Dabrowski Battalion

Dabrowski Battalion
Active1936–1939
CountryPoland
Allegiance Spain
Branch 11th Mobile Brigade (XI "Hans Beimler" International Brigade)
XII International Brigade
150th International Brigade
XIII International Brigade
TypeBattalion of the International Brigades
Nickname(s)Dąbrowszczacy
Motto(s)For our freedom and yours
Mascot(s)Jarosław Dąbrowski
EngagementsSiege of Madrid
Battle of Jarama
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Józef Strzelczyk

The Dabrowski Battalion, also known as Dąbrowszczacy (Polish pronunciation: [dɔmbrɔfˈʂt͡ʂat͡sɨ]), was a battalion of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. It was initially formed entirely of volunteers, "chiefly composed of Polish miners recently living and working in France and Belgium".[1][2] Due to the relatively short travelling distances, these men were amongst the first to arrive in Spain. The battalion had a strong Polish flavour and even when, towards the end of the war, Poles were heavily outnumbered by Spanish troops, the officers and non-commissioned officers were still predominantly Polish. It also contained a significant nucleus of Red Army officers.[3] It fought from 1936-1939.

The battalion was raised in Albacete (the headquarters depot of the International Brigades) in mid-October 1936.[4]

  1. ^ Thomas, The Spanish Civil War, p. 324
  2. ^ See also Polish Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War
  3. ^ Beevor, Antony (2006). The Battle for Spain. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-7538-2165-7.
  4. ^ "Brigada Internacional Batalló Jaroslaw Dabrowski". lernen-aus-der-geschichte.de (in German). Retrieved 27 November 2019.

Developed by StudentB