- 1st Grenadiers Division (Poland)
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=1st Grenadier Division
caption=Memorial badge of the division, featuring theCross of Lorraine
country=Poland
allegiance=
type=Motorized infantry
branch=Land forces
dates=1939-1940
specialization=
command_structure=
size=16,180 soldiers and officers
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Battle of Lagarde ,Maginot Line
notable_commanders=Bronisław Duch
anniversaries=The 1st Grenadier Division (literal translation "1st Grenadiers Division"; _pl. 1. Dywizja Grenadierów, _fr. 1ère Division des Grenadiers) was a Polish
infantry formation raised inFrance during the early stages ofWorld War II . The division was created as a result of the Invasion of Poland as part of the Polish Army in France, and took part in theBattle of France in1940 .History
As an effect of the
Franco-Polish Military Alliance , the formation of a Polish division in France began in early September1939 , shortly after the Invasion of Poland. The French government gave over a military camp atCoëtquidan to the Polish military mission and permitted voluntary recruitment from the Polish diaspora in France, which were particularly numerous in the coal-producing regions of Flanders. After the fall of Poland and the formation of thePolish government in exile , the newly appointed Polish commander-in-chiefWładysław Sikorski ordered the formation of the 1st Grenadier Division onNovember 13 ,1939 .Initially commanded by
Colonel Stanisław Maczek , the division was taken over by ColonelBronisław Duch in January1940 . It was organized according to the French model and was equipped with French weapons and uniforms. Altogether, the formation numbered eventually about 13,000 enlisted soldiers, 2600 NCOs and 580 officers of all grades, when it was sworn in by Gen. Sikorski onMay 25 ,1940 , shortly before arriving at the front in Lorraine.At the end of April
1940 , the division was moved toColombey-les-Belles in Lorraine where it received its long-awaited heavy equipment and final training. OnMay 18 the formation was moved to the area ofSarry and was attached to the French 4th Army,French XX Corps . 1st Regiment under Colonel Lowczowski was assigned to defend theMaginot Line nearWittlesburg . Initially divided between the two units of the Corps, theFrench 52nd Infantry Division and the 'Sarry Fortress Group the division operated in a supporting role. It first saw combat onJune 14 ,1940 when 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 toDieuze . Fearing his corps being cut in two, the formation 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 ofJune 16 . The following night it successfully disengaged itself and withdrew to the defensive line of theMarne-Rhine Canal , where it covered the area aroundLagarde . As a result of the two-day longBattle of Lagarde , the division was heavy damaged, but managed to hold its positions. However, the 52nd Division had been destroyed by theWehrmacht 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 ofMeriller . Not attacked directly, the XX Corps was surrounded by the enemy onJune 19 . The Poles broke through toNeureville , but were unable to continue their assault. OnJune 21 , after receiving information of Franco-German capitulation talks, Gen.Bronisław Duch disbanded the unit and ordered his men to either flee to neutralSwitzerland , or to join the Polish forces in theUnited Kingdom . Many chose the latter option, including the general himself.Altogether, the division lost approximately 5200 men during the
Battle of France .Order of battle
*1st Warsaw Grenadier Regiment
*2ndWielkopolska Grenadier Regiment
*3rd Silesian Grenadier Regiment
*8th Uhlan Regiment
*1st Wilno Light Artillery Regiment
*1st Pomeranian Heavy Artillery Regiment
*1st Modlin Engineer battalion
*1st Gdańsk Signals battalionEquipment
*12,000 rifles
*336 LMGs
*176 HMGs
*27 x 60mm mortars
*24 x 81mm mortars
*54 x 25mm AT guns
*8 x 47mm AT guns
*36 x 75mm field guns
*24 x 155mm howitzers
*560 automobiles and trucks
*1600 horse-drawn vehicles
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