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Polish army order of battle in 1939
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Polish OOB during the Invasion of Poland. In the late thirties Polish headquarters prepared "Plan Zachód" (Plan "West), a plan of mobilization of Polish Army in case of war with Germany. Earlier, the Poles did not regard the Germans as their main threat, priority was given to threat from the Soviets (see: Plan East).
Plan assumed creation of 30 infantry divisions, 9 reserve divisions, 11 cavalry brigades, two motorized brigades, 3 mountain brigades and a number of smaller units.
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Polish OOB during the Invasion of Poland. In the late thirties Polish headquarters prepared "Plan Zachód" (Plan "West), a plan of mobilization of Polish Army in case of war with Germany. Earlier, the Poles did not regard the Germans as their main threat, priority was given to threat from the Soviets (see: Plan East).
Plan assumed creation of 30 infantry divisions, 9 reserve divisions, 11 cavalry brigades, two motorized brigades, 3 mountain brigades and a number of smaller units. Most Polish forces were grouped into 6 armies and a number of corps-sized "Operational Groups". Later in the course of the war other operational units were created.
Armies
Karpaty Army
Created on July 11, 1939 under Major General Kazimierz Fabrycy. Armia Karpaty was created after Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and created a puppet state of Slovakia. The main aim of the army was to secure mountain passes in the Carpathians. Initially the army consisted of 2 improvised mountain brigades and a number of smaller units, but later in the course of war was joined by forces of the withdrawing Armia Kraków.
Attached to the Armia Karpaty was the Kaw Group which consisted of:
- Warsaw Mechanized Brigade
- 46th Light Artillery
- 47th Light Artillery
Additionally, mobilisation plans called for creation of the Tarnów Group consisting of:
Kraków Army
Created on March 23, 1939 as the main pivot of Polish defence. Its' main task was to delay advancing German troops and withdraw eastwards along the northern line of the Carpathians. It consisted of 5 infantry divisions, 1 mountain brigade, 1 motorized cavalry brigade, 1 mountain brigade and 1 cavalry brigade under gen. Antoni Szylling.
Lublin Army
An improvised army created on September 4 from 1 motorized brigade and various smaller units concentrated around Lublin, Sandomierz and upper Vistula. Commanded by mj. gen. Tadeusz Piskor.
Lódz Army
Created on March 23, 1939 under gen. Juliusz Rómmel. Armia Lódz was to become a bolt between Armies "Kraków" and "Poznan". However, because of mistakes committed by Gen. Rómmel, the army was located too close to the German border and joined fighting from the very beginning of the campaign, which deprived it of any possibilities of cooperation with the surrounding units. It consisted of 4 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.
Modlin Army
Created on March 23, 1939 for defence of Warsaw from the north. The army was to defend fortified lines along the border with East Prussia near Mlawa, and then retreat towards Narew river. Led by brig. gen. Emil Krukowicz-Przedrzymirski. Consisted of 2 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.
Pomorze Army
The Army was created on March 23, 1939 to defend Torun and Bydgoszcz and to carry out delaying actions in the so-called "Polish Corridor". It was led by Lt.-Gen. Wladyslaw Bortnowski and consisted of five infantry divisions, two National Defence brigades and one cavalry brigade.
Poznan Army
The Armia Poznan led by mj. gen. Tadeusz Kutrzeba was to provide flanking operations in the Grand Poland and withdraw towards lines of defence along the Warta river. It consisted of 4 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades.
Prusy Army
Under gen. Stefan Dab-Biernacki. Created in the summer of 1939 as the main reserve of the Commander in Chief. According to the "Plan West" (Plan Zachód, code name for the Polish mobilization plan) it was to be composed of units mobilized as the second and third waves and its main purpose was to cooperate with the nearby armies "Poznan" and "Kraków".
Mobilized in two groups. Because of fast German advance both groups entered combat separately and most units did not reach full mobilization. It consisted of 6 infantry divisions, 1 cavalry brigade and a battalion of tanks.
Warszawa Army
For a detailed description of the Warszawa Army operations see: Siege of Warsaw (1939)
Created on September 10, 1939 from various units in Warsaw and Modlin Fortress area. Initially it consisted of approximately 25 infantry battalions and 40 tanks. Later it was reinforced by forces of Lódz Army and elements of Modlin Army. It was commanded by col. Walerian Czuma, although the nominal commander was gen. Juliusz Rómmel.
Operational Groups
Operational Group Wyszków
Was one of the reserves of the northern front of Polish defences. It consisted of 3 infantry divisions:
- 1st Legions Infantry Division (1 Dywizja Piechoty Legionów) from Wilno,
- Polish 35th Infantry Division (35 Dywizja Piechoty - reserve), formed on September 7, 1939, out of units of the Border Defence Corps from northern parts of the Wilno Voivodeship,
- Polish 41st Infantry Division (41 Dywizja Piechoty - reserve), formed in September 1939, out of units of the Border Defence Corps.
Independent Operational Group Narew
Consisted of 2 infantry divisions and 2 cavalry brigades:
- 18th Infantry Division (18 Dywizja Piechoty) from Lomza,
- 33rd Infantry Division (33 Dywizja Piechoty - reserve), formed in late August 1939, out of Border Defence Corps units from the areas of Grodno and Wilno,
- Podlaska Cavalry Brigade (Podlaska Brygada Kawalerii) from Bialystok,
- Suwalska Cavalry Brigade (Suwalska Brygada Kawalerii) from Suwalki and Grodno.
Independent Operational Group Polesie
Supporting forces
See also
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