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Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade
1 Samodzielna Brygada Spadochronowa 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade Chain of Command Directly subordinate to Polish Government in Exile Airborne force, rapidly deployable aeromobile infantry force. Unknown Airborne operations, conducting direct action operations, urban warfare, reconaissance, covert operations. Motto Najkrótszą drogą Standard British para brigade structure
Garment:
Insertion datestandard British para battledress Rifles: Machine pistols: Machine guns: Sniper rifles: Other weapons: The Polish paras were also extensively trained in usage of Anti-tank weapons:
PIAT missile October, 1942 Liberation of Poland as part of the all-national uprising forces The 1st (Polish) Independent Parachute Brigade was a parachute brigade under command of Maj.Gen. Stanisław Sosabowski, created in England in 1941 with the mission to drop into occupied Poland in order to help liberate the country. The unit was eventually used during Operation Market Garden in 1944, in support of the British 1st Airborne Division. It jumped in the latter stages of the operation, suffering significant casualties but still being able to help cover the withdrawal of the survivors of the battered British 1st Airborne Division.
HistoryOperation Market GardenThe anti-tank battery went into Arnhem during the first days of the battle, supporting the British paratroopers at Oosterbeek. This left Sosabowski without any anti-tank capability. The light artillery battery was left behind in England due to a shortage of gliders. Owing to bad weather and a shortage of transport planes, the drop into Driel, on the south bank of the Rhine, was delayed 2 days. Finally the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the brigade were dropped under German fire. They captured Driel, set up defensive positions and tried to cross the Rhine that evening. Unfortunately, the ferry which was supposed to take them across, had been sunk. The following day, the Poles were able to produce some make-shift boats and attempted the crossing. With great difficulty and under German fire, the 8th Parachute Company and later additional troops from 3rd Battalion, managed to cross the Rhine in two attempts. In total about 200 Polish Paratroopers made it across in two days, and were able to cover the subsequent withdrawal of the remnants of the British 1st Airborne Division. On the 26th of September 1944, the brigade (now including the 1st Battalion and elements of the 3rd Battalion, who were parachuted near to Grave on the 23rd September) was ordered to march in the direction of Nijmegen. The brigade had lost 23% of its fighting strength, amounting to 400 casualties.
In 1945 it was attached to the Polish 1st Armoured Division and undertook occupation duties in Northern Germany until 30th June 1947 when it was disbanded. The majority of its soldiers stayed in exile. Brigade Order of Battle
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