Poland is Still Free
A Guide to the Polish Army
1940-1945

France 1940 and Mideast 1941-42

by Greg Novak

Editor's Note:

Some of the following appears in the revised edition of Armies of the Second World War. It is presented here in full, with additional information.

POLISH ARMY FORCES IN FRANCE, 1940

The fall of Poland in 1939 did not end Polish participation in World War II. Those Polish troops who had interned themselves in Hungary and Romania were given orders to make their way to France. From them, and the Polish citizens already living, it was hoped to rebuild the Polish Army. Not all of the Polish troops interned made it to France, but enough did escape to cause the Polish Army to arise from its grave and again take the field.

The problems for the newly created Polish Army was not a shortage of manpower, but one of weapons and supplies. Though the traditional friend of Poland, the French government was somewhat embarrassed by the fact that by December of 1939, 80,000 Polish troops had assembled in France. Weapons and supplies were in short supply, and it took some time for the French government to agree to free up the needed items. (As a point of note, France continued to export items such as light AA autocannon, AT guns, and tanks to other countries for cash, rather than issue those needed items to her own troops.

The first Polish unit to be called up was a Mountain (Highland) Brigade intended to join the Anglo-French forces that were to be sent to aid Finland. When that project fell though, the brigade was diverted to the Norwegian campaign, and served near Narvik in 1940.

1st Independent Highland Brigade

Veteran, Morale: 9

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 command car
    1 staff telephone truck

Brigade Supply Troops, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    3 supply trucks
    2 support stands

Highland Brigade AT Company, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    2 gun crew stands
    2 light trucks
    2 25L72 AT guns

1st Highland Demi Brigade, with:

    Demi Brigade Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 supply truck
      1 support stand
      1 gun crew stand 12L72 AT gun
      1 light truck

    1st Battalion, Highland Brigade, with:

      Battalion Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 recon infantry stand

      3 Infantry Companies, each with:

        1 command infantry stand
        3 infantry stands

      Weapons Company, with:

        2 MMG stands
        18 1 mm mortar stand (ds)

    2nd Battalion, Highland Brigade, with: as 1st Battalion

2nd Highland Demi Brigade, with:

    Demi Brigade Headquarters, with: as 1st Brigade
    3rd Battalion, Highland Brigade, with: as 1st Battalion
    4th Battalion, Highland Brigade, with: as 1st Battalion

At the outbreak of the German Offensive in May of 1940, two Polish infantry divisions were serving at the front, and two additional infantry divisions were still in the process of being equipped and trained. The 1st Infantry Division was serving in the Saar, while the 2nd was near Belfort. As neither the 3rd and 4th ilnfantry Divisions was ever fully equipped, their organizations should follow that used by the French "B" type infantry divisions.

The 10th Cavalry Brigade was slowly being equipped with vehicles and weapons in the spring of 1940. It was to have used the French Light Cavalry TO&E, but it was called to the front before being fully equipped.

The 1st Polish Infantry Division was badly cut up serving as the rearguard for the French forces in its area. The 2nd Polish Infantry Division retreated into Switzerland with other French troops. The 3rd Infantry Division and 10th Cavalry Brigade were both destroyed in the Battle of France, while only the 4th Infantry managed to make it to a port in time to be lifted out to England.

1st Grenadier (Infantry) Division


Experienced, Morale: 9
organize as 1939-1940 French Regular Infantry Division

1st Polish Infantry Regiment
2nd Polish Infantry Regiment
3rd Polish Infantry Regiment
13th Company of Pioneers
14th (AT) Company,
1st Polish Infantry Regiment
1st Polish Reconnaissance Battalion
1st (101st) Polish Artillery Regiment 3 battalions of horse-drawn 75mm guns
2nd (201st) Polish Heavy Artillery Regiment 2 battalions of horse-drawn 155mm howitzers
10th Battery, 1st Polish Artillery Regiment 47mm AT guns
185th Engineer Battalion: 1st and 2nd Engineer Companies
185th Signal battalion: 1st Company (telephone) and 2nd Company (radio) Divisional Services

2nd Rifle Division


Experienced, Morale: 9
organize as 1939-1940 French Regular Infantry Division

4th Polish Infantry Regiment
5th Polish Infantry Regiment
6th Polish Infantry Regiment
13th Company of Pioneers
2nd Polish Reconnaissance Battalion
2nd (202nd) Polish Artillery Regiment: 3 battalions of horse-drawn 75mm guns
202nd Polish Heavy Artillery Regiment: 3 battalions of horse-drawn 155mm howitzers
10th Battery, 2nd Polish Artillery Regiment: 47mm AT guns
186th Engineer Battalion: 1st and 2nd Engineer Companies
186th Signal Battalion: 1st Company (telephone) and 2nd Company (radio) Divisional Services

3rd Rifle Division


Trained, Morale: 8
organize as 1939-1940 French B Infantry Division

7th Polish Infantry Regiment
8th Polish Infantry Regiment
9th Polish Infantry Regiment
13th Company of Pioneers
3rd Polish Reconnaissance Battalion
3rd (203rd) Polish Artillery Regiment: 2 battalions of horse-drawn 75mm guns
203rd Polish Heavy Artillery Regiment: 1 battalion of horse-drawn 155mm howitzers
10th Battery, 3rd Polish Artillery Regiment: 75mm field guns
187th Engineer Battalion: 1st and 2nd Engineer Companies
187th Signal Battalion: 1st Company (telephone) and 2nd Company (radio) Divisional Services

4th Rifle Division


Trained, Morale 8
organize as 1939-1940 French B Infantry Division

10th Polish Infantry Regiment
11th Polish Infantry Regiment
12th Polish Infantry Regiment
13th Company of Pioneers
4th Polish Reconnaissance Battalion
4th (204th) Polish Artillery Regiment: 2 battalions of horse-drawn 75mm guns
204th Polish Heavy Artillery Regiment: 1 battalion of horse-drawn 155mm howitzers
10th Battery, 4th Polish Artillery Regiment: 75mm field guns
188th Engineer Battalion: 1st and 2nd Engineer Companies
188th Signal battalion: 1st Company (telephone) and 2nd Company (radio) Divisional Services

10th Mechanized Cavalry Brigade

Veteran, Morale: 9

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand 1 command car
    1 staff radio truck
    1 medium supply truck with towed field kitchen
    1 medium baggage truck
    1 support stand

Brigade Supply Troop, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    3 supply trucks
    2 support stands

Tank Regiment, with:

    Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command R-35
      Regimental Trains, with:
        1 medium supply truck with towed field kitchen
        1 medium baggage truck
        1 support stand

      1st Tank Battalion, with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command R-35
        3 Companies, each with: 2 R-35 tanks

      2nd Tank Battalion, with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command R-40
        2 Companies, each with: 2 R-40 tanks

24th Lancers, with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 command car

    2 Squadrons, each with:

      1 command infantry stand
      1 infantry stand
      1 MMG stand
      3 light trucks

    Squadron, with:

      1 command motorcycle infantry stand
      2 motorcycle infantry stands

    Weapons Squadron, with:

      2 MMG stands
      1 81mm mortar stand (ds)
      1 gun crew stand 125L72 AT gun
      2 medium trucks
      1 light truck

10th Mounted Rifles as 24th Lancers

Artillery Battery, with:

    1 command/FO stand
    1 command car
    1 gun crew stand (ds)
    1 medium truck
    1 support stand
    1 medium ammo truck
    1 105L19 howitzer

Antitank Battery, with:

    1 command car
    1 Lumaiwid stand
    3 gun crew stands
    3 light trucks
    2 25L72 AT guns
    1 47L53 AT gun

AA Battery, with:

    1 command car
    1 command stand
    2 gun crew stands
    2 light trucks
    2 40L56 AA guns

Engineer Company, with:

    1 command engineer stand
    2 engineer stands
    2 medium trucks
    1 medium supply truck
    1 medium baggage truck

The following units show up in the French Order of Battle as "Divisional Antitank Units."

8th Polish Antitank Company (17th French Light Division)
9th Polish Antitank Company (241st French Light Division)
10th Polish Antitank Company (59th French Light Division)

each with:
Antitank Battery Regular, Morale: 9

    1 command car
    1 command stand
    3 gun crew stands
    3 light trucks
    2 25L72 AT guns 147L53 AT gun

Polish Forces, Mideast, 1941-1942

The fall of France meant that those Polish troops who were escaping from internment in Hungary and Romania lost their destination. As the escape route out ran though the French-controlled territories of Lebanon and Syria, a Polish formation had been established there. With the fall of France, this unit, known as the Carpathian Brigade, moved into Palestine and came under British command.

Re-armed and retrained as a British infantry brigade, the formation served with the 8th Army, fighting at Tobruk during Operation Crusader. With the arrival of additional Polish troops in the Mideast from captivity in the Soviet Union, the brigade was withdrawn and used to help form the II Polish Infantry Corps.

Carpathian Infantry Brigade

Veteran, Morale: 9

Brigade Headquarters, with:

    1 command stand
    1 command car
    1 staff radio truck

Brigade Service Troops, with:

    1 medium ammo truck with trailer
    1 command stand
    1 car
    2 medium supply trucks
    1 medium baggage truck
    1 support stand

Brigade AT Company, with:

    1 command stand
    1 car
    2 2# AT guns
    2 light trucks
    2 gun crew stands

Armored Car Regiment, with:

    Regimental Headquarters, with:
      1 Marmon-Herrington Mk II
      1 light baggage truck with field kitchen
      1 medium general supply truck
      1 command stand
      1 car
      2 support stands

    3 Armored Car Squadrons, each with:

      1 command Mannon-Herrington Mk II
      3 recon Marmon-Herrington Mk IIs

3 Infantry Battalions, each with:

    Battalion Headquarters, with:
      1 command stand
      1 car
      2 recon carriers
      1 3 " mortar stand (ds)
      1 light AA stand
      1 engineer stand
      3 light trucks

    4 Companies, each with:

      1 command infantry stand
      2 infantry stands

Poland is Still Free A Guide to the Polish Army 1940-1945

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© Copyright 1994 by Greg Novak.
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