3rd Carpathian Rifle Division (Poland)
| 3 Dywizja Strzelców Karpackich | |
|---|---|
|
Emblem of the division worn as a shoulder patch and painted on vehicles | |
| Active | 1942–1947 |
| Country | Poland |
| Branch | Land forces |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Mountain warfare |
| Engagements | Tobruk, Alem Hamza, Bardia Monte Cassino, Gothic Line, Ancona, Bologna |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Stanisław Kopański, Bronisław Duch |
The Polish 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division (Polish: 3 Dywizja Strzelców Karpackich, sometimes translated as 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division), also commonly known as Christmas Tree Division due to the characteristic emblem, was an Allied unit fighting during World War II on the Italian Front. It was formed in 1942 of the Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade and the forces of General Władysław Anders' 2nd Polish Corps evacuated from the USSR.
The division participated in the North African and the Italian Campaigns (1941–1945) as part of the British Eighth Army. Notable actions include the victories in the Battle of Monte Cassino, Ancona and Bologna. Disbanded after the war, most soldiers chose not to return to the new, Communist Poland. After the war, the division was housed at Hodgemoor Camp in Hodgemoor Woods, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, England. They maintained a presence there until 1962. There were, and may still be, many Polish families in the area.
Commanders
- Stanisław Kopański (1943)
- Bronisław Duch (1944–1945)
Order of battle
The division's order of battle between 1943 and 1946 was as follows:
| Brigade | Sub-units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Carpathian Rifle Brigade 1 Brygada Strzelców Karpackich Peszek |
1st Rifle Battalion | |
| 2nd Rifle Battalion | ||
| 3rd Rifle Battalion | ||
| 2nd Carpathian Rifle Brigade 2 Brygada Strzelców Karpackich Szymański |
4th Rifle Battalion | |
| 5th Rifle Battalion | ||
| 6th Rifle Battalion | ||
| 3rd Carpathian Rifle Brigade 3 Brygada Strzelców Karpackich (since 1945) |
7th Rifle Battalion | |
| 8th Rifle Battalion | ||
| 9th Rifle Battalion | ||
| Reconnaissance Units (one of the following) |
3rd Carpathian Cavalry Regiment | |
| 12th Podolian Cavalry Regiment | ||
| 7th Lublin Cavalry Regiment | ||
| Artillery units artyleria dywizyjna |
1st Carpathian Field Artillery Regiment | |
| 2nd Carpathian Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| 3rd Carpathian Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| 3rd Carpathian Anti-tank Artillery Regiment | ||
| 3rd Carpathian Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment | ||
| Support Units |
3rd Carpathian Medium Machinegun Battalion | |
| 3rd Carpathian Engineers Battalion | ||
| 3rd Carpathian Signals Battalion | ||
| Rear Units jednostki tyłowe |
military police, court martial, military hospital, front hospitals, logistics units, transport battalions and such |
|
See also
- Polish contribution to WWII
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