Dabrowski Battalion
| Dabrowski Battalion | |
|---|---|
One of the flags of the battalion | |
| Active | 14 October 1936–24 September 1938 1 January 1939–9 January 1939 |
| Country | Poland |
| Allegiance | Spanish Republic |
| Branch | 11th Mobile Brigade (XI "Hans Beimler" International Brigade) XII International Brigade 150th International Brigade XIII International Brigade |
| Type | Foreign volunteer Battalion |
| Size | 600 men (November 1936) |
| Nickname | Dąbrowszczacy |
| Patron | Jarosław Dąbrowski |
| Motto | For our freedom and yours |
| Engagements | Spanish Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Józef Strzelczyk |
The Dabrowski Battalion, also known as Dąbrowszczacy (Polish pronunciation: [dɔmbrɔfˈʂt͡ʂat͡sɨ]), was a battalion of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. It was initially formed entirely of volunteers, "chiefly composed of Polish miners recently living and working in France and Belgium". Due to the relatively short travelling distances, these men were amongst the first to arrive in Spain. The battalion had a strong Polish flavour and even when, towards the end of the war, Poles were heavily outnumbered by Spanish troops, the officers and non-commissioned officers were still predominantly Polish. It also contained a significant nucleus of Red Army officers. It fought from 1936-1939.
The battalion was raised in Albacete (the headquarters depot of the International Brigades) in mid-October 1936.