The Polish forces which left the Soviet Union for the Mideast were re-equipped and armed by the British government, and committed to action in Italy. Though they started the campaign badly understrength, the Polish II Corps found itself gaining strength as the campaign progressed. The German government had given the many Poles "provisional ethnic German" status in 1942. This meant that after 10 years of good conduct they could qualify for German citizenship. It also meant that they were now eligible to be conscripted into the German Army. Thus, from 1943 on, many Poles found themselves in German uniforms on the front lines, and changed sides as soon as possible. The Polish II Corps found itself with additional manpower as the war progressed. By 1945, the infantry divisions were as large or even larger than their British counterparts. When the war ended, the 2nd Polish Armored Brigade was in the process of being upgraded to an armored division. IInd Polish Corps All units Experienced, Morale: 9 unless otherwise noted Carpathian Lancers (Corps Reconnaissance Regiment) Veteran, Morale: 9 Headquarters Squadron, with: 1 command Staghound II armored car 2 M3 GMCs (75) 2 recon Humber scout cars 1 light supply truck 4 Armored Car Squadrons, each with: 1 command Staghound II armored car 1 recon Humber scout car 2 recon Daimler Mk II armored cars 1 recon infantry stand 1 M3 halftrack 2nd Polish Commando Company Veteran, Morale: 9 1 command stand 3 recon SMG stands 7th Horse Artillery Regiment, with: Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 M4 Sherman FO tank 1 car 1 staff radio truck Supply Column, with: 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 medium baggage truck 1 light truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands 3 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 M-3 halftrack 2 Sextons 1 ammo halftrack with trailer 1 support stand 9th Field Artillery Regiment, with: Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 FO stand 1 cars 1 staff radio truck Supply Column, with: 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 medium baggage truck 1 light truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands  3 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 car 2 gun crew stands (ds) 2 25# field guns 2 quad prime movers 1 medium ammo truck 1 support stand 10th Medium Artillery Regiment, with: Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 FO stand 2 cars 1 staff radio truck Supply Column, with: 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 medium baggage truck 1 light truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands Battery, with: 1 command stand 1 car 2 gun crew stand s(ds) 24.5" field guns 1 medium trucks 1 medium ammo truck 1 support stand Battery, with: 1 command stand 1 car 2 gun crew stands (ds) 2 5.5" gun howitzers 2 medium trucks 1 medium ammo truck 1 support stand 11th Medium Artillery Regiment as 10th Medium Artillery Regiment 7th Antitank Regiment (SP) Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 car 1 staff radio truck Supply Column, with: 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 medium baggage truck 1 light truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands 4 Batteries, each with: 1 command Achilles 1 Achilles 1 Archer 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division organize as 1944-1945 British Infantry Division unless noted below 1st Carpathian Rifle Brigade 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion, with: Battalion Headquarters, with: 1 command car 1 car 1 engineer stand 1 light truck 1 3" mortar stand 1 universal carrier 2 recon carriers 1 gun crew stand 16# AT gun 1 universal carrier 1 medium baggage truck 1 light truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck 1 command stand 1 car 1 support stand 4 Rifle Companies, each with: 1 command infantry stand 1 (later 2) infantry stand(s) 2nd Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 3rd Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 2nd Carpathian Rifle Brigade 4th Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 5th Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 6th Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 3rd Carpathian Rifle Brigade (January 1945) 7th Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 8th Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 9th Carpathian Rifle Battalion as 1st Carpathian Rifle Battalion 12th Lancers (Reconnaissance Regiment) 3rd Carpathian Machine gun Battalion 3rd Carpathian Antitank Regiment Regimental Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 car 1 staff radio truck Supply Column, with: 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 medium baggage truck 1 light truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands  4 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 jeep 2 gun crew stands 6# AT guns 2 universal carriers 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 17# AT gun 1 halftrack 1 halftrack with trailer 1 support stand 1 medium ammo truck 1st Carpathian Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Carpathian Field Artillery Regiment 3rd Carpathian Field Artillery Regiment 1st Carpathian Field Company 2nd Carpathian Field Company 3rd Carpathian Field Company Field Park Company 5th Kresowa Infantry Division organize as 3rd Carpathian Division 5th Wilenska Rifle Brigade 13th Wilenska Rifle Battalion 14th Wilenska Rifle Battalion 15th Wilenska Rifle Battalion 6th Lwowaka Rifle Brigade 16th Lwowaka Rifle Battalion 17th Lwowaka Rifle Battalion 18th Lwowaka Rifle Battalion 4th Wolyn Rifle Brigade (January 1945) 10th Wolyn Rifle Battalion 11th Wolyn Rifle Battalion 12th Wolyn Rifle Battalion 15th Lancers (Reconnaissance Regiment) 5th Kresowa Machine gun Battalion 5th Kresowa Antitank Regiment 4th Kresowa Field Artillery Regiment 5th Kresowa Field Artillery Regiment 6th Kresowa Field Artillery Regiment 4th Kresowa Field Company 5th Kresowa Field Company 6th Kresowa Field Company Field Park Company 2nd Independent Armored Brigade Veteran, Morale: 9 2nd Armored Brigade Headquarters Headquarters Squadron, with: 1 command M4 tank 1 M4 tank 1 staff radio halftrack 2 recon Humber scout cars 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 medium baggage truck 1 support stand Supply Column, with: 1 medium ammo truck with trailer 2 medium general supply trucks 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands Workshop Company, with: 1 command stand 1 car 1 support stand 1 recovery tractor 1 medium parts truck with trailer 4th Armored Regiment, with: Headquarters Squadron, with: 1 command M4 1 M4 105 1 recon M5 (T8) 1 recon M5 vehicle recce 2 recon Humber scout car 1 armored recovery vehicle 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 medium baggage truck 1 support stand Supply Column, with: 1 medium ammo truck with trailer 2 medium general supply trucks 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands Workshop Company, with: 1 command stand 1 car 1 support stand 1 recovery tractor 1 medium parts truck with trailer 3 Squadrons, each with: 1 command M4 2 M4 tanks 1 Sherman Firefly 6th Armored Regiment as above 1st Lancers as above 2nd Motorized Commando Battalion, (Jan. '45) with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand 1 car 1 medium baggage truck 1 light truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 command stand 1 car 2 support stands  3 Motor Companies, each with: 1 command infantry stand 2 infantry stands 3 halftracks 2 recon carriers Support Company, with: 1 command stand 1 jeep 2 Vickers MMG stands 2 6# AT guns 2 gun crew stands 3 halftracks 1 medium ammo truck 1 support stand Poland is Still Free A Guide to the Polish Army 1940-1945 France 1940 and Mideast 1941-42 CD TO&E Eastern Front 1943-44 CD TO&E Italy 1943-45 CD TO&E Northwest Europe 1944-45 CD TO&E Eastern Front 1944-45 CD TO&E Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly # 6 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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