1st Grenadiers Division (Poland)

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1st Grenadiers Division

Memorial badge of the division, featuring the Cross of Lorraine
Active 1939-1940
Country Poland
Branch Land forces
Type Mtotrized infantry
Size 16,180 soldiers and officers
Battles/wars Battle of Lagarde, Maginot Line
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Bronisław Duch

The 1st Grenadiers Division (Polish: 1. Dywizja Grenadierów, French: 1ère Division des Grenadiers) was a Polish infantry unit formed in France during the early stages of World War II. Created on French soil after the fall of Poland in the effect of the Polish Defensive War of 1939, the division took part in the Battle of France of 1940.

[edit] History

As an effect of the Franco-Polish Military Alliance, the formation of a Polish division in France started in early September of 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Polish Defensive War. The French government passed the military camp in Coëtquidan to the Polish military mission and allowed for a voluntary levy among the members of the Polish diaspora of France, particularly numerous in coal-producing regions of Flandres. After the fall of Poland and the formation of the Polish government in exile, on November 13, 1939, the Polish commander-in-chief Władysław Sikorski ordered the formation of the 1st Grenadiers Division.

Initially commanded by Colonel Stanisław Maczek, the division was taken over by Colonel Bronisław Duch in January of 1940. It was organized according to French tables of organization and was fully equipped with French weapons and uniforms. Altogether, the unit had approximately 13,000 enlisted soldiers, 2600 NCOs and 580 officers of all grades. They were sworn by the General Sikorski on May 25, 1940, shortly before arriving at the front line in Lorraine.

At the end of April of 1940, the division was moved to Colombey-les-Belles in Lorraine where it received its long-awaited heavy equipment and received final training. On May 18 it was moved to the area of Sarry and was attached to the French XX Corps, one of the units assigned to defend the Maginot Line. Initially divided between the two units of the Corps, the French 52nd Infantry Division and the 'Sarry Fortress Group the division operated in a supporting role. It first saw combat on June 14, 1940 when it was attacked by German forces. The following day the division was centered and successfully defended its positions. However, during the night the French 52nd Division broke down and withdrew soon after it was attacked to Dieuze. Fearing his corps being cut in two, its commander ordered the Poles to withdraw to the second line of defenses. It withdrew to the area of Dieuze, where it covered the retreat of the French division throughout the day of June 16. The following night it successfully disengaged itself from the enemy and withdrew to the defensive line of the Marne-Rhine Canal, where it covered the area around Lagarde. As a result of the two-day long Battle of Lagarde, the division was heavy damaged, but manages to hold its positions. However, the 52nd Division had been destroyed by the Wehrmacht and the remainder of the corps was disbanded by its commanding officer.

The remnants of the XX Corps, then composed mostly of the Polish division and a small detachment of the Sarry Fortress Group, withdrew to the forests around Baccarat. There it formed a perimeter defence in and around the town of Meriller. Not attacked directly, the XX Corps got surrounded by the enemy on June 19. The Poles broke through to Neureville, but then were unable to continue their assault. On June 21, after receiving information of the Franco-German capitulation talks, General Bronisław Duch disbanded the unit and ordered his men to either flee to neutral Switzerland, or to join the Polish forces in the United Kingdom. Many of them chose the latter option, including the general himself.

Altogether, the division lost approximately 5200 men during the Battle of France.

[edit] Order of battle

  • 1st Warsaw Grenadiers' Regiment
  • 2nd Greater Poland Grenadiers' Regiment
  • 3rd Silesian Grenadiers' Regiment
  • 8th Uhlans Regiment
  • 1st Vilnian Light Artillery Regiment
  • 1st Pomeranian Heavy Artillery Regiment
  • 1st Modlin engineering battalion
  • 1st Gdańsk signal battalion

[edit] Equipment

  • 12,000 rifles
  • 336 LMG
  • 176 HMG
  • 27 cal. 60 mm mortars
  • 24 cal. 81 mm mortars
  • 54 cal. 25 mm AT guns
  • 8 cal. 47 mm AT guns
  • 36 cal. 75 mm field guns
  • 24 cal. 155 mm. howitzers
  • 560 cars and trucks
  • 1600 horse-drawn cars
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