1802-1804 : The Great Patriotic War
Background
In the decades prior to 1802 there had been a number of small uprisings and revolts organised by angered Polish peasants or small failed attempts at power under young nobles, all of which were swiftly and brutally stopped and crushed by the three occupying powers. By 1790 a underground organisation called the Polish Organisation for National Independence had been created which had began formulating plans to rise up and take control in the Polish lands. The organisation began with a few hundred members and quickly grew until by 1800 the organisation numbered over 100,000 members and over one million supporters. The organisation purchased weapons from countries such as France and imported them via grain shipments. The PONI also infiltrated ethnic Polish units serving in the Austrian, Prussian and Russian armies.
By August of 1801, the organisation had stockpiled 210,000 muskets, 700 cannons and a few thousand swords and pistols. The organisation had 95,000 members who were trained to use the weapons with thousands more trained in support roles. To add to this the organisation could rely on in the event of an uprising, on the involvement of around 205,000 ethnic Polish soldiers (serving in the occupying powers armies) who could be encouraged to join an open revolt.
The organisation in September of 1801 came under the control of Michał Polka, an ethnic Pole who had been born in Krakow (Austrian Poland) and served as the Deputy President of Austrian Poland (the highest civic rank a Pole could rise to in the Polish region).
In the decades prior to 1802 there had been a number of small uprisings and revolts organised by angered Polish peasants or small failed attempts at power under young nobles, all of which were swiftly and brutally stopped and crushed by the three occupying powers. By 1790 a underground organisation called the Polish Organisation for National Independence had been created which had began formulating plans to rise up and take control in the Polish lands. The organisation began with a few hundred members and quickly grew until by 1800 the organisation numbered over 100,000 members and over one million supporters. The organisation purchased weapons from countries such as France and imported them via grain shipments. The PONI also infiltrated ethnic Polish units serving in the Austrian, Prussian and Russian armies.
By August of 1801, the organisation had stockpiled 210,000 muskets, 700 cannons and a few thousand swords and pistols. The organisation had 95,000 members who were trained to use the weapons with thousands more trained in support roles. To add to this the organisation could rely on in the event of an uprising, on the involvement of around 205,000 ethnic Polish soldiers (serving in the occupying powers armies) who could be encouraged to join an open revolt.
The organisation in September of 1801 came under the control of Michał Polka, an ethnic Pole who had been born in Krakow (Austrian Poland) and served as the Deputy President of Austrian Poland (the highest civic rank a Pole could rise to in the Polish region).
General Sławomir Kocinski (Commander of the 2nd Army) and a unit of Polish lancers who have defected from the Prussian Army, navigating a river crossing outside Poznan.
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A 6-pdr cannon of a Polish battery opens fire on the Austrian Garrison at Krakow. Note their uniforms are those of Polish soldiers serving in the Austrian Army.
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The Great Patriotic War
The uprising began on the 26th of April, 1802. The forces were divided into four operating armies. The 1st Army was tasked with occupying the Austrian sphere of influence around Krakow and numbered 40,000 volunteers and 50,000 soldiers who defected from the Austrian Army. The 2nd Army was tasked with liberating Western Poland with a force of 25,000 volunteers and 85,000 soldiers who defected from the Prussian Army. The 3rd Army was tasked with liberating central Poland and Warsaw with a combined force of 30,000 Prussian defectors, 40,000 Russian defectors and a further 30,000 volunteers.
The uprising started a month after Ottoman forces had invaded Austria, a week after France had invaded Russia and 6 months after Russia had been invaded by a combined Swedish and British force. The result meant that as the uprising began there were only limited numbers of troops in occupied Poland. Warsaw, Gdansk and Łodz quickly fell in the first three days, quickly followed by Poznan and Torun. Krakow was sieged for a week before finally falling.
The uprising began on the 26th of April, 1802. The forces were divided into four operating armies. The 1st Army was tasked with occupying the Austrian sphere of influence around Krakow and numbered 40,000 volunteers and 50,000 soldiers who defected from the Austrian Army. The 2nd Army was tasked with liberating Western Poland with a force of 25,000 volunteers and 85,000 soldiers who defected from the Prussian Army. The 3rd Army was tasked with liberating central Poland and Warsaw with a combined force of 30,000 Prussian defectors, 40,000 Russian defectors and a further 30,000 volunteers.
The uprising started a month after Ottoman forces had invaded Austria, a week after France had invaded Russia and 6 months after Russia had been invaded by a combined Swedish and British force. The result meant that as the uprising began there were only limited numbers of troops in occupied Poland. Warsaw, Gdansk and Łodz quickly fell in the first three days, quickly followed by Poznan and Torun. Krakow was sieged for a week before finally falling.
