First Cadre Company
| First Cadre Company | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | August 1914 |
| Country | Austro-Hungarian Empire |
| Branch | Austro-Hungarian Army |
| Type | Infantry & Cavalry |
| Size | 145-168 |
| Garrison/HQ | Garnizon Kraków |
| March | Kadrówka |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Disbanded | August 16–27, 1914 |
| Commanders | |
| Founder | Józef Piłsudski |
| Initial Commander | Tadeusz Kasprzycki |
| Final Commander | Kazimierz Jan Piątek |
The First Cadre Company (Polish: Pierwsza Kompania Kadrowa) was a Polish military formation created in the Austro-Hungarian Army at the outbreak of World War I. The company was founded by Józef Piłsudski on August 3, 1914 in Cracow. It was the predecessor of the Polish Legions, and formed the core of the Polish Legions' First Brigade during World War I.
The First Cadre Company came into formation when the Riflemen's Association and the Polish Rifle Squads were mobilized between July 29 and August 2 in 1914 by Józef Piłsudski. At 6pm on August 3, the First Cadre was formally created in the Oleandry district of Cracow (just east of Jordan Park). On August 4 and 5, the Cadre underwent re-organization while the soldiers received short yet extensive training. Tadeusz Kasprzycki was appointed commander. The Cadre consisted of four platoons, each consisting of four groups of 10 soldiers each. The exact number of soldiers varies throughout various sources, yet the general estimate is put at somewhere between 145 and 168 soldiers, which included the notable The Seven Lancers of Belina.
On August 6, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on the Russian Empire. At a quarter to three in the morning of that day, the First Cadre set out for the Austro-Hungarian — Russian border. It crossed into Tsarist Poland at the border village of Michałowice. On August 8, commander Kasprzycki was transferred to the General Command and replaced by Kazimierz Jan Piątek. The first eight volunteers were accepted into the Cadre's ranks the same day. On August 12, the First Cadre participated in the capture of Kielce in full battalion strength alongside the Second Company led by Stanisław Tessaro and the Third Company led by Wacław Scaevola-Wieczorkiewicz. The First Cadre then attempted to break through the Russian lines and continue northwards. The objective was to capture Warsaw with hopes of setting off an uprising in Tsarist Poland against the Russian authorities. However, the Russians checked the First Cadre just outside Kielce on August 13, which resulted in the Cadre's retreat from Kielce to Kraków.
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