Division

Meeting with the officers of the brigade of Col. Buynov in Szack Forest in May 1944

History

The unit was mobilized from minor units of the Kowel, ?uck and Równe Home Army inspectorates. After finishing the mobilization in March 1944, the division became the biggest partisan unit in Central Europe with 7300 soldiers, officers and NCOs.

The division initially aided local self-defence units during the massacres of Poles in Volhynia and fought against the Ukrainian Uprising Army. It also fought German anti-partisan units and regular Wehrmacht troops. In 1944 the division fought several major battles near W?odzimierz Wo?y?ski (February 23), Ho?oby (March 9) and Zasmyki (March 17). During the latter two battles the division cooperated with local Soviet partisan groups and the advancing Red Army. After reaching the frontline and contacting with the Soviets, Col. Jan Kiwerski "Oliwa" was asked to join the unit with the Red Army as a regular unit of Soviet-backed Polish army. He declined and returned to partisan fights. The division was surrounded by the Germans near Kowel on April 2.

After receiving a promise of Soviet help, the unit fought surrounded for two weeks and then, after no help arrived, started to break through in the direction of W?odawa. As a result of heavy fighting, losses varied between 10% and 50% of personnel.

The division returned northwards and was surrounded by the end of May. Elements of the division broke through the Prype? river and reached the Soviet lines. The officers were arrested by the NKVD and sent to Russia while most of the soldiers were conscripted to the army of Gen. Zygmunt Berling.

The remnants of the division withdrew westwards, crossed the Bug River on June 7 to the Parczew Forest near Lublin. It joined other Home Army units and took part in the liberation of Kock, Lubartów, and the village Firlej on July 21.

After the Red Army reached the area they took over the captured territory. Most of the divisions officers, NCOs and ordinary soldiers were arrested by the NKVD and sent to GuLags. Only a small part joined the Red Army or the Polish Army.

Commanders

Last gathering of one of division before it was disarmed by the Red Army

• Col. Kazimierz Damian B?bi?ski "Lubo?" - January 15 - February 11
• Lt.Col. Jan Wojciech Kiwerski "Oliwa" - February 11 - April 18
• Maj. Jan Szatowski "Kowal" - April 18 - May 3
• Maj. Tadeusz Sztumberk-Rychter "?egota" - May 3 - July 16
• Col. Jan Kotowicz "Twardy" - July 16 - July 25

See also

• Operation Tempest
• Przebra?e Defence

pl:27 Wo?y?ska Dywizja Piechoty