Drawsko Training Ground

Colonel Franciszek Sadowski Land Forces Training Centre in Drawsko
Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych Drawsko im. płk. dypl. Franciszka Sadowskiego
Armed forces training (buildings in the distance), 2013
Country	Poland
Allegiance	Poland, NATO
Branch	Polish Land Forces
Type	Training and proving ground
Size	339.68 square kilometres (131.15 sq mi)
Garrison/HQ	Office in Oleszno, West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Nickname(s)	Poligon Drawski
Patron	Franciszek Sadowski
Anniversaries	29 May
Website	cswldrawsko.wp.mil.pl
Commanders
Current commander	See § Commanders
Insignia
Identification symbol

The Colonel Franciszek Sadowski Land Forces Training Centre in Drawsko (Polish language: Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych Drawsko im. płk. dypl. Franciszka Sadowskiego ), commonly known as the Drawsko Training Ground (Polish language: Poligon Drawski ) is a training and proving ground located approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southwest of Drawsko Pomorskie, West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The training ground was called the Flugplatz Gabbert of the German Reichswehr. Aside from being used by the Polish Army, it is also used by all member states of NATO.

History

The unit originated in Jelenino, a village near Szczecinek and was created on 2 February 1946 as the Command of the Artillery Proving Ground (Polish language: Komenda Poligonu Artyleryjnego ). The unit was moved on 12 January 1949 to Oleszno, where it currently lies. The base was then changed to both a proving and training ground. Eventually, the name of the ground changed to the 2nd District Artillery Training Ground (Polish language: II Okręgowy Poligon Artylerii ).

Many military events happened and happen in the area, most notably "Odra - Nysa 69", "Tarcza 76" and "Tarcza 88". In October 2000, the V Corps of the United States participated in a field exercise codenamed "VICTORY STRIKE". More than 2 thousand soldiers participated in the event.

Settlements located in the area

The training ground's area itself is located in Drawsko County, on the border of Gmina Kalisz Pomorski and Gmina Drawsko Pomorskie. The settlements on the area are:

• Gmina Kalisz Pomorski
  • Głębokie
  • Prostynia
  • Jaworze
  • Borowo
  • Czertyń
• Gmina Drawsko Pomorskie
  • Oleszno (headquarters)
  • Ziemsko
  • Żołędowo
  • Dzikowo
  • Konotop

Commanders

The commanders of the area were and are:

• Maj. Ludomir Kościesza Wolski (1946–1950)
• Lt. Col. Jan Sementz (1950–1962)
• Brig. Gen. Leon Dubicki (March–September 1962)
• Lt. Franciszek Raban (1962–1964)
• Brig. Gen. Józef Kolasa (1964–1966)
• Lt. Jan Bodylewicz (1966–1974)
• Lt. Franciszek Sadowski (1974–1979)
• Lt. Jan Matejuk (1988–1996)
• Lt. Jan Krupa (1996–1998)
• Lt. Robert Jabłoński (1998–2001)
• Lt. Antoni Budkowski (2001–2004)
• Lt. Michał Wałęza (2004–2010)
• Lt. Marek Gmurski (2010–present)