 The Polish Forces came into existence after World War I, and, like all the armies of the newly-independent states which emerged at this time, it was equipped from the dumps of the vanquished. Not until 1937 was a programme of modernisation undertaken, and when war came two years later, the Polsih Army was still basically obsolete; but although lacking in modern equipment and under poor strategic direction, the Polish Army fought bravely.
In 1939, as Europe moved towards war, the Polish gouvernment ordered partial mobilisation in March and August and then, on 30 August 1939, general mobilisation was declared. Along her western frontiers Poland deployed seven armies and a tactical group which accounted for over half her infantry divisions and nearly three-quarter of her cavalry brigades. The remainder of the Army was in the process of formation and was to be used as reinforcements and operational reserves.
Polish Army units:
|
Infantry Division |
Cavalry Brigade |
Motorised Brigade |
| Total units |
39 |
11 |
2 |
| Infantry regiments |
3 with 1,900 officers and men each |
1 battalion with 600 men |
|
| Cavalry regiments |
|
3 or 4 |
|
| Officers |
|
273 |
|
| NCOs, Privates |
|
6,911 |
|
| Total men |
|
7,184 |
|
| Machine guns |
378 |
|
|
| Mortars |
99
(81 x 50mm, 18 x 81mm) |
11
(9 x 50mm, 2 x 81mm) |
|
| Howitzers and Fieldguns |
|
|
|
| Anti-tank guns 37mm |
27 |
18 |
|
| Anti-aircraft guns 40mm |
|
2 |
|
| Tanks |
|
13 TK/S Tankettes plus Armoured Cars |
|
Strength of the Polish Army: 1,500,000 soldiers (1,000,000 frontline) with 4,500 guns and mortars, 2,000 anti-tank and 3,000 anti-aircraft guns.
Polish soldiers at a pre-war torchlit review.
Inventory of armored fighting vehicles on September 1, 1939:
Armored fighting vehicles |
Inventory |
| 7TP (with 37mm Bofors gun) |
170 |
| Vickers 6t |
50 |
| Renault R-35 |
53 |
| Renault FT-17 |
67 |
| TK/TKS tankettes |
700 |
| Armored Cars |
100 |
| TOTAL |
1,140 |
Polish TK tankettes line-up for manoeuvre. This armored combat vehicles had no chance against German tanks.
Frontline strength Polish Air Force:
433 aircraft (59 fighters, 154 bombers, 84 observation machines, 36 liaison aircraft)
One of the first PLZ P37 bombers, pictured shortly before the German attack with a squadron of P11 fighters. The Los bomber was one of the modernest designs at the outbreak of WW2.
Frontline strength Polish Navy:
Four destroyers, five submarines, one minelayer, six minesweepers, two gun-boats.
(On the eve of the German invasion three of the destroyers and the submarines were ordered to sail to England. The destroyers and two submarines reached Leith in Scotland on 1 September 1939. The three remaining submarines were unable to break out of the Baltic Sea, and were interned in Sweden).
Personnel of the Polsih submarine Sokol parade on their vessel. At the time the picture was taken, the vessel is element of the Royal Navy, but a variety of ranks are shown wearing their Polish uniforms.
Polish Forces total:
2,500,000 men (40 divisions), 1,140 armored fighting vehicles, over 1,800 guns
433 planes
4 destroyers, 5 submarines
|
