ORGANIZATION OF POLISH FORCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

After the surrender of Poland to the Germans and Soviets in 1939, approximately 1,700,000 Poles of all ages were relocated to the USSR.  The USSR became an ally of England after the German invasion in June 1941, and also by default an ally of the Polish Government in exile in London.  This exiled government went to work to free the detainees in the Soviet Union, and to form a new army from the male population.  By December 1941, six divisions were formed and 25,000 Polish troops were transferred to the west, via Iran beginning in March 1942.  Another contingent departed in August.  The Soviets provided little in the way of supplies or co-operation, and once in the Middle East, the Polish troops began to train and equip under British control.

 

In the meantime, some Polish troops had already been fighting under British command; an Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade fought at Tobruk and in the Western Desert, and with units newly arrived from the Soviet Union became the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division. Other formations were created, to include the 5th ‘Kresowa’ Infantry Division, the 2nd Armoured Brigade and the 2nd Artillery Group. In June 1943, these units were formed into the 2nd Polish Corps. A 1st Polish Corps was formed in the United Kingdom.

 

In July and August 1943, the 2nd Polish Corps moved to Palestine for continued training in mountainous terrain, in preparation for their eventual move to Italy.  The 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division began landing at Taranto in December 1943, and by April 1944, the remainder of the Polish forces had moved from Egypt to Italy by way of Taranto, Bari and Naples.

 

In addition to the 2nd Corps, a 2nd Corps Base was also created, including a training division (the 7th Infantry Division) and corps level support units.

 

Polish troops of the first Independent Commando Company were the first to see combat in Italy, at the Garigliano River.

 

The two Polish infantry divisions in theatre comprised only two infantry brigades, due to manpower shortages.  Each division also had a reconnaissance regiment.

 

Third Division - 1st Carpathian Rifle Brigade, 2nd Carpathian Rifle Brigade, 12th "Pololksi" Lancers (recce)
Fifth Division - 5th "Wilenska" Infantry Brigade, 6th "Lwowska" Infantry Brigade, 15th "Poznanski" Lancers (recce)

 

The divisions were otherwise organized as standard British infantry divisions, with three regiments of field artillery, an anti-tank regiment, a light anti-aircraft regiment, and standard divisional services.

 

Three armoured regiments also served in the 2nd Armoured Brigade.

 

Infantry reinforcements were always in short supply; one source of manpower was Polish troops captured in German uniform - many of these had been forced to serve in the Wehrmacht and were recruited for Polish service.  Many men were recruited in this manner, and a third brigade was eventually formed in both divisions, with the 2nd Armoured Brigade being expanded to full divisional status.   The 14th "Wielkopolska" armoured brigade was created out of newly formed regiments.