32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group

The 32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group, known in Polish as 32 Dywizjon Pancerny, was a Polish armoured reconnaissance formation active during the opening phase of the Second World War. It was mobilised in August 1939 by the 7th Armoured Battalion in Grodno and assigned to the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. Its role was to provide mobile reconnaissance, fire support, and delaying-action capability for the brigade’s mounted and infantry formations during the Polish September Campaign. The group was organised around three principal elements. Its tankette squadron operated 13 TKS tankettes, lightly armoured tracked vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns. Its armoured-car squadron fielded eight Type 34-II armoured cars, each carrying a 37 mm cannon and two machine guns. A transport and repair squadron supplied recovery, maintenance, fuel, and vehicle transport functions. Major Stanisław Szostak commanded the formation. The group first saw action on 2 September 1939, when its tankette squadron supported the 9th Mounted Rifle Regiment in an attack on Groß Brzosken in East Prussia. The Polish force withdrew after the operation because no major German formation was present in the area. From 3–4 September onward, German forces broke through defensive positions west of the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. The 32nd Group then used its armoured squadrons as mobile fire-support units, helping slow the German advance and engaging forces associated with Panzer Division Kempf and the Wehrmacht. Repeated combat caused losses in both vehicles and personnel. During the brigade’s retreat, the group became temporarily isolated behind German lines near Wyliny-Ruś on 13 September. The village was subsequently burned by German forces in reprisal for a successful attack attributed to the group. After breaking through German positions, the unit rejoined the brigade on 14 September in the Pietkowo forest near Łapy. It crossed the Narew on 15 September using a railway bridge near Strabla and reached Vawkavysk on 16 September, although the remnants of its armoured equipment had been lost by that stage. The Soviet invasion of eastern Poland on 17 September changed the group’s mission and route. Major Szostak was initially ordered to proceed toward Wilno, but the rapid Soviet victory there led to a new order to cross into Lithuania. Szostak instead chose to move toward Grodno and continue resistance against the Soviet forces. His men were reinforced by a platoon from the 94th Anti-Aircraft Battery, equipped with a Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun and commanded by Second Lieutenant Musiał. The group reached Grodno on 20 September while the city was under Soviet attack. On 21 September, personnel from the 7th Armoured Battalion barracks used machine-gun fire against advancing Soviet infantry, contributing to their withdrawal. Later that day, acting on orders from General Wacław Przeździecki, the group began withdrawing toward the Lithuanian border. Szostak organised a temporary defence at Giby on 22 September, but the absence of requested anti-tank weapons and explosives made continued resistance impractical. The group therefore continued toward Lithuania and crossed the border near Szypliszki on 24 September, where its personnel were interned by Lithuanian authorities. The formation ceased to operate as an independent armoured reconnaissance group after internment. Some of its officers and soldiers later served in the 2nd Polish Corps, part of the British Eighth Army. Lieutenant Alexander Strokowski, identified as commander of the armoured-car squadron, was killed by a guard at a Lithuanian internment camp. The group is consequently remembered as a wartime military formation rather than a commercial brand or continuing organisation.

The 32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Group was a Polish armoured formation created for the 1939 wartime mobilisation. Its Polish designation was 32 Dywizjon Pancerny. The unit was raised by the 7th Armoured Battalion, stationed in Grodno, and placed under the command of Major Stanisław Szostak. It formed part of the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade, where its armoured vehicles could provide reconnaissance, direct fire, local counterattacks, and mobile cover for the brigade’s movements. The group’s organisation reflected the equipment available to Polish armoured units shortly before the outbreak of war. One squadron operated 13 TKS tankettes armed with heavy machine guns. A second squadron operated eight Type 34-II armoured cars fitted with a 37 mm cannon and two machine guns. The transport and repair squadron included a repair vehicle, fuel tankers, and lorries. This structure gave the group a combination of light tracked vehicles, wheeled armoured firepower, and basic logistical support, but it was not a formation designed to fight German armoured divisions in prolonged conventional engagements. Its first recorded operation occurred on 2 September 1939, when the tankette squadron supported the 9th Mounted Rifle Regiment in an attack on Groß Brzosken in East Prussia. The area was held by German border guards and Landwehr elements rather than a major field formation, and the Polish force subsequently withdrew into Poland. The strategic situation deteriorated over the following days. On 3 and 4 September, German forces broke through Polish defensive positions west of the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade. The 32nd Group then committed its armoured squadrons to repeated mobile-support actions, using machine-gun and cannon fire to assist brigade units and delay German forces, including formations associated with Panzer Division Kempf. Combat and withdrawal reduced both the group’s personnel and its vehicle strength. On 13 September, while covering the brigade’s retreat, the unit became trapped behind German lines near Wyliny-Ruś. The village was burned by German forces in reprisal for a successful attack carried out by the group. The formation nevertheless managed to force its way back through the German positions. On 14 September it reached the brigade in the Pietkowo forest near Łapy. General Ludwik Kmicic-Skrzyński, the brigade commander, ordered a movement toward the Białowieża Forest and authorised the group to cross the Narew and continue toward Vawkavysk. The river crossing took place on 15 September over a railway bridge near Strabla. The group reached Vawkavysk on 16 September, but by then it had lost the remnants of its armoured equipment. The Soviet invasion of Poland began on 17 September. Major Szostak received orders to drive toward Wilno and join the defence of the city. Wilno fell quickly to Soviet forces, and on 19 September Polish troops were ordered to cross into Lithuania. Szostak did not immediately comply. Instead, he chose to move toward Grodno and continue fighting the Soviet invasion. His remaining personnel were joined by an anti-aircraft platoon from the 94th Anti-Aircraft Battery, commanded by Second Lieutenant Musiał and equipped with a Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun. The reinforced group reached Grodno on 20 September. During fighting on 21 September, its personnel operated from the barracks of the 7th Armoured Battalion and fired machine guns at advancing Soviet infantry. The Soviet infantry withdrew after suffering significant losses according to the unit’s historical account. Later on the same day, General Wacław Przeździecki ordered the group to withdraw toward Lithuania. Szostak organised a defensive position at Giby on 22 September, but the requested anti-tank weapons and explosives did not arrive. Without the means to resist armoured forces effectively, he continued the withdrawal. On 24 September, Szostak and his remaining men crossed the Lithuanian border near Szypliszki and were interned. Soviet tanks reached the border approximately an hour later. The group did not continue as an independent formation after internment. Its officers and soldiers subsequently contributed personnel to the 2nd Polish Corps, which served with the British Eighth Army. Lieutenant Alexander Strokowski, the armoured-car squadron commander, was killed by a guard at a Lithuanian internment camp. The 32nd Group’s historical importance lies in its record of mobile combat during the collapse of the Polish defensive system in 1939 and in the later service of its personnel with Polish forces in the West.

• 1939

  August mobilisation

  [1]32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 7th Armoured Battalion mobilised the group at Grodno and assigned it to the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade.

• 1939

  Action at Groß Brzosken

  [1]32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The tankette squadron supported the 9th Mounted Rifle Regiment in an attack on German border and Landwehr positions.

• 1939

  Retreat and breakout near Wyliny-Ruś

  [1]32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group fought delaying actions, became isolated behind German lines, and later broke through to rejoin the brigade.

• 1939

  Arrival at Vawkavysk

  [1]32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After crossing the Narew near Strabla, the group reached Vawkavysk with its remaining armoured equipment effectively lost.

• 1939

  Defence of Grodno

  [1]32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group participated in the defence of Grodno against Soviet forces after the invasion of eastern Poland.

• 1939

  Internment in Lithuania

  [1]32nd Armoured Reconnaissance Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The surviving formation crossed into Lithuania near Szypliszki and was interned.

A wartime Polish reconnaissance and mobile fire-support formation assigned to support the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade.

• armoured vehicle formation

  TKS tankette squadron

  The group’s tankette squadron operated 13 TKS tankettes. These compact tracked vehicles were primarily suited to reconnaissance, liaison, and close mobile fire support. The reported armament consisted of heavy machine guns, giving the squadron useful capability against exposed infantry and lightly protected positions but limited effectiveness against tanks and fortified targets.

• armoured vehicle formation

  Type 34-II armoured car squadron

  The armoured-car squadron fielded eight Type 34-II armoured cars. Each vehicle carried a 37 mm cannon and two machine guns, providing stronger direct-fire capability than the tankettes. The squadron supported the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade through mobile fire and manoeuvre during the German advance and the subsequent withdrawal toward the Soviet-occupied zone.

• logistics

  Transport and repair squadron

  The transport and repair element supported the armoured squadrons with a repair vehicle, fuel tankers, and lorries. Its function was to maintain vehicle mobility and move personnel and supplies during the group’s rapidly changing operations in September 1939.

• 1939Polish September Campaign

  Poland · East Prussia

  The group supported the Podlaska Cavalry Brigade during the German invasion of Poland. It attacked or supported operations near Groß Brzosken, conducted mobile delaying actions, fought German forces associated with Panzer Division Kempf, and covered the brigade’s retreat through the Narew area toward Vawkavysk.

  Outcome. The unit suffered substantial losses and reached Vawkavysk without the remnants of its armoured equipment.

  Source
• 1939Defence of Grodno

  Grodno

  Following the Soviet invasion of Poland, Major Szostak redirected the group toward Grodno rather than immediately crossing into Lithuania. Reinforced by an anti-aircraft platoon, the group participated in the city’s defence on 20–21 September.

  Outcome. The group withdrew after receiving orders to move toward Lithuania and after the absence of adequate anti-tank weapons made a sustained defence impractical.

  Source

• 1939

  Decision to resist at GrodnoStrategy

  Background

  After Wilno fell rapidly to Soviet forces, the group received instructions connected with movement toward Lithuania. Major Szostak instead chose to proceed to Grodno and continue fighting the Soviet invasion.

  Action taken

  The group moved to Grodno and joined the city’s defence, supported by a platoon from the 94th Anti-Aircraft Battery.

  Aftermath

  Following the defence of Grodno, the formation withdrew toward Lithuania and was interned after crossing the border.

  Source

• 1939

  Withdrawal toward LithuaniaStrategy

  Background

  At Giby, the group lacked the anti-tank weapons and explosives requested for continued resistance.

  Action taken

  Major Szostak ordered the remaining personnel to continue toward the Lithuanian border rather than attempt an unsupported stand.

  Aftermath

  The group crossed into Lithuania near Szypliszki on 24 September and was interned.

  Source

1. 132nd Armoured Reconnaissance Groupen.wikipedia.org