2nd Brigade, Polish Legions


Brigade II of the Polish Legions, also known as the Iron or Carpathian Brigade, a unit of Austro-Hungarian Army, manned by Austrian Poles, part of the Polish Legions in World War I, that existed from 1914 or 1915 till 1918.

History

The unit was formed in mid-December 1914, as part of the Polish Legions in World War I. The Brigade was first commanded by an Austrian officer, Ferdynand Küttner, and from 14 July 1916 by a Polish officer, Józef Haller de Hallenburg.
In 1917 most of the Brigade followed Haller and unlike the I Brigade and III Brigade, which followed Józef Piłsudski, it swore an oath during the Oath crisis. It eventually formed the bulk of the Polish Auxiliary Corps.
After the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Brigade rebelled against the Austro-Hungarians, joining other Polish units and fighting for the cause of Polish independence. In March 1918 the Brigade was combined with the Polish II Corps in Russia.
It was the only First World War Polish formation that fought against all three partitioners of Poland.

Battles

Major battles fought by the Second Brigade included:
The Second Brigade comprised 3 infantry regiments, a cavalry regiment, as well as support units.