"Brigade Polonaise" - Polish units in France 1940

A Polish brigade, made up of escaped Polish soldiers, was formed in France in April 1940 and continued the fight against the Germans for the duration of the campaign. The brigade consisted of two battalions equipped with R-35 tanks. They were later evacuated to England and formed the nucleus of the future 1st Free Polish Armoured division.

Does anybody have any details concerning their operational history during the fighting in France in 1940 ?

 

As far as I know theree were 3 polish units in France 1940:

10 th armoured cavalry division.This unit was not complete and only consisted of 1 tank battalion using Renault 35 + 40 tanks.Saw combat in june 1940.

1st grenadier division(General Duch), that fought with french 20th corps in Saar area.

2nd Rifle division(General Prugar)that fought with french 45th corps on the Rhine and was interned in Switzerland after the campaign.

 

The 10th armored brigade consisted only of the 1st tank battalion and one motorized infantry battalion. Two of these Polish companies (Company "Pagézy" and "Chabowski") left their R35 tanks and were rearmed with 15 R-40 each in June.

David

 

Thanks,

I got my information from an aged book by Chamberlain/Ellis, so I wouldn´t vouch for it. They also tell about a Polish R-35 battalion, not used in combat during the Polish Campaign, which was evacuated to Rumania. I would assume, if this information is correct, that this battalion could have turned up in France later, fully equipped.

 

Could be wrong but I don't think that they arrived in France with their tanks.

There were also a few Polish pilots on Caudron 714 and Morane-Saulnier 406 aircrafts. There was also a Czech division in France, in fact only two regiments could be formed : 1st RIT (régiment d'infanterie tchécoslovaque) which served with the French 23e DI (division d'infanterie) and the 2nd RIT with the 239e DLI (division légère d'infanterie).

The 1st Polish infantry division (1st DIP) formed in France did not see combat until 13th June and a week later it was dissolved. This division began forming in October 1939 as a result of the accords signed between France and Poland over the formation of a Polish army in France equipped with French armament. The soldiers from this division were often called 'Grenadiers' in remembrance of the Polish Grenadiers who served under Napoleon Bonaparte.

The 2nd DIP was deployed in mid-June to the Belfort defences and fought a withdrawal battle towards the Swiss border.

By the way did you know that the very first Polish armored unit was formed postWW1 on a French unit ?

David

 

It's sad that these Poles had to suffer through two complete disasters like that: The loss of Poland and the Battle of France. It's a wonder that they didn't all just quit.

 

Because of their defeat by Germany the French only thought of the Poles as "losers" so did not use them. "Egg on face" in a few weeks for the French.

 

I'll say!

 

Polish army in France was about 80 000 man and only 25 000. escaped to England.
They had 136 airplains and scored about 50 germans.
Polish brigade was also fighting in Narvik.

 

Polish 10. Armoured Cavalry Brigade commanded by Stanislaw Maczek, later the commander of 1 PAD in Great Britain, consister of the following units:
1 Tank Regiment equipped with R-35 and R-40 tanks
10 Regiment of Mounted Infantry (motorized infantry)
24 Ulhans Regiment {motorized infantry)

Total strength: 5000 men and 90 tanks.

When Germany attacked France, formation of Polish 10. Armoured Cavalry Brigade wasn't completed. Only samll combat group - 1700 men strong - took part in fighting. For number of days the brigade (or rather: the combat group) was succesfully closing the gap between retreating French armies: 4. and 6. Main battles were fought at Champaubert and Montmirail. On 16-th of June, Poles counterattacked and seized Montbard, but soon were pushed back.

 

Thanks busdriver! Welcome to the forum. It seems like we were in need of a post giving complete info on the topic question, all the others giving only pieces, and now we have it.

It makes you wonder how they got in France in the first place. I would reckon that most east-west routes from Poland would be controlled by Germany, including the Baltic Sea.

 

They passed trough Romania, and then got to France by ship.

 

Exactlly. There was also considerable polish minority in north-west France.

Even the Leader of Polish Communist Party in 1970's, Edward Gierek, was born in France :lol:

 

One of Napoléons greatest generals was polish too, Prince Poniatowski.