Polish forces in France 1940? (Full Version)

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richmonder -> Polish forces in France 1940? (2/1/2002 3:51:00 AM)

Just a quickie - did any Polish forces fight during the France 1940 campaign? If so, where?



kkb66 -> (2/1/2002 9:00:00 AM)

It's rather long but here's some input: Many Polish soldiers and civilians made their way to Syria and France via Romania and Hungary, flocking to join the Polish Armed Forces in the West. By May 1940 there were 84,500 men under arms in France and Syria. In April 1940 the Independent Podhalanska Rifle Brigade was sent to Norway, as part of the Allied effort to help that country. The Brigade distinguished itself in the battle for Narvik only to be evacuated on 6/7 June back to France. Meanwhile, the 1st Grenadiers Division and 2nd Infantry Rifles Division were sent to support the French forces on the Maginot Line. The 1st Grenadier Division fought at Lagarde on the Rhine-Marne Canal, carrying out a stubborn withdrawal. Surrounded by the enemy its commander ordered its disbandment and its soldiers to escape to Britain. The 2nd Infantry Rifles Division covered the withdrawal of 45 French Corps at Belfort in Alsace. Already cut off by the advancing Germans, 45 Corps and 2nd Rifles Division fought at Clos du Doubs, with the Polish Division backing on to the Swiss frontier. After heavy fighting on 18 and 19 June the French commander of 45 Corps decided to withdraw to Switzerland, where the French and Polish soldiers were interned. At Montbard, the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade repelled for a brief while the German units which had occupied it (16 June). In earlier fighting, the Brigade had prevented French divisions from being prematurely cut off, allowing them to withdraw. Following the taking of Montbard by 10 ACB the Germans blew up the bridges on the Burgundy Canal. Isolated and surrounded, Gen. Maczek disbanded the Brigade and ordered the troops to try and reach Britain. With France collapsing all around, the as yet not fully organised 3rd and 4th Polish Infantry Divisions were pressed into action taking part in the doomed defence of the Brittany redoubt around Rennes, and the evacuation from La Rochelle



richmonder -> (2/1/2002 10:37:00 AM)

Wow... Thanks alot!



kkb66 -> (2/1/2002 12:06:00 PM)

No problem.
I'm currently building a campaign that centers on the Polish 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade (commanded by Col Maczek)during the 1939 German Invasion of Poland...so I've dug up a lot of information on the Polish Forces in WW2.
After the fall of France Maczek was put in command of a core of Polish troops that did make it to England...which eventually became the 1 Polish Armored Division...which fought in some of the battles during the liberation of France in 44' and the drive into northern Germany in 45'.
Ok...enough lecturing. Hope you found the information useful.



Warrior -> (2/1/2002 8:21:00 PM)

quote:

Originally posted by kkb66:
Many Polish soldiers and civilians made their way to Syria and France via Romania and Hungary, flocking to join the Polish Armed Forces in the West. By May 1940 there were 84,500 men under arms in France and Syria.
What did the Poles do in Syria?



kkb66 -> (2/1/2002 9:22:00 PM)

Some Poles fled to Syria because it was the nearest allied controlled area to the countries where they had been interned.
Although both Rummania and Hungry were in the Axis camp, in 1939 they allowed the Poles a great deal of freedom of movenment. (unlike Switzerland, who controlled the movement of internees in a much tighter fashion)
Both Hungry and Rummania (and Lithuania, where a larger number of Poles also fled) didn't feel that the Poles were really their enemy(they had formed alliances in the 20's to limit Russian and German expansion)and therefore had some sympathy for the plight of the Poles. As such, the Polish embassies in those two countries were able to bribe those "host" governments to secure travel papers (some were legal...a great many forged)for literally thousands of Poles to leave for French or British controlled areas.
So, since Syria was closer to the Balkans than France itself, a large number headed there as their first stop.
Man...rambling again Anyway, hope that gives a better insight as to why some Poles ended up in the Middle East...two years before Gen. Anders and the Poles released from Stalins Gulags came through Persia and went on to fight in North Africa and Italy as the Polish II Corps...but that's another story!



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