21st Mountain Infantry Division (Poland)

21st Mountain Infantry Division
The Highlander Cross badge worn on the collars of the Podhale Rifles Regiments
Active	1919-1944
Country	Poland
Branch	Land forces
Type	Mountain infantry
Role	Mountain warfare
Size	ca. 16,000
Garrison/HQ	Nowy Sącz, Bielsko, Cieszyn, Bogumin, Kraków
Nickname(s)	Podhalańczycy

The 21st Mountain Infantry Division (Polish: 21 Dywizja Piechoty Górskiej, 21 DPG) was a pre-war unit of the Polish Army. It was one of two mountain infantry divisions of Poland to take part in the Invasion of Poland of 1939. Currently its traditions are continued by Polish 21st Podhale Rifles Brigade. Until 1939 the unit was commanded by Gen.bryg. Józef Kustroń and was stationed in and around the towns of Nowy Sącz, Bielsko, Cieszyn, Bogumin, Kraków.

Along with 11th Infantry and 22nd Mountain Infantry Divisions, the 21st was notable for its distinctive uniforms, based on folk attire of the Gorals (Polish highlanders) rather than standard uniforms of the Polish Army. During the Invasion of Poland, the division was attached to Bielsko Operational Group of the Kraków Army. It defended the line of Cieszyn-Bogumin in the region of Zaolzie. Following the steady withdrawal eastwards, it was victorious in the battles of Krzywoczka and Mogilany along the Dunajec. Attacked on September 6 by superior forces of the German 2nd Panzer Division and German 4th Panzer Division, parts of its shielding forces managed to withdraw to the other side of the river, blowing the bridges in Bobrowniki up. At the same time, a major part of the division was assaulted prior to the river crossing and had to withdraw northwards, where it joined with the Polish 6th Infantry Division near the town of Biskupice.