BITWA 9. PUŁKU STRZELCÓW KONNYCH ARMII KRAJOWEJ Z NIEMCAMI NA OSOWYCH GRZĘDACH (8/9 WRZEŚNIA 1944) JAKO OSTATNI AKT OPERACJI „BURZA” NA ZIEMI GRAJEWSKIEJ
THE BATTLE OF THE 9TH MOUNTED RIFLE REGIMENT OF THE HOME ARMY WITH THE GERMANS AT OSOWE GRZĘDY (SEPTEMBER 8/9, 1944) AS THE LAST ACT OF OPERATION “BURZA” IN THE GRAJEWO REGION

Summary/Abstract: The Battle of Osowe Grzędy on September 8–9, 1944, was one of the largestskirmishes between Home Army units and German forces in the Białystok Home ArmyDistrict. It was preceded by actions by the Polish independence underground as part of thenationwide Operation Tempest. A strong partisan unit of approximately 350 soldiers wasassembled, named the 9th Home Army Mounted Rifle Regiment, in reference to the pre-war Polish Army unit stationed in Grajewo. The camp was established in the area of the pre-warCzerwone Bagno reserve in Osowe Grzędy, behind German lines, near the Soviet-Germanfront. To liquidate the Polish base, the Nazis gathered approximately 4,000 soldiers. A clashensued, inflicting heavy losses on both sides. In a dramatic twist, only a few managed toescape the encirclement. Some surviving Polish soldiers were forcibly incorporated intothe Polish People’s Army, and only a group of approximately 60 men under the commandof Lieutenant Władysław Świacki and Lieutenant Antoni Zabiłowicz managed to escapesafely. The battle ended partisan operations under the “Burza” command in the GrajewoHome Army District. The 9th Home Army Mounted Rifle Regiment ceased to exist. Everyyear on the anniversary of the battle, patriotic ceremonies are held in the area where thesetragic events occurred, commemorating this past act of independence. The aim of this articlewas to remind the residents of Ełk, which has a memorial site for the 9th Home ArmyMounted Rifle Regiment, of the Battle of Osowe Grzędy, so that it would become embeddedin the popular historical consciousness.

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