Polish legions (French Army)

One gathers under the term Polish legions different military units Pole being useful in the French Army, of the Années 1790 with the Années 1810.

After the third division of Poland in 1795, much of Pole believe that France will want to come to assistance of Poland, the countries having divided Poland (Prussia, Austria and Russia) being all enemy of France. Many officers, soldiers and emigrated volunteers of Poland and benches in other countries, particularly in Italy, engage in the local armies.

With the support of Bonaparte, special units of Pole are created; they are ordered by Poles, and use the Polish ranks. They are called the Polish Legions and are regarded as a Polish army in exile under French authority. The main leaders of this army are Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, Karol Kniaziewicz and Józef Wybicki. The Polish legions were useful in the French Army during the wars of the Revolution and the Empire, the Antilles in Russia and Italy in Egypt.

Although Napoleon created a small Polish State, the Grand Duchy of Warsaw (1807-1815), it is about on it did not want to recreate a vast State polono-Lithuanian, as before the partitions of Poland. It was satisfied with vague promises on this subject, not to stop the flood of Polish volunteers. It operated, playing of fears of Russia, Austria and Prussia of the re-creation of this Allied state in France. Nevertheless, the Polish volunteers under the French flag followed Napoleon throughout his career, and still today, the memory of the Polish legions is strong in Poland, Napoleon being regarded as a hero and a liberator.

History of the legions

Wars of the Revolution

Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, officer of the army of the kingdom Polono-Lithuanian, begins his work in 1796, when it is destined for Paris by Bonaparte. It is authorized by the Republic-sister of the French Republic, the République cisalpine, to create a Polish Legion, which will be integrated into the army of the République of Lombardy. It is also authorized to sign an agreement with the government of the Republic of Lombardy for the creation of a second legion. The legions of Dabrowski fight initially in Italy against the Austrians, having to have a natural sympathy to people combatant for his independence, the Italian cause appearing to them similar to their. As of the first engagements, the legions prove their value, and take part in 1798 in the catch of Rome. It is as of this time as date the Mazurek Dąbrowskiego, current National anthem of Poland, written by Józef Wybicki, and whose words promise the return of the Polish army of Italy towards Poland . In 1799, Karol Kniaziewicz creates the Polish legion of the Danube to fight the Germans in Balkans.

However, the Poles cannot always choose their engagements, and their moral is reached when they are sent to repress revolts (as that of the Papal States) instead of fighting against the countries which divided Poland.

Then, in 1802, the Polish legions (strong then of 5280 men) are sent to Haiti to crush the Haitian Révolution, which, with the sending of the quotas of the Swiss and German allies, makes it possible not to draw from the French Army itself. The Poles quickly became sympathetic nerves with the Haitians, who believe that those support Jean-Jacques Dessalines so much so that units change edge. In fact, approximately 150 Poles deserted to change edge. In less than two years, the losses with the combat and the tropical diseases (as the Yellow fever) reduce manpower of the legions to a few hundreds of men. When the French Army is withdrawn in 1803,4000 Poles died, 400 remain on the island, a few tens dispersed in the islands around or left to be established in the United States, and approximately 700 turn over to France. But these many losses carry a serious blow to the hopes of the Poles to find their independence, and the Haitian experiment weakens confidence towards the good intentions of France, from now on controlled by Napoleon, towards Poland.

Napoleonean Wars

In 1806, the legions of Dabrowski and the Danube are reduced to a regiment of infantry and a regiment of cavalry, placed at the service of king de Naples. These two regiments take part in the victories over Prussia in Silesia with Iéna, and Dabrowski penetrates with the head of its troops in Poland close to the town of Poznan. This entry causes an surge of volunteers. One year later, Napoleon demolishes the Russians of Alexandre Ier and, during the negotiations of Tilsit, it obtains the agreement of the tsar for the creation of a small Polish State, under French control.

This State is named Duché of Warsaw: it is much smaller than the kingdom of Poland-Lithuania, including/understanding only some of the Polish territories of Prussia (increased into 1809 of others taken in Austria), but its creation returns the hope to the Poles, and causes a new surge of volunteers under the French flags. But the kingdom of Poland-Lithuania is not reconstituted: an ally of France is put on the throne, Frederic-Auguste Ier of Saxony, without being authorized to develop an independent State. Frederic Auguste is largely pledged in France, which treats its State like a source of revenue. In fact, the most important character of the duchy was the ambassador in station with Warsaw.

During the war of Spain, the legions Polish, become the Legion of the Vistula and strong of 6000 men, are distinguished with the Bataille from Somosierra, inspiring the creation of units of Lancier S, with weapons and uniforms with Polish, with the British.

In 1812, Napoleon takes pretext of a revolt of the Lithuanians to invade Russia. The Poles and the Lithuanians, hoping for ressusciter their State, form the most important foreign quota of the Large army, with approximately 98 000 men (on the 600 000 of the Large army). The Lancier S Polish of the legion of the Vistula are the first to cross the Niémen and to penetrate in Russia, as well as the first to enter to Moscow. They take a big part with the Bataille of Moskova, and cover the French retirement. The prince Joseph Poniatowski, who orders them, saves the life of Napoleon personally and is the last to be left Russia. 26 000 of the 98 000 Poles leave Russia; their unit of elite, the legion of the Vistula, which starts the countryside with 7000 men, has nothing any more but 1500 of return of them on Niémen.

The Polish legions follow the fate of Napoleon and the duchy of Warsaw. The Prussian and Russian troops follow the Large army and occupy the duchy. The Poles are still distinguished with Leipzig.

The only authorized guard of Napoleon to the isle of Elba is a squadron of Polish lancers. During the Hundred Days, the 325 men of colonel Golaszewski are the last men of the legion of the Vistula to serve Napoleon. The Poles remain to him faithful until bitter the fin, with the Battle of Waterloo, where they still make wonders of value.

When the duchy is officially divided with the Congrès of Vienna between its neighbors, and that Napoleon raises the Poles of their oath, the legions cease existing. Their memory however is strong in Poland, and Napoleon, even if it did not reconstitute Poland completely, is regarded as a hero and a liberator.

List

Legions of Dabrowski:

Italic Legion

Legion of the Danube
Legion of the Vistula

See too

Units of Polish volunteers to the service of France

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