215:
526:
426:
75:
26:
327:
273:
260:, only two infantry divisions, two independent brigades and one air squadron were able to become fully equipped and operational, with another two infantry divisions in the process of being completely formed. The Polish high command had planned for two full corps, an armoured division, and over fifteen air squadrons. Also, rear units were being formed, a Polish military academy and a cartographic institute. The Polish command also issued a document "Most Important Conclusions and Experiences from The September Campaign" ("Najważniejsze wnioski i doświadczenia z kampanii wrześniowej"), in which it analysed German
677:), it was 50.9 victories (46 by the Polish and 10 shared with the French). According to new research by B. Belcarz, there were 34 aircraft shot down by the Polish only, and 19 shared with the French – 53 in total, what constitutes 7.93% of total French victories. Only 9 pilots were killed in action (more pilots and crew died in different accidents, bombing etc). After the fall of France, most crew evacuated to Great Britain, where they joined the Polish Air Force there. Apart from typical French fighter aircraft, like Morane-Saulnier MS.406, Dewoitine D.520, Bloch MB.152, Curtiss H.75, Polish pilots flew
738:
437:, at first only Polish armoured units were pressed in formation, but after the Germans broke through the French front, all Polish formations were moved to the front-line, although the units still had not received all of their equipment and supplies from the French logistics services. None of the units were completely equipped by the time they entered combat and particularly the 3rd and 4th divisions were still in the middle of organization. Polish units fought in the southern section of the front and all continued to fight despite
61:
537:
584:, but by then the brigade was fighting alone, with the French units on both flanks either routed or in retreat. By 18 June the unit was mostly surrounded and without fuel and ammunition. General Maczek ordered the destruction of the unit equipment and withdrawal; the unit would be later recreated under his command in United Kingdom as the Polish elite
453:, on June 19, announced in a radio bulletin that Poland would continue to fight as an ally of the United Kingdom. Polish units were ordered to reach the French ports in the north, west and south in preparation for naval evacuation to Great Britain, or if that would prove impossible, to cross the Swiss frontier.
669:
were assigned for territorial defence. There were plans to organize a bomber squadron and reconnaissance squadron, but it was too late to accomplish. At the same time, further Polish Air Force squadrons were created in Great
Britain. From 6,932 Polish Air Force members in France, approximately 230
249:. The new army was partially recruited from Polish army personnel who escaped from occupied Poland and émigrés volunteers. By May 1940, the army numbered about 80,000 personnel; about 45,000 of them were army escapees or former refugees, and the rest came from the
693:
About 55,000 of the 85,000 Polish soldiers in France were in formations organized enough to fight the
Germans. 1,400 Polish soldiers died fighting in the defence of France, 4,000 were wounded, 16,000 were
1119:
1134:
1114:
484:. On 21 June, with the collapse of the nearby French defences, General Duch ordered the unit to disband; many of the soldiers, including the general, were able to evacuate to United Kingdom.
1129:
214:
525:
607:, in 1940 (28 May – 4 June). Returning to France, together with some formations quickly formed from the Polish recruits in the nearby training camps, it took part in the defence of
425:
25:
731:
326:
146:. About 85,000 troops were in the process of being organized into fighting formations (four infantry divisions, two independent brigades and air support) when the
1124:
650:
387:
272:
230:, had formally declared war on Germany on September 3 in response to the invasion, but it had not yet undertaken any major operations against the Germans (see
360:
333:
626:
367:
665:
of Polish pilots and ground crew were detached to French fighter squadrons, and took part in combat. Further ten flights and two bigger
592:
515:
hills, but due to the retreat of the nearby French forces it was surrounded by the
Germans; nonetheless, it managed to break through to
348:
522:
The 3rd and 4th
Infantry Divisions were still being formed when France capitulated and took relatively little part in the hostilities.
751:
488:
778:
256:
Inefficient French logistics and policies delayed the formation of Polish units by missing equipment and supplies. Consequently, by
296:
549:
227:
158:
151:
673:
Polish pilots in France participated in shooting down some 50-55 aircraft – according to Polish official wartime statistics (
585:
311:
306:
719:
658:
461:
391:
150:
started. The army was partially destroyed in the hostilities, but over 20,000 soldiers were evacuated and formed a new
1024:
To Return To Poland Or Not To Return" – The
Dilemma Facing The Polish Armed Forces At The End Of The Second World War.
301:
492:
1083:
922:
860:
499:
in
Western France. Commanded by Brigadier-General Prugar-Kietling the division was charged with the defences around
394:. Other units were to be formed, but their pilots got assigned to French squadrons or territorial defence instead.
235:
66:
363:
250:
223:
143:
737:
457:
703:
630:
541:
450:
135:
417:, not the French command, and as such are not considered as the part of the Polish armed forces in France.
662:
596:
481:
375:
80:
429:
Parade of the light artillery of the 1st
Grenadier Division of the Polish Army in France, May 3, 1940.
1099:
883:
1019:
553:
289:
756:
707:
638:
588:; Gen. Maczek would be considered one of the best Polish – and armoured – commanders of the war.
476:. It fought from 14 June. After two days, having withstood German assaults on its positions near
371:
438:
1087:
864:
774:
727:
620:
600:
557:
465:
119:
695:
682:
654:
634:
477:
434:
406:
257:
147:
115:
264:
strategy and proposed some countermeasures, but it was ignored by the French High
Command.
926:
723:
569:
565:
473:
1026:
674:
519:
on 20–21 June 1940, where its soldiers (including
General Prugar-Ketling) were interned.
330:
The ceremony parade presenting the banner of the
Independent Podhale Rifle Brigade, 1940.
1074:
820:
715:
711:
612:
611:. Disbanded, some of its soldiers (including General Bohusz-Szyszko) were evacuated to
446:
414:
1108:
678:
512:
504:
242:
536:
469:
1095:
879:
234:) before the creation began. France welcomed the Polish refugees (as well as the
1060:
957:
699:
573:
516:
402:
666:
529:
410:
261:
231:
1065:
561:
496:
442:
246:
218:
Wladyslaw Sikorski presents the banner for the Polish sapper unit in France.
1055:
904:
370:
was formed to which about 4,000 Polish troops had escaped, mostly through
919:
608:
581:
508:
480:, it was forced to fall back, covering the retreat of the disintegrating
157:
The creation of Polish formations in France marked the beginnings of the
500:
318:
604:
47:
1084:
Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Zachodzie – Polskie Siły Zbrojne we Francji
929:. American-Polish Advisory Council. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
861:
Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Zachodzie – Polskie Siły Zbrojne we Francji
736:
616:
577:
535:
524:
424:
325:
271:
213:
238:) and started organizing them into several military formations.
670:
pilots and twice as much ground crew participated in fighting.
30:
Polish soldiers in training with MAS 36 rifles, France, 1940.
142:) in late 1939, after the fall of Poland resulting from the
661:. A creation of other units was not completed, but sixteen
958:
Campaign in France – The Poles on the frontlines of WWII.
1061:
Campaign in France – The Poles on the frontlines of WWII
1120:
Military units and formations of Poland in World War II
722:. Many soldiers with ties to France opted to remain in
718:(estimates range from about 20,000 to 35,000), where a
1068:
A Polish veteran recalls his daring escape from France
285:
The following units were organised in mainland France
241:
The main military camps for Polish formations were in
698:, and about 13,000 Polish personnel were interned in
495:
was based between late December 1939 and May 1940 at
1135:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1940
503:. Engaged in heavy fighting from June 17 to 19 near
1115:
Army units and formations of France in World War II
900:
898:
896:
894:
892:
449:on 16 June. The Polish commander-in-chief, General
111:
103:
95:
87:
53:
43:
35:
18:
1130:Military units and formations established in 1939
714:, was able to evacuate many Polish troops to the
823:. Świat Polonii. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
1096:WOJSKO POLSKIE WE FRANCJI W II WOJNIE ŚWIATOWEJ
880:WOJSKO POLSKIE WE FRANCJI W II WOJNIE ŚWIATOWEJ
732:Polish resistance in France during World War II
222:The army began to be organized soon after the
134:formed in France under the command of General
997:
995:
993:
8:
773:(Polish Air Force in France 1940). Stratus.
511:rivers, it stopped the German attack on the
171:
937:
935:
915:
913:
813:
811:
353:Samodzielna Brygada Strzelców Podhalańskich
809:
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
791:
741:Polish Armed Forces ID, Vichy France 1941.
24:
544:, commander of the Polish Army in France.
532:tanks of the Polish Army in France, 1940.
276:Polish Renault UE column in France, 1940.
853:
851:
849:
787:
564:regions. It protected the flank of the
847:
845:
843:
841:
839:
837:
835:
833:
831:
829:
759:(Polish Army in France in World War I)
334:10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade (Poland)
15:
953:
951:
949:
947:
627:Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade
580:, and on June 16 routed Germans near
368:Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade
7:
637:and joined British troops in nearby
390:comprised only one fighter squadron
1056:The Polish Army In France 1939–1940
905:The Polish Army In France 1939–1940
593:Polish Independent Highland Brigade
405:ships which left the Baltic during
349:Polish Independent Highland Brigade
752:Polish Legions (Napoleonic period)
489:Second Infantry Fusiliers Division
14:
907:. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
886:. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
867:. Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
771:Polskie Lotnictwo we Francji 1940
224:fall of Poland on October 6, 1939
152:Polish army in the United Kingdom
1125:France–Poland military relations
73:
59:
960:Last retrieved on 31 July 2007.
633:in Syria refused to follow the
629:(4,000 soldiers) under General
595:(5,000 soldiers) under General
552:(1,079 soldiers) under General
550:10th Brigade of Armored Cavalry
344:and a Polish infantry brigade:
338:10 Brigade de cavalerie blindée
302:2nd Infantry Fusiliers Division
159:Polish Armed Forces in the West
138:(and hence sometimes known as
1:
374:and would later fight in the
166:Polish Armed Forces in France
769:Belcarz, Bartłomiej (2002).
472:from June 9 as part of the
201:
193:
185:
177:
1151:
1029:Retrieved on 31 July 2007.
720:new Polish army was formed
645:Polish Air Force in France
619:, while others joined the
388:Polish Air Force in France
236:Polish government in exile
1075:Wojsko Polskie we Francji
1043:Wojsko Polskie we Francji
1001:Belcarz (2002). p.295-297
987:Belcarz (2002). p.292-293
978:Belcarz (2002). p.249-264
821:Wojsko Polskie we Francji
435:German invasion of France
251:Polish minority in France
169:Growth of the personnel.
23:
941:Belcarz (2002). p.82,168
657:as one fighter squadron
493:Bronisław Prugar-Ketling
491:(15,830 soldiers) under
460:(16,165 soldiers) under
458:First Grenadier Division
462:Bolesław Bronisław Duch
742:
597:Zygmunt Bohusz-Szyszko
545:
533:
468:, manning part of the
430:
376:North African Campaign
331:
297:1st Grenadier Division
277:
219:
1010:Belcarz (2002). p.290
969:Belcarz (2002). p.196
740:
586:1st Armoured Division
539:
528:
428:
409:were attached to the
329:
312:4th Infantry Division
307:3rd Infantry Division
275:
217:
132:Polish Army in France
19:Polish Army in France
1100:Interia Encyklopedia
884:Interia Encyklopedia
482:French 52nd Division
144:Polish Defensive War
572:French Armies near
317:a Polish motorized
925:2016-08-10 at the
743:
708:commander-in-chief
704:Władysław Sikorski
631:Stanisław Kopański
546:
542:Wladyslaw Sikorski
534:
451:Władysław Sikorski
431:
332:
278:
220:
136:Władysław Sikorski
1088:WIEM Encyklopedia
1041:Józef Smoliński,
920:Defence of France
865:WIEM Encyklopedia
728:French resistance
659:GC 1/145 "Warsaw"
621:French resistance
601:Battles of Narvik
599:took part in the
392:GC 1/145 "Warsaw"
206:
205:
125:
124:
120:Battles of Narvik
1142:
1094:
1082:
1077:. Świat Polonii.
1073:
1030:
1017:
1011:
1008:
1002:
999:
988:
985:
979:
976:
970:
967:
961:
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874:
868:
859:
855:
824:
819:
815:
783:
683:Koolhoven F.K.58
655:Battle of France
651:Polish Air Force
635:Vichy government
554:Stanisław Maczek
407:Operation Peking
183:10 January 1940
175:20 October 1939
172:
148:Battle of France
116:Battle of France
99:84,461 (highest)
83:
79:
77:
76:
69:
65:
63:
62:
28:
16:
1150:
1149:
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1092:
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1071:
1052:
1045:, Warszawa 1995
1038:
1036:Further reading
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927:Wayback Machine
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781:
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724:occupied France
691:
647:
576:, northwest of
474:French 4th Army
441:’s call for an
439:Philippe Pétain
423:
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384:
361:French-mandated
283:
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140:Sikorski's Army
128:
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107:Sikorski's Army
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1050:External links
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716:United Kingdom
712:prime minister
696:taken prisoner
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653:fought in the
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556:fought in the
447:demobilization
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415:United Kingdom
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779:83-916327-6-8
776:
772:
768:
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758:
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753:
750:
749:
745:
739:
735:
733:
729:
726:and join the
725:
721:
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713:
709:
705:
701:
697:
688:
686:
684:
680:
679:Caudron C.714
676:
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520:
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513:Clos-du-Doubs
510:
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502:
498:
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490:
485:
483:
479:
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471:
467:
464:was based in
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228:a Polish ally
225:
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199:15 June 1940
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127:Military unit
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90:
86:
82:
68:
56:
52:
49:
46:
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34:
27:
22:
17:
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1006:
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965:
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770:
692:
675:Bajan's list
672:
648:
625:
590:
547:
521:
486:
470:Maginot Line
455:
432:
401:
385:
358:
352:
343:
337:
316:
288:Four Polish
287:
284:
268:Organization
255:
240:
221:
165:
156:
139:
131:
129:
1093:(in Polish)
1081:(in Polish)
1072:(in Polish)
877:(in Polish)
858:(in Polish)
818:(in Polish)
782:(in Polish)
700:Switzerland
667:escadrilles
574:Champaubert
517:Switzerland
403:Polish Navy
112:Engagements
104:Nickname(s)
1109:Categories
764:References
702:. General
530:Renault FT
421:Operations
411:Royal Navy
262:blitzkrieg
243:Coëtquidan
232:Phoney War
226:. France,
54:Allegiance
1027:Chapter 1
757:Blue Army
706:, Polish
689:Aftermath
639:Palestine
562:Bourgogne
558:Champagne
497:Parthenay
443:armistice
433:With the
382:Air force
290:divisions
247:Parthenay
39:1939–1940
923:Archived
746:See also
609:Brittany
582:Montbard
540:General
466:Lorraine
258:May 1940
210:Creation
663:flights
613:Britain
501:Belfort
478:Lagarde
372:Romania
319:brigade
202:84,461
194:68,423
186:31,409
44:Country
777:
605:Norway
178:1,900
88:Branch
81:France
78:
67:Poland
64:
48:Poland
36:Active
730:(see
617:Egypt
578:Dijon
509:Saône
505:Doubs
364:Syria
775:ISBN
710:and
681:and
649:The
615:and
591:The
568:and
560:and
548:The
507:and
487:The
456:The
445:and
398:Navy
386:The
366:, a
281:Army
245:and
130:The
96:Size
91:Army
734:).
570:6th
566:4th
413:of
359:In
1111::
1098:,
1086:,
1022:.
992:^
946:^
934:^
912:^
891:^
882:,
863:,
828:^
790:^
685:.
641:.
623:.
603:,
378:.
321::
292::
253:.
161:.
154:.
355:)
351:(
340:)
336:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
